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2025 Vol.41, Issue 5 Preview Page
Shear Behavior of Soils with Microplastic Contents

미세플라스틱 혼입률에 따른 지반의 전단거동

Hyeonsu Yun1
,
Seong-Kyu Yun2
,
Gichun Kang3*
윤 현수1
,
윤 성규2
,
강 기천3*
1Member, Ph.D Candidate, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Gyeongsang National Univ.
2Member, Ph.D, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Gyeongsang National Univ.
3Member, Associate Prof., Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Gyeongsang National Univ.
1정회원, 경상국립대학교 공과대학 토목공학과 박사과정
2정회원, 경상국립대학교 공과대학 토목공학과 공학박사
3정회원, 경상국립대학교 공과대학 토목공학과 부교수
*Corresponding Author
31 October 2025. pp. 157-164
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Abstract

Environmental pollution caused by microplastics has recently emerged as a global concern. In marine environments, microplastics are consumed by organisms and transferred through the food chain; in soils, they persist for long periods in agricultural fields and landfills; and in the atmosphere, they remain suspended and can be transported over long distances. Microplastics are small plastic particles (below 5 mm) found in various media, including air, water, and soil. Although extensive environmental studies have been conducted, research from a geotechnical engineering perspective remains limited. In this study, compaction and direct shear tests were performed on standard sand specimens prepared by mixing microplastics (0%–8%). The results revealed that shear strength increased at contents of 2%–6% but decreased at higher contents. These findings indicate that microplastic content can influence the shear strength of soils, highlighting the need to develop evaluation criteria that consider microplastic inclusion in geotechnical stability assessments.

Keywords
Inclusion ratio
Microplastics
Shear strength

최근 미세플라스틱에 의한 환경오염 문제가 심각하게 대두되고 있으며, 해양에서는 해양생물의 체내 축적과 먹이사슬 전이, 토양에서는 농경지와 매립지에서의 장기 잔류, 대기에서는 부유 및 장거리 확산 등 다양한 형태의 오염이 보고되고 있다. 미세플라스틱은 크기 약 5mm 이하의 작은 플라스틱 입자로 공기, 물, 흙 등 다양한 환경에서 발견된다. 환경학적 연구는 많이 수행되고 있으나, 지반공학적 관점에서의 연구는 여전히 부족한 실정이다. 본 연구는 표준사에 미세플라스틱을 혼입(0~8%)하여 제작한 시료를 대상으로 다짐시험 및 전단시험을 수행하였다. 그 결과 2~6%의 경우 전단강도가 증가하였으나, 그 이상에서는 다시 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 이는 미세플라스틱 혼입률에 따라 지반의 전단강도에 영향을 미칠 수 있음을 의미하며, 지반 안정성 평가 시 미세플라스틱 함유 특성을 고려한 기준 마련이 필요하다고 판단된다.

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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지반공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국지반공학회 논문집
  • Volume : 41
  • No :5
  • Pages :157-164
  • Received Date : 2025-09-02
  • Revised Date : 2025-09-30
  • Accepted Date : 2025-09-30
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7843/kgs.2025.41.5.157
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