INCREASING THE BEARING CAPACITY OF SQUARE FOUNDATIONS BASED ON SOYBEAN BIO-CEMENTATION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21009/jpensil.v14i3.57680Keywords:
EICP, Bearing Capacity, Sand, Soybean, Square Footing FoundationAbstract
Sandy soils are commonly employed as the foundation for shallow footings. However, their relatively low bearing capacity often leads to excessive settlement and deformation. This study examines the potential application of the Enzyme-Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) technique based on soybeans. Utilizing urease derived from soybeans to catalyze the crystallization of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). This research investigates the impact of EICP-induced carbonate precipitation on the bearing capacity of sandy soil in square footings. 4 x 4 cm footing model was tested using the AIC-Innovation Loading Test apparatus. Direct shear additional tests were performed to assess differences in increase cohesion and shear angle. The results show 174.90% increase in bearing capacity, 73.47% reduction in settlement, 300.64% increase in cohesion from the shear test, and 202.46% increase from the loading test. The shear angle increased by 56.34%, and the dry unit weight increased by 36.5%. ANOVA analysis with a p-value of 2.03 × 10⁻¹⁵ < 0.05 confirmed that the increase in bearing capacity was not due to random variation but to the EICP treatment. These findings demonstrate that EICP proves to be a viable technique to enhance sandy soil and contributes to advancing of bio-cementation based on organic materials as a sustainable solution.
References
Aleshaiqer, B. H., & Azeez Alkifaee, A. A. (2024). Settlement and bearing capacity characteristics of shallow foundation models on unsaturated sand soils. In A. Adham, A. Al-Barrak, H. Al-Jelawy, & S. F. Jawad (Eds.), AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 3079, Issue 1). American Institute of Physics. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0202171
Almajed, A., Khodadadi Tirkolaei, H., & Kavazanjian, E. (2018). Baseline Investigation on Enzyme-Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 144(11). https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)gt.1943-5606.0001973
Al-Subari, L., Hanafi, M., & Ekinci, A. (2020). Effect of geosynthetic reinforcement on the bearing capacity of strip footing on sandy soil. SN Applied Sciences, 2(9). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-03261-5
ASTM D3080. (2011). Test Method for Direct Shear Test of Soils Under Consolidated Drained Conditions. In ASTM. ASTM International. https://doi.org/10.1520/D3080_D3080M-11
Cardoza, R., & Oka, L. (2020). Measuring the Effect of Grass Roots on Shear Strength Parameters of Sandy Soils. In E. Kavazanjian, J. P. Hambleton, R. Makhnenko, U.-C. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign IL, A. S. Budge, & M. Minnesota State University Mankato MN (Eds.), Geotechnical Special Publication (Vols. 2020-February, Issue GSP 320, pp. 214–223). American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784482834.024
D1143/D1143M − 20. (2020). Test Methods for Deep Foundations Under Static Axial Compressive Load. ASTM International. https://doi.org/10.1520/D1143_D1143M-20
Dejong, J. T., Soga, K., Kavazanjian, E., Burns, S., Van Paassen, L. A., AL Qabany, A., Aydilek, A., Bang, S. S., Burbank, M., Caslake, L. F., Chen, C. Y., Cheng, X., Chu, J., Ciurli, S., Esnault-Filet, A., Fauriel, S., Hamdan, N., Hata, T., Inagaki, Y., … Weaver, T. (2013). Biogeochemical processes and geotechnical applications: Progress, opportunities and challenges. Geotechnique, 63(4), 287–301. https://doi.org/10.1680/geot.SIP13.P.017
Diana, N. A., Widodo, T., & Saputri, N. D. (2024). Stabilization of Sandy Soil with High Salinity Conditions using Rice Husk Ash and Gypsum to Improve Physical and Mechanical Properties. ASEAN Journal of Scientific and Technological Reports, 27(4). https://doi.org/10.55164/ajstr.v27i4.252961
Doumi, K., Mahmoudi, Y., Cherif Taiba, A., Baille, W., & Belkhatir, M. (2022). Influence of the Particle Size on the Flow Potential and Friction Index of Partially Saturated Sandy Soils. Transportation Infrastructure Geotechnology, 9(5), 606–630. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40515-021-00193-4
Gao, Y., He, J., Tang, X., & Chu, J. (2019). Calcium carbonate precipitation catalyzed by soybean urease as an improvement method for fine-grained soil. Soils and Foundations, 59(5), 1631–1637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2019.03.014
Hatanaka, M., & Feng, L. (2006). Estimating relative density of sandy soils. Soils and Foundations, 46(3), 299–313. https://doi.org/10.3208/sandf.46.299
He, J., Yang, F., Qi, Y.-S., Fang, C.-H., Yan, B.-Y., Zhang, Y., Hang, L., & Gao, Y.-F. (2022). Improvement in silty sand with enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation: laboratory model experiment. Acta Geotechnica, 17(7), 2895–2905. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-021-01361-z
Hoang, T., Alleman, J., Cetin, B., & Choi, S.-G. (2020). Engineering Properties of Biocementation Coarse- And Fine-Grained Sand Catalyzed by Bacterial Cells and Bacterial Enzyme. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 32(4). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0003083
Karl Terzaghi. (1943). Karl Terzaghi. John Wiley And Sons, INC.
