Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
8-1-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Civil Engineering
First Advisor
Jinwoo An
Second Advisor
Jungseok Ho
Third Advisor
Chu-Lin Cheng
Abstract
Dredged material generated from coastal and navigational channel maintenance presents an abundant but mechanically weak resource for beach nourishment and wetland restoration. Its high-water content, low shear strength, and extreme erodibility limit direct placement and shorten nourishment cycles to an average lifespan of only 3 - 4 years. This thesis investigates the applicability of biopolymer stabilization to improve the mechanical and erosion resistance properties of dredged clay and sand, with the goal of extending the nourishment interval to 4 - 5 years. Three biopolymers, xanthan gum (XG), guar gum (GG), and chitosan (CH), were incorporated individually and in blended mixtures under controlled high-moisture conditions to simulate hydraulically placed sediments. Unconfined compressive strength results demonstrated significant improvements, particularly for blended GG-CH and XG-GG formulations, which outperformed all individual systems across 3, 7, and 14-day curing periods. Microstructural analysis confirmed the development of dense gel matrices, enhanced particle aggregation, and reduced pore connectivity in treated sediments, correlating with strength improvements. The findings highlight the feasibility of biopolymer amendments as an environmentally compatible alternative to cementitious stabilization and provide evidence supporting the expansion of dredged material beneficial use programs in coastal infrastructure and ecological restoration applications.
Recommended Citation
Pena Robles, J. E. (2026). Biopolymer Enhanced Dredged Materials [Master's thesis, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]. ScholarWorks @ UTRGV. https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/2006
Comments
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