Experimental investigation of air-dried and oven dried

lateritic soil samples and influence on their properties

Under the guidance of

Dr B.M Sunil
Presented by
Krishnappa H
09GT09F

Outline

Introduction
Literature review
Objective
Methodology
Results
References

Introduction

: Lateritic Soils

1.

Laterization is the removal of silicone through hydrolysis and oxidation that

results in the formation of laterites and lateritic soils.

2.

Location : Laterites and lateritic materials occur frequently throughout the

tropics and subtropics.

3.

Degree of laterization : defined as intense concentration of haematite in soils.

Method of preparation
Air dried soil samples air dried under normal ambient temperature in shed, 25300c.
Oven dried soil samples dried in an electrical oven to constant weight at 1100 c

Condition of laterization
1. Availability of iron rich minerals in parent bed rock.

2. High soil permeability and ground water movement

through soil.
3. Presence of ample oxygen in the percolating ground
water in order to form iron oxide.
4. Presence of primarily neutral or acid geochemical
environment.

Objective
To find the index properties of the air dried lateritic soil.
To find the index properties of the oven dried lateritic soil.
Comparison of properties of both air dried and oven dried
lateritic soil.

Methodology
Collection of soil samples from different part of
NITK
.
Experimental investigation of index properties of soil
sample.
Interpretation of results.
Discussion on results

Location of samples
Prediction of the engineering behavior of the ground
requires knowledge of the variation of the soil in situ.
Details of locality are :
1. Native vegetation - rainforest
2. Annual rainfall 2000mm
3. Average daily max. temperature - 32
4. Landform western ghats of coastal India.
5. Distribution of samples Area > 150 acres, Depth
limited to few meters.

Literature review
Coreia (1969), Result of the fractional identification of three
lateritic gravels.

Morin (1969), Mineralogy and index properties of some

african lateritic residual soil.
Ruddock, (1969), Properties and position in lateritic ground
:Some statistical relationships.
Za-chieh Moh,(1969), Effects of method of preparation of
index properties of lateritic soils.

Summary of literature review

From literature survey it has been observed that air or
oven drying reduced the liquid and plastic limit value.
Greater changes observed in soils containing
montmorillonite.
The high iron content contributes to the high strength
and low compressibility of lateritic soil.

Experimental work carried out

All soils from different four sites were tested accordance with the
procedures outlined in ASTM(1965).

Physical properties determined include :

1. Specific gravity
2. Grain size distribution
3. Liquid limit, plastic limit, shrinkage limits.
4. Compaction test
5. CBR test.
10

Results
Oven
dried
samples

Core
cutter
Dry
density
g/cc

Water
content
%

Specific
gravity

Sieve Analysis
Gravel % Coarse Medium
sand % sand %

Fine sand
%

Sample 1

1.723

15.26

2.57

60

10

20

10

Sample 2

1.8

12.46

2.64

20

20

46

14

Sample 3

1.931

8.13

2.56

42

18

26

14

Sample 4

1.64

20.49

2.58

36

16

38

10

Air dried Core

samples cutter
Dry
densit
y g/cc

Water
content
%

Speci
fic
gravit Grave Coarse
y
l%
sand %

Sieve Analysis
Medium
sand %

Fine
sand %

Silt
&Clay

Sample 1

1.729

14.80

2.56

50

10

22

14

Sample 2

1.84

12.65

2.61

24

36

30

10

Sample 3

1.861

10.16

2.58

53

13

24

10

Sample 4

1.75

18.4

2.55

42

18

28

12

011

Oven
dried
samples

Compacti
on Dry
density
g/cc

OMC
%

Sample 1

1.826

Sample 2

Hydrometer Analysis

CBR

Clay %

Silt%

Unsoaked

soaked

16.5

27.82

22.18

9.6

2.62

1.969

11.69

27.36

22.62

14.3

7.29

Sample 3

1.936

14.89

27.56

22.44

18.29

2.91

Sample 4

1.782

17

27.26

22.74

26.27

1.4

Air dried
samples

Compacti
on Dry
density
g/cc

OMC
%

Sample 1

1.939

15.53

26.91

Sample 2

1.898

14.98

Sample 3

1.867

Sample 4

1.829

Hydrometer Analysis
Clay %

Silt%

CBR
Unsoaked

soaked

23.09

1.22

27.39

22.61

14.3

4.37

15.28

27.75

22.25

76.78

1.81

17.06

27.63

22.37

0.58

0.87
12

Conclusions
The results presented above clearly indicate
that the method of sample preparation prior to
the testing has effect on the Atter-berg limits
and grain-size distribution of lateritic soils.

13

References
Coreia (1969), Result of the fractional identification of three
lateritic gravels.

Morin (1969), Mineralogy and index properties of some african

lateritic residual soil.
Ruddock, (1969), Properties and position in lateritic ground
:Some statistical relationships.
Za-chieh Moh,(1969), Effects of method of preparation of index
properties of lateritic soils.

14

Thank you

15