Interdisciplinary Social Studies
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025): Regular Issue: October-December 2025

Analysis of The Effectiveness of Using Lightweight Materials on Embankments Over Soft Soil (Case Study: Betung Toll Road (SP Sekayu) –Tempino - Jambi Section 1B)

Teguh Sakti Muttaqin (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh November, Indonesia)
Ria Asih Aryani Soemitro (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh November, Indonesia)
Trihanyndio Rendy Satrya (Institut Teknologi Sepuluh November, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
25 Dec 2025

Abstract

The construction of the Betung (SP Sekayu) – Tempino – Jambi Trans Sumatra Toll Road Section 1B, particularly at STA 55+900, faces significant geotechnical challenges due to soft subgrade in the floodplain area. Geotechnical investigations indicate that the surface layer up to a depth of 4.45 meters is dominated by very soft silty clay with an N-SPT value of 2-4, which risks triggering embankment instability and excessive settlement in the planned 6.6-meter high embankment. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of lightweight fill material in the form of foam mortar as a substitute for conventional embankment materials. Numerical analysis based on the finite element method (Plaxis 2D) was carried out by modeling variations in foam mortar thickness of 25%, 50%, and 75% of the embankment height. The simulation results show that the use of lightweight materials effectively increases stability and reduces settlement. The most optimal design configuration was obtained at a substitution variation of 75% foam mortar, which resulted in a Safety Factor (SF) value of 2.727. This value indicates an 58.64% increase in stability compared to conventional soil embankments and is capable of reducing total settlement by up to 25.26% (by 9.745 cm). These findings recommend foam mortar as an alternative solution that meets the technical criteria for stability and deformation.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

iss

Publisher

Subject

Environmental Science Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Public Health Social Sciences

Description

nterdisciplinary Social Studies (ISS) is an interdisciplinary publication of social studies and writing which publishes papers to international audiences of social researchers. ISS aims to provide a forum for scholarly understanding of social studies and plays an important role in promoting the ...