Effect of Xanthan Gum Biopolymer on Laterite Soil in Settlement Analysis Using Plaxis-2D

Laterite soil is found primarily in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India, and about 60–65% of Maharashtra’s coastal region is surrounded by laterite soil. The laterite soil can be useful and challenging in road construction and contribute to landslide risks if not managed properly. Proper engineering practices, including slope analysis, drainage, and stabilization measures, are crucial for minimizing the potential for landslides in areas where laterite soil is present. Xanthan gum is a polysaccharide that is commonly used as a rheology modifier and culinary additive. The current study used xanthan gum as a soil enrichment ingredient and tested it experimentally. To optimise the use of xanthan gum and understand the mechanism producing the increase in strength, laboratory experiments were conducted on laterite soil, adding varied amounts of xanthan gum in terms of percentage of dry soil mass. According to the findings, the shear strength parameters cohesion improves while the angle of internal friction reduces little. Plaxis 2D was used to simulate the settlement of unsterilized and stabilised soils beneath a square foundation. Further settling study of the square foundation was performed using Plaxis 2D software to check for laterite soil settlement reduction. The software study revealed a reduction in soil settlement for varied percentages of xanthan gum biopolymer in the soil. The largest settlement reduction in a soil sample is 21.8%.