BuiM. Sci. Vol. 10, pp. 135-141. Pergamon Press 1975. Printed in Great Britain.

A Comparative Study of Normal Concrete

With Concrete Which Contained Laterite
Instead of Sand
D. ADEPEGBA*
T,#is"paper reports the use o f soft laterite as fine aggregate hi structural concrete.
The modulus o f elasticit.l' o f I "1~ :3 by weight ~f concrete mix which contained
soft laterite as fine aggregate was 1 8 4 0 k g m m -2 (2.62x 1061b/'in -2) as
compared with the modulus o f elasticiO' o f normal concrete mix o f 1:2:4 of
2025 kg mm -2 (2"88 x 10 ~' lbfin-2), whilst the compre.~'ice strength was
2"47 kg mm - 2 (3525 lbf in - z) against 2.82 kg mm -~- (40001hf in-'-) for
normal 1:2:4 mix.
The eff~'ct of exposure to high temperature of concrete which contained
laterite is' about the same as that j o r normal concrete./br t,ariou.~ mixes considered in the tests.
Two rectangular reinforced concrete beams were tested zo pilot jurther
im,estigations: one with normal concrete mix of 1:2:4 and the other with the
concrete 1:1:3 with soft laterite as fine aggregate instead Of sand. The
ultimate moments of resistance qf the two beams are ahnost the ,~ame although
the beam of normal concrete qffk, r.v greater flexural rigidity throughout and
deflexions o f the beam with 1:1:3 mix with laterite fines de[letted about twice
as much as the normal concrete beam o[" 1:2:4 mix prior to the appearance o["
flexural cracks in both beams. The phenomenon still requires further hwe.vtigation. The ~:ff~<'t oJ' creep on various O'pes (~/"structural elements cast with the
concrete containing laterite fines instead o f sand will need to bc studied b~/bre
concluding on suitability of the material fi)r structural work.

INTRODUCTION

for normal concrete economic considerations may

necessitate experimenting with suitable locally
occuring materials such as laterite.
The aim of this paper is to report tile results of an
experiment on the uses of laterite as fine aggregate
in concrete and also to compare and contrast at
ambient and elevated temperatures the behaviour
of the resulting matrix with normal concrete which
contained sharp sand as fine aggregate.

A L T H O U G H the use of concrete plain and reinforced is universal there are some parts of the
world in which suitable concrete aggregate such as
sharp sand, gravel or granite are either not available
or are available in limited quantity. In some of such
areas there are large deposits of possible substitute
materials like rock and soft laterites in most parts of
Africa, Asia and America. This paper therefore
concerns itself with the possibility of replacing the
sharp sand in concrete mixes with soft laterite.
The technology of concrete is no longer restricted
to the use of the conventional materials. Evans[l]
has experimented with Aglite and reported that the
resulting concrete compared favourably with
normal concrete. Blast-furnace slag[2] has been
used to replace gravel in concrete mixes. Similarly
Norsk Leca[3] (lightweight expanded clay aggregatet has been used successfully in reinforced
concrete. Most innovations in materials development and uses have been found to originate from
either economic or design considerations. In
countries where there is scarcity of suitable materials

MATERIALS
The sand and the gravel used throughout the tests
came from river Ogun in Nigeria. The grading
curves for the sand and the gravel are shown in
terms of the British standard in figure I(a). The soft
laterite (used to replace sand) was supplied from a
pit about 32kin (20 miles) outside Lagos. The
mechanical analysis of this laterite gave the following results: gravel 5, sand 48, silt 12, and clay 35 ')~o.
The mineralogy indicated[4] that the clay was pure,
well crystallized kaolin with a pH value of 5.1 ')J;j,
organic matter content of 0.09'!;, exchangeable
sodium percentage (ESP) of 1"5",i, and moisture
content (as received) of 4-87~,. The chemical
analysis gave the following results SiO 2 67,

*Dr. 1). Adepegba is a Senior Lecturer at the University of

Lagos, Nigeria,
135

136

D. Adepegba

Clockhouse compression testing machine. The specimens were weighed on an Avery weighing balance.
Firing of the specimens was done in a large oitlired furnace in the foundry of lhe Nigerian Railways Corporation. The temperature in the furnace
was measured with a pyromete~ reading up to a
maximum of 1600C (2912"F) mamifactured by the
Industrial Pyrometer Company limited, England.
I

o~

200

72
52
25
t
- - - - B , S . Sieve n u m b e r s . . . . . .

