Water Stabilization Using Microparticles

将研究一种根本不同的解决土壤液化问题的方法。研究人员将研究使用水凝胶（一种聚合物）来固定孔隙水。水凝胶把孔隙水变成一种固定的、柔软的凝胶。摇晃时，它不会流动、液化或破裂（像灌浆一样）。新颗粒将被安装在可液化土壤上的现有建筑物下方，以减少液化的威胁。这些颗粒被涂上一层缓释涂层，将被放置在建筑物下面。当涂层腐烂时，水凝胶固定孔隙水，有效地消除了液化潜力。这个项目将创造新的粒子并评估它们的工程性能。然后是静强度和循环强度。纳米技术将用于制造一种可以安装在现有建筑物下的涂层微粒。这种新粒子将由乳液聚合制成，由奥本大学（Auburn University）的国家科学基金会（NSF）先前的一项奖励开发。孔隙水固定是一种有效的防止地震液化的方法。新方法比现有方法更容易使用，风险更小，无论是对新建的还是现有的建筑物和其他结构。

A fundamentally different approach to the problem of soil liquefaction abatement will be studied. The researchers will investigate the use of hydrogel (a polymer) to immobilize porewater. Hydrogel turns porewater into an immobile, soft gel. It does not flow or liquefy or break (like grout) when shaken. The new particles will be installed underneath existing buildings founded on liquefiable soils, reducing the threat of liquefaction. The particles, coated with a time-release coating, will be placed beneath the buildings. When the coatings decay, the hydrogel immobilizes the porewater, effectively eliminating liquefaction potential.This project will create the new particles and evaluate the engineering properties of them ? consolidation and then static and cyclic strength. Nanotechnology will be used to make a coated microparticle that can be installed under existing buildings. The new particles will be made by emulsion polymerization, developed under a prior NSF award at Auburn University. Porewater immobilization can provide an efficient way to stop liquefaction due to earthquakes. The new method is much easier to use, and less risky, than existing methods, for both new and existing buildings and other structures.