Evaluación de las propiedades de la ceniza del carrizo como estabilizador de suelos

Abstract

This research analyzes the behavior of two sandy soils stabilized with reed ash, from the Patate (M1) and Mera (M2) cantons. The study aims to improve the soil's bearing capacity, as this property directly influences the performance and durability of road and civil infrastructure projects. The research sought to determine the influence of reed ash incorporation on the index and technical properties of both soils through laboratory tests. The experimental development was carried out in three phases: the first involved the collection and preparation of the reed ash; the second consisted of determining the index and mechanical properties of the soils in their natural state and stabilized with 4%, 8%, and 12% reed ash; and the third evaluated the technical, economic, and environmental viability of the resulting mixtures. The results showed similar behavior in both materials, due to their granular nature. Soil M1 was classified as SW according to the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) and A-1 according to the American Society of Soil and Forestry Agents (AASHTO), while soil M2 was classified as SP and A-3. In both cases, the best performance was obtained with an 8% application of reed ash, achieving CBR values of 21.50% for M1 and 19.50% for M2, exceeding the natural values of 14.90% and 10.10%, respectively. These results demonstrate that reed ash significantly improves the properties of sandy soils.