Fig.

l(a).

i_ i

_-- . . . . . .

Swve analysis' of sand and gravel.

B.S. s i e v e n u m b e r s
3 0 0 2 0 0 150 I00 72 52 36 25 18

14 I0

I
7'[

70

,o//

6o

5o
.~

~6

40

20
I0
006

D E T E R M I N A T I O N OF WATER
CONTENT FOR VARIOUS M I X E S

3A6in
31sin
i/2 in
3,9. ~n
~b"~Aperture
size-in
"

02

06

P u r t " i c t e size,
--

mm
--

Wef

analysis

Dry

analysis

Fig. l(b). Dry and wet analysis" of laterite fines.

A 1 2 0 3 17"1, TiO 2 1'0, FezO 3 5"6, MgO 0.1.

K 2 0 0"1 and SO3 0.3 ~/{;. Ignition loss is 7 6 5o. The
laterite was pulverized before use to facilitate
mixing. The dry and wet sieve analysis are shown in
figure l(b). Tests carried out with samples of the soft
laterite have been reproduced after two years using
samples with varied mosture content as dug from
the pit at different depths. Atterberg--limits test
gave liquid limit 58.3 ~{, plastic limit 22-75 o,, and
plasticity index 35 o/. The soft laterite used in this
test therefore comes within the group of "stable"
laterite soil in accordance with the recent classification of laterite materials by Gidigasu[5].

INSTRUMENTATION
The mixer used throughout the test was a mobile
rotating drum type mixer manufactured by Gilson.
The modulus of elasticity of the various concrete
mixes was determined by loading in compression
cylindrical specimens 15.24 cm dia. 30.48 cm high (6
by 12 in.) and the deformation measured with a
Compressometer. All specimens were tested in a

A test was carried out on dry !aterite fines (zero

moisture content) to determine its capacity for
water absorption. Water was added to a weighed
quantity of laterite fines in smalI increments, More
water was added alter thorough mixing until it was
observed that the back of the hand was wetted when
placed on the laterite fines. Thc weight of water
which was absorbed was 16 !~/, of the weight of dry
laterite fines.
Another test was carried out to determine the
optimum moisture content of various mixtures of
laterite fines and cement by the standard Proctor
test. The variation of optimum moisture content
with cement/laterite percent is shown in figure 2. It
was observed that the average optimum moisture
content was about 17!~;i for various mixtures. In
order to compare dry sand with mixtures of laterite
fines and cement it was assumed that a mixture of
laterite fines and cement at its optimum moisture
content is not capable of absorbing more water .just
a~, sand is non absorbent. The quantity of water
added to normal concrete mixes was determined
from a water/cement ratio of 0.6 whereas the
quantity of water added to concrete which contained
laterite was made up of 0.6 of weight of cement plus
17 '~'i;of the weight of laterite fines and cement+

:ol

i!
E

15,

~ o L _ ~
:"
io

i ..... ~
20
30

......................................
40
5,o
60
?L

Cement/laterite.

80

f-Tg. 2. Optimum moisture conten[ Of laterite-cement

mortar.

MIXING PROCEDURE
AND PROPORTION
The mixing procedure for att mixes which contained laterite instead of sand was given special
attention because of the tendency for laterite to
become plastic when wet. About half of the coarse

Study o1" Normal Concrete With Concrete Which Contained Laterite Instead of Sand
aggregate was first fed into the mixer followed by all
the laterite and then the cement. The remaining
coarse aggregate was fed into the mixer last. Mixing
was continued for about two minutes without water,
thereafter water was slowly added and mixing was
continued until uniform mix was obtained.
The mixing of the normal concrete (concrete
which contained sand) was done by feeding the
mixer with all the coarse aggregate followed by
cement and lastly by sand. Mixing was continued
for about two minutes without water, thereafter
water was slowly added and mixing was continued
until uniform mix was obtained.
The concrete which contained laterite took longer
time to produce uniform mix than the normal
concrete. This is due to the fact that laterite when
wet becomes plastic and stiff due to its clay content
and thus becomes very resistant to the intrusion of
coarse aggregate during mixing.
Throughout the tests the ratio of fine to coarse
aggregate was kept constant at I 2. The only
variable is the cement content.
SCOPE OF TESTS
AND
C U R I N G OF T E S T S P E C I M E N S

