Synergistic mechanisms and mesoscopic failure characteristics of wheat straw powder-enhanced microbial cemented aeolian sand

Abstract

Microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is an eco-friendly soil stabilization technology widely applied to the solidification of aeolian sand. To further enhance the effectiveness of MICP in cementing aeolian sand, this study introduced wheat straw powder (WSP) as a reinforcing material and conducted experimental research on WSP-enhanced microbial cemented aeolian sand. By combining macroscopic physical and mechanical tests with discrete element method (DEM) simulations, this study systematically investigated the mechanisms by which WSP enhances microbial cementation and the mesoscopic failure characteristics of the material. The results indicated that adding WSP significantly increased the calcium carbonate content, resulting in uniform calcite deposition and encapsulation of sand particles. This enhancement increased the compressive strength and deformation resistance of the cemented sand columns, with a notable increase in strain at failure. DEM simulations further revealed that as the calcium carbonate content increased, macroscopic cracks within the sand columns evolved from single to multiple pathways, eventually penetrating the entire sand column along the loading direction. The internal bonding failure process could be divided into compaction, expansion, and rapid growth stages. Additionally, the uniformity of particle bonding in WSP-reinforced sand columns significantly impacted their macroscopic mechanical behavior, with uneven interparticle bonding likely inducing microcrack accumulation, leading to severe fracture patterns. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing microbial cementation techniques for aeolian sand.