Wetting–drying effects on the mechanical performance of xanthan gum biopolymer-stabilized soil

Xanthan gum biopolymers have gained increasing attention in geotechnical engineering due to the effectiveness and environmental-friendliness, and are proposed as a potential alternative to conventional materials for soil stabilization. Cyclic wetting and drying are the crucial factors that affect the behavior of surface soil, which are also a major challenge for biopolymer applications. This study aims to investigate the strength durability of xanthan gum-treated soil during wetting–drying cycles. The soil was treated with different contents of xanthan gum (0, 0.5, 1.5