Year

2025

Season

Fall

Paper Type

Master's Thesis

College

College of Computing, Engineering & Construction

Degree Name

Master of Civil Engineering: Coastal and Port Engineering (MSCE)

Department

Engineering

NACO controlled Corporate Body

University of North Florida. School of Engineering

Committee Chairperson

Raphael Crowley, Ph.D., P.E.

Second Advisor

Terri N. Ellis

Third Advisor

Brian Wingender

Fourth Advisor

Pegah Ghasemi

Department Chair

Alan Harris

College Dean

William Klostermeyer

Abstract

Rapid shoreline erosion associated with sea-level rise is an ongoing threat to coastal infrastructure. Traditional stabilization techniques, such as revetments, seawalls, and periodic nourishment, often prove costly, ecologically disruptive, or provide only temporary protection. Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) and its operational variant, bioslurry, present a biologically inspired alternative capable of forming a cemented surface crust that reduces soil erodibility. Previous laboratory studies typically prescribed a solution dosage as a percentage of pore volume (%PV). While geotechnically sound, this metric is poorly suited to field deployment across a large area. This thesis evaluates surface-area-based dosing (L/m²) as the primary dosage metric for a single application of MICP-Bioslurry with particular emphasis on practical treatment volumes associated with coastal length scales. Three test series, each with differing total pore volumes were conducted using various treatment volumes. Erosion improvement was assessed via a series of tests including Pocket Erodibility Tests (PET), crust-thickness measurements, acid-wash calcium-carbonate tests, and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)/Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analyses. Results indicated optimal performance between 25–35 L/m², producing crusts approximately 30 mm thick, with an average CaCO₃ content of approximately 5%, and PET classifications of Medium to Low Erodibility. Although an optimum range was observed at 25–35 L/m², measurable improvement in soil stability occurred even at the lowest dosage of 10 L/m². Beyond 35 L/m², additional increases in erosion resistance were limited. XRD confirmed the presence of calcium carbonate polymorphs—calcite, aragonite, and vaterite—while SEM imagery revealed intergranular bonding, and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) corroborated the presence of calcium carbonate via elemental composition.

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