Vol. 3 No. 3 (2025): SJESR - September 2025
Articles

Durability of sandy soil stabilized with guar gum under wet-dry cycles

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  • Ahmed H. Hussein
Ahmed H. Hussein Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Samarra, Samarra, Iraq

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Published 2025-09-30

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Copyright (c) 2025 Samarra Journal of Engineering Science and Research

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How to Cite

Durability of sandy soil stabilized with guar gum under wet-dry cycles. (2025). Samarra Journal of Engineering Science and Research, 3(3), 51-59. https://doi.org/10.65115/9fyp3s97

Abstract

This study investigates the use of guar gum, a biopolymer, as an environmentally friendly soil stabilizer to improve the durability of sandy soil. Three types of sandy soils (SP, SW, and SP-SM) were treated with different amounts of guar gum (1%, 2%, and 3%) and were tested through several wetting and drying cycles (2, 4, and 5 cycles). Experimental results revealed a significant reduction in the collapse potential (Cp) from 50% to 71% and an increase in the liquid limit. The collapse rate decreased from 45% to 67% after the second and fifth cycles, respectively at the highest addition rate of 3%. The resistance to environmental changes was also improved. These results highlight the potential of guar gum as a sustainable sand stabilization solution for geotechnical practices and this work offers fresh perspectives on the application of guar gum to stabilise sand in situations involving periodic soaking and drying.

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