Laterite and Lateritic Soils and Other Problem Soils
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LATERITE AND LATERITIC SOILS AND OTHER PROBLEM SOILS AFRICA An Engineering Study for AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AID/csd-2164 I 1 LYON ASSOCIATES, INC. I Baltimore, MaryIand, U. S. A. 1 I BUILDING & ROAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE, t Kumrsi, Ghana - - -. i 1 1 BESTAV/4!LABLE COPY : LATERITE AND LATERITIC SOILS AKD OTHER PROBLEM SOILS AFRICA DEVELOPMENT OF ENGINEERING STAND- ARDS AND CRITERIA FOR THE USAGE OF LATERITE, LATERITIC SOILS, AND OTHER PROBLEM SOILS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, HIGHWAYS AND AIRFIELDS An Engineering Study for AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AID/csd-2164 June, 1971 LYON ASSOCIATES, INC. Baltimore, Maryland, U. S.A. B'CI'ILDING & ROAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE, Kumasi, Ghana TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No . Acknowledgements ........................................... ix-x-xi Chapter 1. Introduction .......................................... 1 Conclusions .............................................. 2 Chapter 2. Engineering Implications of Tropical Weathering and Laterization .................... 5 Introduction .............................................. 5 Weathering ............................................... 5 Profiles of Weathering .......................................... 6 Hydrated and Dehydrated Laterite ..................................... 6 Conclusion ............................................... 6 Chapter 3. Regional Setting and Genetic Classification .............................. 9 Summary of Physiography and Geology of Africa .............................. 9 Geology of Ghana ............................................ 13 Soil Forming Factors and Profile Development ............................... 14 References ............................................... 27 Chapter 4. Literature Review on the Engineering Characteristics of Lateritic Soils .................. 29 Introduction .............................................. 29 Chemical. Mineralogical and Physico-Chemical Characteristics ......................... 29 Physical and Engineering Properties .................................... 30 Density and Compaction Characteristics .................................. 33 Consolidation and Permeability Characteristics ............................... 34 Utilization of Lateritic Soils ....................................... 34 Stabilization of Lateritic Soils ....................................... 35 References ............................................... 36 Chapter 5. Engineering Properties of Tropically Weathered African Soils ...................... 39 Introduction .............................................. 39 Soil Grouping ............................................. 39 Discussion ............................................... 39 Correlation of Physical and Engineering Properties .............................. 45 Effects of Drying on Properties ...................................... 51 Summary of Findings Regarding Major Groups ............................... 56 Collapsing Soils ............................................. 57 Conclusions .............................................. 57 References ............................................... 57 Chapter 6. Test Procedures and Pretreatment ................................. 61 Introduction .............................................. 61 Procedures ............................................... 61 Durability and Aggregate Strength ..................................... 69 Expansion ............................................... 72 Conclusions and Recommendations .................................... 73 References ............................................... 75 Chapter 7. Air Photo Interpretation ..................................... 77 Introduction .............................................. 77 Identification of Laterites and Other Tropical Soils .............................. 77 Color Photography for Present Study ................................... 80 Description of Plates 1. 2 and 3 ...................................... 81 Description of Plates 4. 5 and 6 ...................................... 81 References ............................................... 81 Chapter 8. Suitability of Current Engineering Classification Systems for Tropically Weathered Soils ........... 83 Introduction .............................................. 83 Applicability of Existing Classification Systems ............................... 83 References ............................................... 85 Chapter 9. Stabilization of Selected African Lateritic Gravels and Soils ....................... 87 Introduction .............................................. 87 Scope ................................................. 87 Materials ............................................... 87 Procedures for Lime and Cement ..................................... 87 pHMethod .............................................. 91 Sand Stabilization ............................................ 91 Asphalt Stabilization .......................................... 91 Results and Discussion .......................................... 91 Asphalt Stabilization .......................................... 107 Conclusions .............................................. 108 References ............................................... 110 Chapter 10. Proposed Pavement Test Sections ................................. 113 Introduction .............................................. 113 Selection of Factors ........................................... 113 Strength ................................................ 113 Base Thickness ............................................. 113 Load Factors .............................................. 113 Regional Factors ............................................ 113 Number of Test Lengths Within One Region ................................. 115 Lengths of Sections ........................................... 115 . Construction Control .......................................... 115 Testing Program ............................................ 115 References ............................................... 116 Chapter 11. A Survey of Pavement Design Procedures in Africa .......................... 117 Introduction .............................................. 117 Design Procedures ............................................ 117 Material Specifications .......................................... 118 Conclusion ............................................... 120 References ............................................... 120 Chapter 12. Pavement Condition Survey ................................... 121 Introduction .............................................. 121 Scope ................................................. 121 Procedure ............................................... 121 Results ................................................ 126 Analysis and Discussion ......................................... 129 Detailed Investigation .......................................... 133 Conclusions and Findings ........................................ 141 References ............................................... 141 Chapter 13. Pavement Design Procedures and Specifications for Tropical Soils .................... 143 Introduction .............................................. 143 Design Procedure ............................................ 143 Design Charts ............................................. 143 Specifications ............................................. 146 Discussion ............................................... 147 Chapter 14. Applications of Tropical Soils in Construction Other Than in Roads or Highways ............. 151 Building Materials ............................................ 151 Foundations .............................................. 152 Slopes in Lateritic Soils ......................................... 153 Earth Dams .............................................. 159 References ............................................... 161 Chapter 15. A Review of the Literature on Tropical Black Clays and Black Cotton Soils ............... 163 Introduction .............................................. 163 Definitions ............................................... 163 Occurrences .............................................. 163 Morphological. Chemical and Mineralogical Characteristics ........................... 166 Environment and Formation of Black Tropical Soils ............................. 168 Geotechnical Properties of Tropical Black Clays ............................... 170 Engineering Properties .......................................... 170 References ............................................... 177 Chapter 16. Geographical Distribution and Physical Properties of African Black Clay Soils .............. 183 Introduction .............................................. 183 Scope ................................................. 183 Geographical Distribution ........................................ 183 Test Procedures and Results ....................................... 186 Discussion of Properties ......................................... 191 Conclusions .............................................. 197 References ............................................... 198 Chapter 17. Design Considerations for Roads over Tropioal Black Clays ...................... 199 Introduction .............................................. 199 Recent Design Practices ......................................... 199 Stabilization .............................................. 202 Recommended Design Procedure ....................................