Hydrophilic dispersion polymer material for sand treatment: an investigation of mechanical improvement and microstructural characteristics

Extensive efforts have been made to strengthen sand to resist erosion. In this study, a new method for treating sand with a hydrophilic dispersion polymer binder (HDPB) was developed. Compressive, shear, and tensile strength tests of sand samples of various densities and treated with various HDPB contents were conducted to investigate the potential for macromechanical enhancement. Corresponding numerical models were established to analyze the characteristics of the failure morphology and bonding breakage between particles. The results show that HDPB treatment significantly enhances the mechanical strength of natural sand. Sol-gel film sticking to sand particle surfaces significantly improves resistance to failure. The failure characteristics change with the HDPB content, and the failure process depends on the bond breakage state. The microstructural characteristics of the treated sand significantly affect the failure patterns. The force-chain construction, microcrack distribution, and energy allocation are the main factors in the failure evolution and characteristics of the HDPB-treated sand. Surface encapsulation, void filling, and particle bridging were the main factors affecting sand grains. The reinforcement method and study results are expected to contribute to the analysis and application of polymer treatment technology to control soil erosion.