Kumar, P., Sharma, M., Abubakar, A. A., Nizam bin Hayat, M., Ahmed, M. A., Kaka, U., & Sazili, A. Q. (2023). Soybean: Sustainability Issues. In Sustainable Food Science - A Comprehensive Approach: Volumes 1-4 (Vols. 1–4, pp. V2-219). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-823960-5.00021-4
Lai, H. J., Cui, M. J., Wu, S. F., Yang, Y., & Chu, J. (2023). Extraction of crude soybean urease using ethanol and its effect on soil cementation. Soils and Foundations, 63(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sandf.2023.101300
Liu, K. W., Jiang, N. J., Qin, J. De, Wang, Y. J., Tang, C. S., & Han, X. Le. (2021). An experimental study of mitigating coastal sand dune erosion by microbial- and enzymatic-induced carbonate precipitation. Acta Geotechnica, 16(2), 467–480. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11440-020-01046-z
Mahmood, M. S., Al-Baghdadi, W. H., Rabee, A. M., & Almahbobi, S. H. (2020). Reliability of shear-box tests upon soaking process on the sand soil in al-najaf city. In M. Karkush (Ed.), Key Engineering Materials: Vol. 857 KEM (pp. 212–220). Trans Tech Publications Ltd. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.857.212
Mandolini, A. (2024). 1943–2023: 80 Years of Research and Practice for Pile Foundations. In D. L. P & N. T. Dung (Eds.), Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering (Vol. 395, pp. 3–53). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-9722-0_1
Martin, K., Tirkolaei, H. K., & Kavazanjian, E. (2021). Enhancing the strength of granular material with a modified enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) treatment solution. Construction and Building Materials, 271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.121529
Meng, H., Shu, S., Gao, Y., Yan, B., & He, J. (2021). Multiple-phase enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) method for soil improvement. Engineering Geology, 294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2021.106374
Mohamed, A. A. M. S., Al-Ajamee, M., Kobbail, A., Dahab, H., Abdo, M. M., & Alhassan, H.-E. (2022). A study on soil stabilization for some tropical soils. Materials Today: Proceedings, 60, 87–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.12.260
Musílek, J., Hrubý, P., & Stopka, O. (2016). Diversity of Characteristics of Sandy Soils in Relation to Foundation Engineering. In I. Yilmaz (Ed.), IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 44, Issue 2). Institute of Physics Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/44/2/022017
Naveed, M., Duan, J., Uddin, S., Suleman, M., Hui, Y., & Li, H. (2020). Application of microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation with urea hydrolysis to improve the mechanical properties of soil. Ecological Engineering, 153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2020.105885
Prambauer, M., Wendeler, C., Weitzenböck, J., & Burgstaller, C. (2019). Biodegradable geotextiles – An overview of existing and potential materials. Geotextiles and Geomembranes, 47(1), 48–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geotexmem.2018.09.006
Putra, H., Sulistiawati, B. H., Yanto, D. H. Y., & Basuki, A. (2025). Efficacy of Soybean Extracted Using Different Method in Calcite Precipitation for Soil Improvement. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 13(2), 826–837. https://doi.org/10.13189/cea.2025.130206
Raja, R. A., Sakleshpur, V. A., Prezzi, M., & Salgado, R. (2024). Effect of Footing Geometry and Embedment on the Bearing Capacity and Collapse Mechanism of Shallow Foundations in Sand. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 150(6). https://doi.org/10.1061/JGGEFK.GTENG-11802
Renjith, R., Robert, D. J., Gunasekara, C., Setunge, S., & O’Donnell, B. (2020). Optimization of Enzyme-Based Soil Stabilization. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 32(5). https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0003124
Shooshpasha, I., & Shirvani, R. A. (2015). Effect of cement stabilization on geotechnical properties of sandy soils. Geomechanics and Engineering, 8(1), 17–31. https://doi.org/10.12989/gae.2015.8.1.017
