Pulp mill fly ash for stabilization of low-volume unpaved forest roads - field performance

Increased temperatures and rainfalls will give more settlements and less bearing capacity in gravel roads, which will have implications for the forestry. Pulp mill fly ash without additives was used for stabilizing the road base of a low-volume gravel road. A two-year monitoring of the road was conducted, including measurements of achieved ash content, density, water infiltration capacity, and load bearing capacity. The results showed that the ash-stabilized sections performed better than conventionally upgraded sections and also achieved increased bearing capacity over time. Hydration of the fly ash increased the stiffness and decreased the permeability of the road base. The differences were more pronounced during spring thaw. Best performance was achieved in the section with thicker ash stabilized layer.