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This study investigates
the potential of spear grass ash (SGA) as a stabilizing
agent for road subbase materials, focusing on its effect on
the physical and mechanical properties of the material. Key
laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the impact of
varying SGA contents (2-10%) on particle size distribution,
Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, and California
Bearing Ratio (CBR) values, both soaked and unsoaked. The
sieve analysis results demonstrated that the soil used for
the subbase was moderately well-graded, with low plasticity
as indicated by a plasticity index of 8.1%. Compaction tests
revealed an optimal dry density of 1.96 g/cm³ and optimum
moisture content of 15% at 4% SGA content. CBR test results
further highlighted the effectiveness of SGA in enhancing
load-bearing capacity, with peak unsoaked and soaked CBR
values of 86.5% and 37.7%, respectively, also observed at 4%
SGA. These findings suggest that SGA is an effective
stabilizing agent, with an optimal application range of 4-6%
for enhancing subbase strength and stability. Based on these
results, it is concluded that SGA can serve as an
eco-friendly alternative to traditional stabilizers for road
construction. Recommendations include further field testing
and long-term durability studies to validate SGA’s
performance under dynamic loads and environmental
fluctuations, as well as exploring optimization in the SGA
preparation process to ensure consistency. This research
contributes to sustainable road construction practices by
presenting SGA as a viable, low-cost, and environmentally
conscious stabilizing agent for subbase materials.
Keyword: Stabilization, Spear grass ash (SGA), Subbase,
Compaction, CBR, Atterberg Limits |
