Sustainable Nanoparticle Use in Stabilizing Geotechnical Properties of Fine-Grained Soils: A Review

Soil stabilization is a fundamental part of geotechnical engineering that improves soil properties and ensures the structural integrity of foundations, highways, and other engineering infrastructures. Traditional stabilization methods commonly use chemical additives, for example, lime, cement, and other materials that might pose environmental risks. In recent years, Nanoparticles have advanced as a promising alternative for long-term, and sustainable soil stabilization. This review shows a comprehensive analysis of using nanoparticles in soil stabilization. The types of nanoparticles investigated, including nano-SiO2, nano-CaCO3, nano-cement, and nano-clay, among others, have been shown to significantly improve the geotechnical properties of soil including Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California bearing ratio (CBR), and shear strength parameters. Consistent with the results commonly, the liquid limit, optimum moisture content (OMC), and the UCS at 0, 7, 14, and 28 days of curing time in specified percentages of various Nanoparticles increased. Moreover, the CBR values, cohesion, and friction angles increased with the addition of various percentages of Nanoparticles. In addition, the plasticity index, maximum dry density (MDD), and peak of UCS due to the number of freeze-thaw cycles declined with the increase in percentages of various types of nanoparticles. Based on the reviewed studies, the average optimal Nanoparticles content for stabilizing various types of soils is approximately 1% nano-SiO2, 0.3% nano-CaCO3, and 2.5% nano-cement.