Effect of Granular Materials Inclusion on Shrinkage Behaviour of Compacted Lateritic Soils
Authors: Nwaiwu CMO, Ojuah SC, Uzodinma FC
DOI Info: N/A
ABSTRACT
The effect of granular materials inclusion on shrinkage behavior of compacted lateritic soils was carried out in this study. Specimens prepared from three lateritic samples were admixed with varying percentages of sand and quarry dust independently and subsequently compacted using British Standard light (BSL) and British Standard Heavy (BSH) compaction energies. The optimum moisture contents from the compactions were obtained and then the volumetric shrinkage strain measured after drying for ten (10) days under laboratory conditions. Results of this study indicated that for the lateritic soils tested, volumetric shrinkage strain is influenced by soil composition, moulding water content relative to optimum moisture content and compaction energy. Volumetric shrinkage strain decreased with addition of sand or quarry dust for all specimens. The general trend for the natural and admixed soils shows that as compaction energy increases, volumetric shrinkage strain decreases. Specimens compacted with a higher compaction energy (BSH) at -2%OMC and OMC had a volumetric shrinkage below 4% while those compacted on the wet (+2%OMC) of optimum had a maximum volumetric strain of 5.85%. However, specimens compacted with BSL had volumetric values of over 6.2% at -2%OMC and OMC, and over 12.12% on the wet side (+2%OMC) of optimum moisture content. Volumetric shrinkage in compacted lateritic soils is reduced by inclusion of granular materials, however, the extent to which the volumetric shrinkage strain is reduced is dependent on the compaction energy and moulding water content.
Affiliations: Department of Civil Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, PMB 5021 Awka Anambra State, Nigeria
Keywords: Laterite, Sand, Quarry Dust, Compaction, Compaction Effort, Volumetric Shrinkage Strain
Published date: 2020/06/30
