Gypsum and rice husk ash for sustainable stabilization of forest road subgrade

Forest roads are crucial for economic development and resource accessibility, especially in regions with extensive wood demand driven by construction growth. These roads require consistent maintenance to prevent structural issues, even though they experience lower traffic. Traditionally, gypsum has...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Quarterly journal of engineering geology and hydrogeology 2024-02, Vol.57 (1), p.1
Main Authors: Sharifi Teshnizi, Ebrahim, Mirzababaei, Mehdi, Karimiazar, Jafar, Arjmandzadeh, Reza, Mahmoudpardabad, Kamran
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural wastes
Aluminosilicates
Aluminum silicates
Ashes
Calcium
Calcium silicate hydrate
Cation exchange
Cation exchanging
Cations
Clay
Clay minerals
Clay soils
Compressive strength
Construction
Economic development
Engineering geology
Expansive clays
Expansive soils
Flocculation
Forests
Gels
Geotechnics
Ground improvement
Gypsum
Hardwoods
Hydrates
Mechanical properties
Microscopic analysis
Plastic properties
Plasticity
Rice
Road construction
Road maintenance
Roads
Silicates
Soil
Soil improvement
Soil mechanics
Soil stabilization
Soil water
Solubility
Stabilization
Stabilizing
Subgrades
Sustainability
Swelling pressure
Wood construction
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Summary:Forest roads are crucial for economic development and resource accessibility, especially in regions with extensive wood demand driven by construction growth. These roads require consistent maintenance to prevent structural issues, even though they experience lower traffic. Traditionally, gypsum has been used for soil stabilization due to its cation exchange capability with clay minerals and flocculation properties. However, its water solubility in wet conditions necessitates innovative solutions. This study explores a novel approach by combining gypsum with rice husk ash (RHA), an abundant agricultural waste, to address the challenges posed by expansive and low-bearing clay soils in forest road construction. In this study, an expansive soil with high plasticity and swelling potential is treated with varying combinations of RHA (5–20%) and gypsum (2–6%), followed by curing for 7, 15 and 30 days. Mechanical property tests revealed reduced plasticity and swelling pressure, alongside increased unconfined compressive strength. Microscopic analysis illustrated the formation of calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) and calcium aluminosilicate hydrate (CAH) gels, which possibly contributes to improved stability. This research underscores the potential of sustainable soil stabilization using gypsum and RHA synergy to fortify forest roads against expansive clay soil challenges, promoting eco-friendly and resilient infrastructure solutions.
ISSN:1470-9236
2041-4803
DOI:10.1144/qjegh2023-008