The tests were designed to yield a critical comparison of normal concrete with concrete which
contains laterite instead of sand as fine aggregate.
The following properties were investigated:
(i) the density, which was determined from the
weights of cylinder and cube specimens at ambient
temperature and after cooling from various
elevated temperatures,
(ill the compressive and tensile strengths of
specimens at ambient temperature and after cooling
from various elevated temperatures.
(iii) the modulus of" elasticity of specimens at
ambient temperature and after cooling from
elevated lemperatures.

Table I, ,4~,~re~,ate<'cement ratio and corresponding mix

proportion
Aggregate/cemenl
ratio

Corresponding
mix
proportion by weight

30
15
10
7-5
6.0
4.9
4.3

1:10:20
1:5:10
I :3"3:6-7
I :2"5:5
1:2:4
1: 1-6:3-3
1: 1.4:2.9

Table I shows the various aggregate/cement

ratios with the corresponding mix proportions by
,aeight of the various mixes tested using (i) the

137

normal concrete in which sand was the fine aggregate and (it) the concrete in which the fine aggregate
was laterite instead of sand.
The specimens were cured at room temperatures
in the laboratory without cover or wet curing.
EXPERIMENTAL

PROCEDURE

The specimens were demoulded 24 h after casting

and stored in the laboratory without cover or wet
curing for 60 days after which they were fired.
Forced drying of specimens was avoided as much
as possible. This method of curing was adopted in
order to minimise the free water which was evaporated at elevated temperatures.
The oil-fired furnace was calibrated five times to
ensure uniformity of temperature in the furnace.
The specimens were arranged in one layer on the
floor of the furnace before the furnace was ignited.
The rate of development of heat was slower at temperatures below 200C (392F) because part of the
heat was lost to the furnace material and the steam
generated from the evaporated free water in the
specimens. At temperatures above 20OC (392<'F)
the rate at which the temperature increased in the
furnace was about 100'C (212:F) per hour. The rate
of firing was kept constant throughout the tests.
Specimens were removed from the furnace at
100C (212<F), 3 0 0 C (572<'F), 5 0 0 C (932'F) and
700~C {1292('F) and allowed to cool slowly in the
laboratory until they were tested 48 h after removal
from the furnace.
At least three specimens were tested for the
determination of each property investigated. About
300 cube specimens 15.24 cm (6 in) were tested for
the determination of the compressive strengths of
the various mixes. About 300 capped cylinders
30.48 cm high, 15.24 cm diameter (12 by 6 in.) were
tested in direct compression and ~trains were
recorded for the determination of modulus of
elasticity and stress strain characteristics. For the
determination of the tensile strengths of the various
mixes about 300 cylinders were tested in indirect
tension. In order to determine the density of the
various mixes all the specimens were weighed
before testing.
SUMMARY AND C O N C L U S I O N S
Dcn,~ity
The density of the unheated specimens which
contained laterite as fine aggregate was 2180
k g m -3 (1351bfft -3) for various percentages of
cement content whereas the density of the unheated
specimens of normal concrete tconcrete which
contained sand as fine aggregate) was 2340 kg m - 3
(145 lbfft-~) for aggregate/cement ratio equal to
or less than 10. For aggregate!cement ratio greater

138

D. A d e p e g b a

than 10 the density was 2240 kg m - 3 (138 Ibf ft- 3).

Table 2 shows the variation of density with temperature for all fired specimens.

/ /

30
100
300
500
700

2i80-(135)
2080 (129)
2020 (125)
1970(123)
1890 (117)

86212
572
932
1292

Co~crete <~ntalnlng
fne aggregote

.....

