Experimental Assessment Of Mechanical Properties Of Silty Soil Improved By Xanthan Gum

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of xanthan gum dosage and curing time on the mechanical properties of silty soil through unconfined compression tests. Xanthan gum dosages of 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, and 3% were selected, combined with curing times of 0, 4, 7, and 14 days. Results indicated that xanthan gum significantly enhanced soil strength, with unconfined compressive strength increasing continuously with higher dosages and longer curing periods. Concurrently, the failure mode gradually transitioned from plastic flow to brittle failure. Strength exhibited rapid initial increase followed by gradual stabilization with increasing dosage, with an optimal range of 2%–3%. Strength increased logarithmically with curing time, reflecting rapid early development of the cementation network. A mathematical model was established to predict the strength. Model validation demonstrated excellent agreement between calculated and experimental values. This research provides a quantitative tool for optimizing xanthan gum-based soil improvement in engineering applications.