Proceedings of CIVIL2012 @ UNILORIN 4th Annual & 2nd International Conference of

Civil Engineering 4-6 July, 2012

Engineering Properties of Used and Unused Laterite

Soils

**A.O. Adeboje, *O.S. Olaniyan and *O.S. Oladeji and *O.M.Osuolale

*Department of Civil Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
**Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Lagos,
Lagos, Nigeria
email – oluwaniretimi4sure@yahoo.com
Abstract

It is difficult to assess the strength parameters of lateritic soils from existing

literature due to variability in test methods, degree of compaction and soil
characteristics. This paper describes some significant engineering properties
of both used and unused laterite soils, and also examines the reusability of
laterite soil in construction of local houses. Disturbed samples of both used
and unused laterite soils were investigated. The tests carried out are sieve
analysis, atterberg limits, specific gravity, british standard compaction, air-dry
moisture content, triaxial compression and compressive strength.
The results from the study revealed that the geotechnical properties of the
unused laterite soil samples are better than that of the used laterite soil
samples. The compressive strength of unused laterite soil is greater than that
of used laterite soil hence they are more suitable, preferable and safer to be
used for construction of local houses than the used laterite soil. The used
laterite soil can however be re-used or reutilized to build local houses by
addition of 0.5% portland cement. Futhermore, addition of 0.75% portland
cement to the used laterite soil makes it stronger and more suitable for
construction than the unused laterite soil.
Keywords: Laterite, compaction, geotechnic, reutilize, strength.

1.0 Introduction
Laterite as a soil group rather than a particular material is more commonly
found in the leached soil of humid tropics. It is difficult to assess the strength
parameters of lateritic soils from the existing literature due to variability in
test methods, degree of compaction, and actual soil characteristics (Attoh –
Okine and Fekpe, 1999). This paper thus describes some significant
engineering properties of both used and unused laterite. It also examine the
reusability of laterite soil in construction of local houses by comparing the

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Proceedings of CIVIL2012 @ UNILORIN 4th Annual & 2nd International Conference of
Civil Engineering 4-6 July, 2012

geotechnical properties of used and unused laterite soil. The effect of portland
cement as addictive on the used laterite soil was also investigated.
The study involves collection of disturbed sample ( sample whose strata layer
has been distorted) for the two types of specimen – the used and unused soils.
The unused soil samples were collected from Igbo-Ile, Iresa Adu and the used
soil samples were collected from General area, Ogbomoso. The tests carried
out include grading size analysis, atterberg limits (liquid, plastic and shrinkage
limits), specific gravity, british standard compaction, air-dry moisture content,
triaxial compression and compressive strength.

2.0 Methodology
This research involves collection of disturbed sample for both the used and
unused laterite soils. The tests carried out include sieve analysis, Atterberg
limits (liquid, plastic and shrinkage limits), specific gravity, british standard
compaction, air-dry moisture content, triaxial compression and compressive
strength. Samples A1 – A5 represent unused laterite soils while samples B1 –
B5 represent used laterite soils.
The specific gravity (SG) soil is given by the expression:
( )
SG = 1

Where W = weight of water displaced by the soil

W1 = weight of density bottle (empty)
W2 = weight of bottle + soil
The experiments were conducted in compliance with BS 1377 (1990). The
experimental procedures and full details are avalable in Adeboje (2003).

3.0 Discussion of Results

From the curves of the grain size analysis of both used and unused laterite
soils, it can be deduced that the samples are well graded. The curves are given
in Adeboje (2003). The percentage of soil material passing through No.200
BS sieve are (66.15 - 75.06) % and (10.72 - 13.11) % for unused and used
laterite soil samples respectively. The percentage of soil material passing
through No 40.BS sieve are (83.09 - 87.44) % and (33.03 - 37.34) % for
unused and used samples respectively and the percentage of material passing
through No.10 BS sieve are (92.42 - 94.26) % and (53.34 - 60.78) % for used
sample. The values obtained from selected set of samples and sieve fall within
acceptable limits. Both used and unused samples have constituents of silt,
sand and gravel.