Concrefe con%oinin0 Iot"ente

/[

zsG

/'~

/
6000 i

2240(i38)
2170 (134)
2080 (129)
2020(125)
2020 (125)

,:~

53 67mix
? 5 5 0 m~x

" "

~...~---~B

20 m~

: 2 40mix
6 3~mix

E
c~

I
i ,, yf, 5

Condo

Concrete which contained

sand density (kg m- s)
Aggregate/ Aggregate/
cement
cemenl
> 10
-<. 10

i{

sond a~

as f m e l~qregate

//

?SOOi

Temperature
of specimen
before
cooling
(C)
(F)

......

3' /

Table 2. Variation o f density with temperature

Concrete
which
contained
laterite
density
(all mixes)
(kgm --a)

s .....

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

, /

i /
i i

i~J52
i

45oo~ t /// ,'/'E

/

.500O

2340(,145)
2290 (142)
2240 (139)
2220(137)
2220 (137)

i~39

~D

i"
~ ""

:Y20

,w~,

,.f...---'~-

:a

~---Z-'~Z....... [ _ _ ,

5O0

Figures in parenthesis are in psf units.

Iooo

............................ Jo

~500

8OO0

25,~

3000

~0

Micro - stralp

Fig. 3. Stress-strain characteristics jot unheated specime/ix,

Physical appearance o f specimens

The normal concrete specimens and the specimens of the concrete which contained laterite
responded in similar manner to firing. The specimens fired to 100C (212F) showed no visible
crack after removal from fire and also after 24 h
cooling. All the specimens fired to 300C (572' F)
developed visible cracks in the furnace at about
120C (248F) and the cracks increased in number
and in width as the specimens cooled after removal
from the furnace. At 500C (932F) more cracks
developed during firing and while the specimens
were being cooled. A mesh of cracks was observed
at temperatures above 500C (932F) at which
temperature 40-60 /o of the compressive and tensile
strengths of the specimens had been destroyed,

,o,~ r- ......................................
i
.

~001

~-~
cor, t a F , m~ s o n ~ as

Concrele

i
4 ~ ~6

free

aqgregote

/ E ond F
......

Concrete

contomg

o t e r t e os b n e

et~gre~ote
""

7500,i

/
i

~ '0:0

5 IO n/i~
i 3 3 6 t,,~
! 25 50mi~
2 a m~=
' 6 35m,

c
9
E
;

l
,

~
8

mi~

!s b ~
i

jl

42g-

'

!
i2

Stress-strain characteristic

The stress-strain characteristics of normal concrete mix and that of the mix which contained
laterite instead of sand are shown in figures 3-6,
Figure 3 shows the stress-strain characteristic for
the unheated specimens. Figures 4-6 show the
stress-strain characteristics for specimens removed
from the furnace at 100C (212F), 300C (572"F),
and 500C (932F) respectively.
The modulus of elasticity for 1:2:4 mix (by
weight) normal concrete is 2025 kg m m z (2,88 x
106 lbf in - z ) whereas the modulus of elasticity for
1:1.4:2"9 mix proportion by weight of the concrete
which contained laterite as fine aggregate is 1840
kg m m - 2 (2.62 x 106 lbfin-2). This observation
indicated that laterite may be used instead of sand
in structural concrete. However this conclusion
would need to be confirmed or refuted by the subsidiary test in which two similarly reinforced
rectangular concrete beams were tested.

50(3

~000

25O0

?OCK)

M~cro

5000

s.~./

sttCllF

Fig. 4. Stress-strain characteristics

,ibr

specimens heated

to 100C (21UF),

.................................................
i

........

7~ >(i
.....

~X)(X)

f:_

S'

: ~

i
i

"~st-

I ....

, ~re~e c)n*mmng sand o~

free a g g r e ~
Concrete c ' ~ t m m ~ ; i a * e n t e ~s
hne a g w e q o t e

i[

~E

i'

"o

d ,~

Jr7 m

s,o .

25

5oral,

; ]6

33n,,

.
!8~;"
I

oG G

/7/ /
/l///

i:s~

,~e//
....

5oo

iooo

Compressive and tensile strengths

Figure 7 shows the compressive strengths

obtained from cube crushing tests of unheated and

1500

15oo

8cx3<.

