State-of-the-Art Review on Strength Performance of Soil Treated with Silica Nanoparticles

In recent decades, numerous unconventional additives for soil strength development have been introduced to substitute conventional additives like cement and lime, which can increase carbon footprint emissions. With the advancement of science and nanotechnology, nanomaterials have been introduced to geotechnical material enhancement owing to their distinctive structures and great characteristics. Among various nanomaterials, Nano-SiO₂ has been studied for more than a decade and has shown encouraging results for its usage as a ground improvement. The present work provides a comprehensive review of the physical parameters, strength characteristics, hydraulic conductivity, durability, and dynamic characteristics of soil employing Nano-SiO₂. Furthermore, in order to better understand the underlying mechanism, cost-effectiveness, environmental concerns, and applications of the geomaterials treated with silica nanoparticles were studied. According to research, a small fraction of silica nanoparticles significantly alters the soil properties owing to their greater specific surface area and strong reactivity. Also, the amorphous silica particles are less harmful than the crystalline silica polymorphs. However, research on the silica nanoparticles used for soil enhancement is particularly promising and has the potential to strengthen the interaction between sustainable development and civil engineering through novel methodologies.