Effect of Compaction Method on Compaction Characteristics of Laterite

Abstract

Four lateritic soil samples collected from different borrow pits in Niger State, Nigeria, were classified as A-7-6, A-2-6, A-7-6 and A-4 according to American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officers (AASHTO) soil classification system. They were compacted using two compaction methods highlighted in BS 1377 (BSI, 1990); The first method is that specified for soils that do not crumble under repeated loading using one sample unit which is repulverised and recompacted at each testing point. The second method is that specified for soils that are susceptible to crumble under repeated loading using a fresh sample for each compaction test point. It was observed that the second method yielded higher maximum dry densities (MDD) and lower Optimum moisture content (OMC) for all the soil samples tested. However, the advantage of small soil samples required for the first method out-weighed the increased MDD obtained in the second method.