75oo

3ooo

5-'-)~}

Mlcro-stro,n

F~,. 5. Stress-.strain c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , f u r

to

300C (572 F).

specimens h e a t e d

139

Stud)' o f N o r m a l Concrete With Concrete Which Contained Laterite Instead o f Sand

IQS0C

149[
- -

heated specimens. A study of figure 7 shows that

the resistance to firing of normal concrete was not
better than that o f the concrete which contained
]aterite. Figures 8 and 9 s h o w the variation o f the
percentage unheated crushing strength retained
with temperature of firing. Figures 10 and 1 1 s h o w

Concrete containing sand os

fine aggrego~'e
- - 1278
Concrete containing laCerite as
fine aggregate

900C
------

tSOC

A
B
C
O

I : I 0 : 2 0 mix
1 : 5 : 1 0 mix
1:3.3:6 7mix
l:25:50
mix

1065

60OO

I 2"0:4"0 mix

852

F"
G

I 1.6:5"3 mix
1 . 1 4 2 9 mix

?
.

oF

212
'~.~-4~ ~

4500

-- 639
o

\ ~
:~000

426

1500

213

392
I ^

572
I

932

752
I

1112

T292

X DondE

80

\ B end C ~ : ' - ~ \

\
500

1000

2000

JSO

2500

3000

Micro-strain

3500

4--

~2fz

Fig. 6. Stress-strain characteristics for specimens heated

to 500 C (932F).

28,6~YO

2!2

~e2
]

972
'

752
I

HI2
I

'

110;20 m~x
f 5:lOmix
133 67mix
1:25 5 0 m i x
1:2.0:4.0 mix
F
I:16
33m~x
G I 14 2 9 r n l x

--

I00

200

%-_~\

400

300

fine oggr egafe

- Concrete confmnig l a f e r i t e
fine aggre~ale

A
B
C
E

0
1 ~

"

500

" t "\
"~

600

700

Fig. 9. Percentage of unheated crushing strength retained

after cooling for heated specimens of concrete which contained laterite as fine aggregate.

as

3500

I ~0 20 mix
I 5 IOmlX
I 33 67m~x

oC

C o n c r e t e containing send as

--

oF

25 5Omit

g
c:

20

"%%.

A
B
C
D
E

40 - -

4 COO

5,025

2,45C

932
I

"6

0
I00

7e7~

e-L

10750

'~

6(:

-~

4C - -

2~2

392

572

752

932

II 12

1292

6O0

700

x:

D"
c

P_

75O

8
~t,75

A
B
C
D

1 1 0 2 0 mix
1 5:lOmix
I 33:67mix
I 2550mix
1:20 4 0 m i x
116
33mix

E
F

~0

,T,,
o

Fi,e. 7. Variation of cube crushing strength of heated

specimens after cooling.
F
c

0
I00

212

592

592

932

II 12

1292

400

500

Fig. 10. Percentage of unheated tensile strength retained

after cooling Jor heated specimen.s of normal concrete.
c
6

212

Il-'t'~, ~-4-.

60

~ ~0
A

I I0 20 mix
40
c

~_

500

592

572

752

952

;112

':

1292

)
"g

2c

200

-g
752

~ ~0
"~

EO0

"6
&
2

II
I00

200

400

300

500

600

700

I:(~,. 8. Percentage of unheated crushing strength retained

alter eooling Jbr heated specimens of normal concrete.

Y_

20-

~A ~ ~

A
B
C
D
E
F
G

~ ~.~%.

~.

~ C

110:20 mr
I 5:lOmix
1:33 6 7 m i x
125 50mix
,:2 0 4 0 m i x
116 33mix
1:14 2 9 mix

\ G %-. \ o .
',. \~-~-~.
\D~'~"~_B
" - ~ ' ~ ' ~ > ~ ~c_~-~
~. ~ ~
:'\ ~ \ ~ .~F
C ~h~<'~'D ~\~'~
E~ \\
\
~'~
\\A\\
\
\

~-~

I00

200

500

4 O0

I
5C)0

600

"700

Fig. 1 1. Pereentage o f unheated tensile ,strength retained

aJier eooling fi~r heated speeimetr~ o f concrete which eonrained laterite as fine aggregate

