Eco-friendly wheat straw-reinforced MICP for sand stabilization: Enhancing solidification uniformity and modeling freeze-thaw pore damage

Zhang, Xinyue , Li, Zihua , Jin, Qiang , Zhou, Zhenhao , Hu, Di , Zhu, Lin

2026-07-01 ENGINEERING GEOLOGY 2026   369(卷), null(期), (null页)

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Desertification control and improvement of sandy-land environments are critical for ecological sustainability. Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) has emerged as an effective approach to desert management because it is environmentally benign and stabilizes sand. However, two challenges remain in stabilizing aeolian sands: non-uniform solidification and limited freeze-thaw durability. This study proposes a green, synergistic method that combines wheat straw powder with MICP. We investigated effects on solidification performance and freeze-thaw durability through macro- and micro-scale experiments. The study evaluates solidification uniformity and freeze-thaw resistance and examines pore structure evolution. Results show that wheat straw powder markedly increases calcium carbonate precipitation-by about 47.8% relative to the control and improves the uniformity of pore distribution within sand columns. Under freeze-thaw cycling, treated columns exhibit lower pore damage and greater freeze-thaw resistance than untreated columns. Further analysis shows that damage levels of micro-, meso-, and macro-pores follow a double-exponential relationship with the number of freeze-thaw cycles. Grounded in this relationship, the freeze-thaw pore damage model effectively captures pore structure evolution. Wheat straw powder increased the residual shear strength after freeze-thaw deterioration by up to 45.63% by reinforcing the frictional particle skeleton and providing fiberbridging. However, within a specific dosage range, it also accelerated strength degradation. These findings provide an environmentally friendly sand-fixation strategy for cold-desert regions and offer a pathway to valorize agricultural waste.