Improving Soil-Water Characteristics and Pore Structure of Silty Soil Using Nano-aqueous Polymer Stabilisers

Polymer soil stabilisers have been shown to improve soil strength and erosion resistance, for example on slopes where topsoil can be easily eroded. However, fundamental mechanisms of soil stabilisers in soil enhancement through modifying the soil-water characteristic and microstructure of soil (e.g., distribution of pore size) have not been fully understood. This gap in understanding is not conducive to the subsequent development and engineering applications of soil stabilisers. This paper reports a series of experimental studies on the influence of nano-aqueous adhesive (NAA) in modifying the pore size distribution and water content of the soil. The results show that NAA can change the soil-water characteristic curve and has the potential to increase water retention capacity, which is essential for vegetation growth on a slope. In addition, they indicate that NAA could improve soil microstructure and pore uniformity by blocked small pores. The results also show that the NAA could reduce wilting coefficient, improve air entry value, and thereby protect vegetation, which helps stabilise the slope.