PH.D.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL
DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
“Application of nanotechnology to improve engineering properties of soil”
Submitted by Waqas Anwar S/o Muhammad Anwar for the partial fulfillment of Ph.D.
application process

Abstract:

Nano materials are gaining very rapid recognition in present day construction industry due to
some unique advantages, they offer over conventional materials. It is believed that
nanotechnology is going to play an important role in the development of futuristic building
materials and improvement in the engineering properties of available classical materials. The
innovations is clearly two-fold; one modifications in the classical ones and the other invention of
the novel materials. The primary goal of all such materials should be environment friendliness.
Secondarily, they should be durable and cost effective. Thirdly, they should have adequate
strength to cater the natural and manmade calamities. Unlike structural and materials division of
Civil Engineering, application of nanotechnology in Geotechnics to improve the characteristics
of soil has been very limited and there is need to conduct further research work in this field.
Some of the research work done in the past has shown considerable improvements in the
engineering properties of soil and it would be of great contribution to use further nano-particles
solely and in combination to see their effectiveness in bringing advanced improvement in the
characteristics of soil. Many structural failures are often related to the soil. Differential
settlement, piping, erosion and shear failures are some important soil failures. These failures
have done serious damages to pavements, roads, buildings and dikes. Considering the buildings
construction, taking foundations deep down to the hard strata is sometimes very expensive and
may have certain limitations depending on the depth and type of underneath strata. Another
methodologyto counter these failures is theaddition of different additives in soil. Several
additives have shown improvements in the properties of soil but onlyup to a certain limit and this
is the point where application of nanotechnology may play its role to take soil characteristics to a
level which cannot be achieved with classical additives only.The proposed idea of the research
would be based on the experimental approach in which different nanoparticles would be
introduced to observe the changes in characteristics of soils but as nanoparticles have several
negative environmental impacts when not applied with caution; so their application suitability
and environment friendliness would also be evaluated.Nanotechnology when used appropriately
has been found to bring tremendous improvements in the environment. This proposed work on
soil improvement is clearly linked to the Pavement Engineering as engineered subgrade with the
addition of nanoparticles can lead to more durable and long lasting transportation structures.
Literature Review:

NRC [1] highlighted that soil scientists and engineers, with their interest in the study of clay-size
particles (< 0.002 mm), are among the earliest workers in the field of nanotechnology. Most of
the material types and properties change with scale. For example, soil particles change in
composition and shape from predominantly bulky quartz and feldspar to platy mica and clay over
the range of particle sizes from sand and gravel down to silt and clay. A central challenge is that
the material properties may get affected or engineered by using nanoscale building blocks,
controlling their size, size distribution, composition, shape, surface chemistry, and manipulating
their assembly. Building nanoscale structures requires a fundamental understanding of nanoscale
processes. According to Majeed Z. H. [2], addition of nanomaterial to the soil increase both the
maximum dry density and the optimum moisture content. An increase in the maximum dry
density generally indicates soil improvement.Ugwuet al. [3] conducted various laboratory
experiments on different treated and untreated Nigerian soil samples (laterite, clay, and black
soils) to study the changes in their fundamental geotechnical properties. Common engineering
standards were used for the experiments and results analysis. Laboratory tests showed that
treated laterite and clay soils had improved the liquid limit, plastic limit, and shrinkage index,
including hydrophobic properties. The California bearing ratio (CBR) improved by as much as
87–125%. 

Aim:

To introduce nanoparticles in soil for the improvement of its engineering properties.

Objectives:

 To introduce various individual Nano particles in soil and perform several tests in lab to
observe the engineering properties of soil including liquid limit, plastic limit, shear
strength etc.
 Repeat above step by using combination of different nanoparticles.
 Lastly, coming up with the combination of nanoparticles which improves the engineering
properties of soil considerably and is cost effective as well as environment friendly.
 Contamination potential of nanoparticles may be evaluated with the collaboration of
Environmental Engineering department or as feasible based on the discussion with the
supervisor.

Problem statement:

How does induction of various nanoparticles improve the engineering properties of soil?
Methodology:

At the moment, the methodology of this research work is solely experimentation based which
would be performed in the Geotechnics lab and some collaboration with the Environmental
engineering department may be needed. Moreover, with the passage of time and consultation
with the potential supervisor, I am very interested to link this experimental work with the
numerical analysis.

NOTE: The scope of this research work is subjected to change based on the continuing
improvement of knowledge, increased resources and enhanced vision with the passage of time.
References:

[1] NRC (2006), Geological and Geotechnical Engineering in the New Millennium:
Opportunities for Research and Technological Innovation. Technical report, National Research
Council, ISBN: 0-309-65331-2, pp. 222.

[2] Majeed, Z. H., &Taha, M. R. (2012). Effect of nanomaterial treatment on geotechnical

properties of a Penang soft soil. J. Asian Sci. Res, 2(11), 587-592.

[3] Ugwu, O. O., Arop, J. B., Nwoji, C. U., &Osadebe, N. N. (2012). Nanotechnology as a
Preventive Engineering Solution to Highway Infrastructure Failures. Journal of Construction
Engineering and Management, 139(8), 987-993.