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Proceedings of CIVIL2012 @ UNILORIN 4th Annual & 2nd International Conference of
Civil Engineering 4-6 July, 2012

Federal Ministry of works and housing (1973) recommended liquid limit of

50% maximum, plastic limit of 30% maximum and plasticity index of 20%
maximum for use in construction work. All the results obtained from this
study fall within this range and satisfy the condition for construction. Except
for sample A1 and A2 where the plasticity index is slightly higher than
specification. Hence, all samples except samples A1 and A2 are suitable for
construction work.
The addition of cement (a binding medium) to the used laterite soil at 0.25,
0.50 and 0.75, the strength of the used laterite soil increased as shown in Plate
1. It was deduced that the strength of the used soil samples were improved to
equal that of the unused soil samples by the addition of 0.5% cement at
specified age. The strength of the used soil samples were improved beyond
that of the unused soil samples by the addition of 0.75% cement (see Table 1
and 2).

Table 1: Average Compressive Strength for Unused Laterite

Age Samples ID Sample 1 Sample 1 Average
(Days) Compressive Compressive Compressive
Strength Strength (kN/ Strength
(kN/mm2) mm2) (kN/mm2)
7 A5 2.20 2.10 2.15
14 A5 2.90 2.90 2.90
21 A5 2.30 2.20 2.25
28 A5 2.30 2.30 2.30

Table 2: Average Compressive Strength for Used Laterite

Age Samples ID Sample 1 Sample 1 Average
(Days) Compressive Compressive Compressive
Strength Strength (kN/ Strength
(kN/mm2) mm2) (kN/mm2)
7 B5 1.50 1.50 1.50
14 B5 1.70 1.80 1.75
21 B5 1.40 1.50 1.45
28 B5 1.40 1.50 1.45

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Proceedings of CIVIL2012 @ UNILORIN 4th Annual & 2nd International Conference of
Civil Engineering 4-6 July, 2012

Plate 1: Graph of Compressive Strength against Curing Ages

From Plate 1, brown line represents the curve for the used laterite soil while
the purple line represents the curve for the unused laterite soils (when cement
has not been added). When the used laterite soil was stabilized, lemon, blue
and sky blue lines represent the curves for stabilized used laterite soils at
various percentages, that is at 0.25%, 0.50% and 0.75.

4.0 Conclusion

The geotechnical properties of the unused laterite soil samples are better than
that of the used laterite soil samples because the used soil had earlier
undergone leaching thereby altering its engineering properties. Since the used
laterite soils had earlier undergone compaction, the values of its optimum
moisture content, maximum dry density, plastic limits, liquid limit and
shrinkage limit are lesser than that of unused soils. The results from
compressive strength revealed that the strength of unused laterite soil is
greater than that of the used laterite soil. By the addition of 0.5% of cement,
the reduction in the strength of the used laterite soil was made up for
(equalized) thereby giving a compressive strength which is comparable or
equal to that of the unused laterite soil.

The unused or naturally existing laterite soils are preferable to be used for
construction of local houses than the used laterite soil. The unused laterite
soils are suitable and safe for the construction of local houses in Ogbomoso.

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Proceedings of CIVIL2012 @ UNILORIN 4th Annual & 2nd International Conference of
Civil Engineering 4-6 July, 2012

The used laterite soil can however be re-used or reutilised to build local
houses by addition of 0.5% portland cement. Furthermore, addition of 0.75%

of portland cement to the used soil makes it stronger and even more suitable
for construction even than the unused soil.

References
Attoh-Okine, N.O. and Fekpe, E.S.K. (1999). Strength characteristics
modeling of lateritic soils using adaptive neural networks.
Gidigasu, M.D. (1974). Degree of weathering the identification of
LateriteMaterialsfor Engineering Purpose, Elsevier Scientific publisher, New
York.
Laa Archwichai, Winit Youngme, Surachai Somphadung, Somwang
Changsuwan, Pansak Wannakao, Somyot Hokjaroen, Ladda Wannakao
(2003). Engineering properties of lateritic soils from Khon Kaen and its
vicinity, Thailand, Journal of Southeast Asian Earth Sciences, Volume 8,
Issues 1-4, Pages 549-556.
Egwurube, J.A. (2001). Geotechnical properties of Tropically weathered Soils
of Nigeria- A Review, Nigeria Journal of Tropical Engineering. (2).1 pp 55-
60.
Adeboje, A. O. (2003). Comparative Evaluation of Engineering properties of
used and unused Laterite soils in Ogbomoso”. Unpublished B.Tech. Thesis
submittted to Department of Civil Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
BS (1990). Methods of Test for the Classification of Soils for the
Determination of Basic Physical Properties”, British Standards Institution,
London.
Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, (1973). Highway Manual Part I:
Road Design, Lagos.
O’Flaherty, C. A. (2002). Highways: The Location, design, Construction and
maintenance of Road Construction, Fourth Edition, Butterworth – Heinemann,
London.

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