Bio-stabilization of black cotton soil by MICP.

Soil is an important element for any civil engineering structure. As foundation which will be constructed on soil will receive superstructure loads. Soil in some places might be weak due to which it cannot resist the loads coming on to it. The clay soil is one such soil which are abundantly present in India. This soil is not suitable for construction, because seasonal variation causes swelling in rainy seasons and shrinkage in summer. This leads to settlement and damage of structures constructed on them. In such cases soil needs to be modified. Soil modification is the process that improves the index properties and engineering properties of soil and makes it stable. Soil modification can be done either mechanically, chemically and biologically. In Biological-stabilization, additives are added to cultivate the bacteria induce calcium into the soil along with urea and CaCl₂.H₂O which will improve the soil properties. Additives may be sustainable or may not be sustainable. It is proposed to use bacillus subtilis as an additive to enhance soil properties. Investigation is to be done to determine the existing and treated soil properties by conducting different tests such as Free swell index, Standard proctor test, California bearing test (CBR), Unconfined compression test, Freeze thaw test according to Indian standard specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]