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Properties of Ironstone Lateritic Gravels in Relation to Gravel Road Pavement Construction

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Abstract

A laboratory investigation was conducted to determine properties of five samples of ‘oolitic ironstone’ lateritic gravel aggregates which are relevant to their use as road construction materials. Measured values of physico-chemical, physico-mechanical as well as index properties and compaction characteristics are similar to those of other lateritic, gravels occurring in West Africa which are used in road pavement applications. These lateritic clayey gravels have good workability as engineering construction materials and are rated fair to good as road aggregates in terms of probable in-situ behaviour based on water absorption values. Relationships between maximum dry unit weight and optimum moisture content as well as those between California bearing ratio and some derived soil parameters such as grading modulus, plasticity product or plasticity modulus can be described using a third-order polynomial function. The maximum dry unit weight has a bimodal frequency distribution and can be predicted from logarithm to base 10 of compaction energy with fairly good accuracy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, 600004, Borno State, Nigeria

    C. M. O. Nwaiwu

  2. Borno State Agricultural Development Programme, P.M.B. 1452, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

    I. B. K. Alkali

  3. Ministry of Works and Housing, Damaturu, Yobe State, Nigeria

    U. A. Ahmed

Authors
  1. C. M. O. Nwaiwu
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  2. I. B. K. Alkali
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  3. U. A. Ahmed
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Correspondence to C. M. O. Nwaiwu.

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Nwaiwu, C.M.O., Alkali, I.B.K. & Ahmed, U.A. Properties of Ironstone Lateritic Gravels in Relation to Gravel Road Pavement Construction. Geotech Geol Eng 24, 283–298 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-004-6374-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-004-6374-7

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