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Cost optimization for flexible pavement on fine sand improved using palm fibers
Ahmed H Elbosraty1, M Bahr1, Ahmed M Ebid2
1Department of Civil Engineering, Al-Azhar University in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt.
Scientific Reports
|May 20, 2025
Summary
Adding palm fibers to fine sand significantly improves its California Bearing Ratio (CBR) value, enhancing road stability and reducing costs. Optimal results were achieved with 1.0% fiber content, offering a sustainable solution for pavement engineering.
Area of Science:
- Civil Engineering
- Materials Science
- Geotechnical Engineering
Background:
- Improving the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of fine sand sub-soil is crucial for flexible pavement stability and cost-effectiveness.
- Palm fibers offer a potential sustainable and economical reinforcement material for soil stabilization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of palm fiber content on the CBR value of fine sand.
- To determine the optimal palm fiber content for maximizing CBR.
- To assess the impact of improved CBR on pavement design and cost for urban and rural roads.
Main Methods:
- Experimental testing of fine sand mixed with varying palm fiber contents (0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%).
- CBR value determination for each mixture.
- Application of the AASHTO Pavement Design Guide to analyze pavement thickness and cost savings.
- Cost-benefit analysis for soil improvement and pavement layers.
Main Results:
- The maximum CBR value of 25% was achieved with 1.0% palm fiber content; higher percentages led to decreased CBR due to fiber clustering.
- Increased sub-soil CBR significantly reduces the required thickness and cost of base and sub-base layers.
- Using a sub-base layer is cost-effective for weak rural soils (CBR < 20%) and high-traffic urban roads.
Conclusions:
- Palm fiber reinforcement is an effective, sustainable, economical, and eco-friendly method for enhancing fine sand sub-soil properties for pavement construction.
- Cost-effective CBR ranges for optimization were identified: 13-17% for rural roads and 17-19% for urban roads, corresponding to specific palm fiber content.
- Further research is recommended to investigate the long-term durability and environmental degradation of organic reinforcements like palm fibers in pavement applications.
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