Shu, S., Yan, B., Ge, B., Li, S., & Meng, H. (2022). Factors Affecting Soybean Crude Urease Extraction and Biocementation via Enzyme-Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) for Soil Improvement. Energies, 15(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/en15155566
Sinha, S., Mahto, S. K., Chakravarty, H., & Saurav, S. (2024). An Assessment of Strength, Durability and Economic Benefits of Stabilized Silty Soil for Construction of Low Volume Roads. International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology, 17(3), 800–814. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42947-022-00270-y
Sun, Z., Zhang, P., Mou, B., Cheng, L., Huo, S., Patel, V. I., & Lv, Q. (2024). Study on the Permeability and Mechanical Properties of Sandy Soil Under Carbon Fiber-Based Urease Mineralization. Sustainable Structures, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.54113/j.sust.2024.000040
Thakur, V., Jassal, P. S., Kumar, A., Bhatia, A., Mirza, A., & Singh, J. (2024). Enzyme biotechnology toward cleaner production in industry. In Enzyme Biotechnology for Environmental Sustainability (pp. 33–53). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-22072-2.00012-7
Thrane, M., Krieger, T. M., Zhang, X., Braun, M., Hwang, D. C., Paulsen, P. W., & Orcutt, M. W. (2023). Soy Protein: Environmental Impacts, Production, Applications and Nutrition. In Sustainable Protein Sources: Advances for a Healthier Tomorrow, Second Edition (pp. 31–54). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91652-3.00003-4
Xu, K., Huang, M., Liu, Z., Cui, M., & Li, S. (2023). Mechanical properties and disintegration behavior of EICP-reinforced sea sand subjected to drying-wetting cycles. Biogeotechnics, 1(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bgtech.2023.100019
Xue, Y., Arulrajah, A., Chu, J., & Horpibulsuk, S. (2024). Soybean urease-based EICP stabilization of washed recycled sands derived from demolition wastes cured at low temperatures. Construction and Building Materials, 434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.136735
Ye, W.-J., Fu, X., Wu, Y.-T., Zhou, Z.-H., & Ma, Q.-Q. (2024). Experimental study on the mechanical properties of desert sand improved by the combination of additives and bio-cement. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, 47(9), 1453–1469. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-024-03034-z
Yousefi Samangani, A., & Naderi, R. (2022). Numerical and Larg-Scale Laboratory Study of Rock Column Groups in Sandy Soil Behavior Improvement. Advances in Civil Engineering, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9259093
Zabrodskyi, A., Šarauskis, E., Kukharets, S., Juostas, A., Vasiliauskas, G., & Andriušis, A. (2021). Analysis of the impact of soil compaction on the environment and agricultural economic losses in Lithuania and Ukraine. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147762
Zambelli, B., Banaszak, K., Merloni, A., Kiliszek, A., Rypniewski, W., & Ciurli, S. (2013). Selectivity of Ni(II) and Zn(II) binding to Sporosarcina pasteurii UreE, a metallochaperone in the urease assembly: A calorimetric and crystallographic study. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 18(8), 1005–1017. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-013-1049-6
Zhang, J., Yin, Y., Shi, W., Bian, H., Shi, L., Wu, L., Han, Z., Zheng, J., & He, X. (2023). Strength and uniformity of EICP-treated sand under multi-factor coupling effects. Biogeotechnics, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bgtech.2023.100007
Zhang, Q., Ye, W., Liu, Z., Wang, Q., & Chen, Y. (2023a). Influence of injection methods on calcareous sand cementation by EICP technique. Construction and Building Materials, 363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.129724
Zhang, Q., Ye, W., Liu, Z., Wang, Q., & Chen, Y. (2023b). Influence of injection methods on calcareous sand cementation by EICP technique. Construction and Building Materials, 363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.129724
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Annas Dwi Safi'i, Agata Iwan Candra, Mahardika Kamalika Khusna Ali

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.







.png)
.png)
1.png)
