International Journal of Research and Development in Engineering Sciences (IJRDES ) | Effect of Gellan Gum on Geotechnical Properties of Clayey Soil: An Experimental Study

Effect of Gellan Gum on Geotechnical Properties of Clayey Soil: An Experimental Study

Clay soil stabilization is a critical aspect of geotechnical engineering, as untreated clay often exhibits low strength, high plasticity, and poor workability. This study presents an experimental investigation into the stabilization of clayey soil using varying proportions of Gellan Gum, a natural, biodegradable biopolymer known for its eco-friendly characteristics. Gellan Gum was incorporated at dosages of 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0% by dry weight of soil to evaluate its effectiveness in enhancing the geotechnical properties of clay. A comprehensive suite of laboratory tests was performed, including Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS), sieve analysis, Atterberg limits (liquid and plastic limits), and the Standard Proctor compaction test. The results demonstrated a significant increase in UCS values and a notable reduction in the plasticity index with increasing Gellan Gum content. Additionally, minor changes in compaction characteristics were observed, indicating improved workability. The findings highlight the potential of Gellan Gum as a sustainable and environmentally responsible alternative to conventional chemical stabilizers for improving the strength and consistency of problematic clayey soils.

Research Type: Mixed Research
Paper Type: Experimental Research Paper
Vol.7 , Issue 5 , Pages: 6 - 9, Sep 2025
Published on: 09 Sep, 2025
Issue Type: Regular

Cite Score

:

100
No. of authors

:

75
No. of Downloads

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43

Cite Score

:

100
No. of authors

:

75
No. of Downloads

:

43

Cite Score

:

100
No. of authors

:

75
No. of Downloads

:

43

About Authors:

C. Balaji

India

Viswam Engineering College

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Copyright © 2025, This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY-NY-SA). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Corresponding Author: C. Balaji, reehanavali@gmail.com

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Conflict of interest: The author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.