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We have scheduled an invited talk titled "Biogels as climate-resilient soil stabilization materials", delivered by Prof. Dilip Gersappe, Professor and the current chair of MSCE program at Stony Brook University, New York, USA.
Please find the attached poster with all the information about the talk.
The details of the talk are:
Title: "Biogels as climate-resilient soil stabilization materials"
Date and Time: 23rd December 2024, 11 am-12 pm
Venue: LG-03, Central Learning Theatre (CLT), Permanent Campus, IIT Dharwad
Mode: Hybrid (In-person & Online)
Abstract: Recent advancements in bioremediation in geotechnical engineering have introduced biogels as a replacement for pore water in soil, significantly enhancing the physical and hydraulic properties. This approach addresses critical challenges posed by climate change, including freeze-thaw damage and soil stability issues. By mitigating soil erosion, reducing swelling, and improving foundation stability, biogels represent a promising solution for sustainable infrastructure. However, identifying the optimal biopolymer additive—one that enhances performance without compromising soil strength—remains a complex challenge. Ideal biogels should be self- assembling, resilient to deformation, and capable of integrating clay additives to maximize efficacy. While experimental efforts have demonstrated promising results, they largely rely on trial and error to determine the appropriate biopolymer composition and clay filler properties.
This study employs computational modeling to systematically evaluate biogel systems composed of polymer chains and clay nanoplatelets in an explicit solvent. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate how clay filler structure, concentration, and polymer- polymer interactions influence the mechanical and structural properties of biogels. Our findings reveal a spectrum of network morphologies, from interpenetrating polymer systems to single-chain networks, achieved by modulating polymer-polymer interactions. Additionally, we simulate ice formation in the presence of biogels to assess their potential to prevent freeze-thaw damage.
These insights provide a foundation for designing tailored biopolymer-based pore fluids, advancing their application in bio-geotechnical engineering. By enabling more resilient soil systems, this research contributes to the development of sustainable and climate-adaptive infrastructure.
Brief Bio of Speaker: Dilip Gersappe is a Professor and the current Chair of the MSCE program. He received his undergraduate in Metallurgy and Materials Science from IIT, Bombay and his PhD from Northwestern University, Dept of Materials Science and Engineering. He was a postdoc at the Univ of Pittsburgh and Johns Hopkins University. Since joining Stony Brook, he has been part of a NSF MRSEC and has led a NSF-funded Nanoscale Integrated Research Team (NIRT) and more recently part of the academic research team for the NY Climate Exchange. He has been a Visiting Professor at National University of Singapore and the Nanyang Technological University. His current research focuses on the use and development of computational models to study transport and non-equilibrium phenomena in complex fluid systems. His work has been widely cited and featured in Nature Nanozone, Physics Today and the Materials Research Bulletin.