140

D. A depegba

the variation of the percentage unheated tensile

strength retained with temperature of firing,
Observation shows that normal concrete mixes
gave higher compressive and higher tensile strengths
than those of concrete which contained laterite, for
the same mix proportions. This difference in
strengths was observed to reduce as aggregate
cement ratio decreased. For example at aggregate
cement ratio of 30 the compressive strength of
concrete which contained laterite was 36.5tq, of
that of normal concrete and at aggregate/cement
ratio of 4-3 the compressive strength of concrete
which contained laterite was 88.3'!~, of that of
normal concrete.
The normal concrete mix proportions of 1"2:4
by weight yielded a compressive strength of
2 . 8 2 k g m m -2 (4000 lbfin -2) at 60 days and the
new concrete mix which contained laterite yielded
a compressive strength of 2.47 kg r a m - 2 (3525
lbf in-2) for a mix proportion by weight of I ' 1.4:
2.9. This shows that the new concrete would require
slightly more cement than the normal concrete to
obtain a mix which would yield the same compressive strength.
All specimens of normal concrete cast from the
mixes with aggregate/cement ratio of 10 and above
retained only 80~o of the unheated compressive
strength at 500C (932F) whereas only 40-60 ,~i of
the unheated compressive strength was retained by
all mixes which contained laterite at this same
temperature. All specimens of the normal concrete
with aggregate/cement ratio less than l0 retained
4 0 - 6 0 ~ of the unheated compressive strength at
500C (932F).
The percentage unheated tensile strength retained
was between 25 and 45 ~O'oat 500C (932F) for the
two types of concrete although higher percentages
was retained for normal concrete when the aggregate/cement ratio was greater than 10. The tensile
strength of normal concrete was about i'~- of the
compressive strength for all mixes in this series of
tests whereas the tensile strength of the new mix
which contained laterite was between _]2 and ?~, of
the compressive strength.

The durability of concrete which contained

laterite fines is too early to predict. More research
has to be done under varying ,Acather conditions.
However the results which have been recorded from,
researches in progress on reintbrced laterized
concrete short columns and reinforced laterized
concrete rectangular beams are encouraging,
Subxidiarv te~t

Rectangular concrete beam 20 by I0 cm (8 by

4in.) and 214cm (7ft) long ~as reinforced in
tension with 3 of 12.7 cm (} in.) diameter bars with
1.5 cm cover and in compression with 2 of 9.5 cm
(~in.) diameter bars. For shear reinforcement
6.3 cm (] in.) diameter bars were provided at
20.25 cm (8 in.) centres.
Two such reinforced concrete beams were prepared, one with l :2:4 by weight normal concrete
(concrete which contained sand as fine aggregate)
and the other with 1:1~-:3 by weight of the new
concrete (concrete which contained laterite as fine
aggregate),
The two beams were cured with wet sacks for
28 days after which they were prepared for testing.
Demec discs were fixed on the beams to measure
strains and dial gauge was fixed under the load to
determine the load-deflection characteristics. The
two beanas were tested 56 days after they were cast.
The 6 in. cube specimens made from the normal
concrete gave a compressive strength of 4300 lbf
in e (3-01 kg mm -2) and those for concrete which
contained soil. iaterite gave a compressive strength
of 3500 lbfin 'z (2.45 kg ram-~). The ultimate
moment, M,h of the normal concrete beam is
/64,000 ]b in. (188,000 k g c m ) but the onset of
flexure failure was noticed at a bending moment of
129,000 lb in. (149,000 kg cm) which is about 791!,]
ot'lhe ultimate moment. The ultimate moment of the
beam cast with concrete which contained laterite as
Oefiecion,

tion.

i50

3heor crack oDservea

Economic advantage and durability

Sand is more expensive than laterite because it is

more difficult to collect sand from rivers than to dig
laterite from pits. The locations of the collecting
sites of sand are usually far from many construction
sites whereas laterite may be easily dug from the
foundation of a building or near the site thereby
reducing the cost of transportation and the price of
laterite. The periodic fluctuation of price of sand is
caused by floods whereas the price of laterite is
stable and therefore more reliable for cost estima-

O(

%0

>70r

~r

:"

2!:~:

/J

500(

Shear crac~
)oservee

/~

Flexural
racks observe'rectoV '
o

~OSt .

--o" /
/
dr

/.
454-

.<~
I~no

Flexura~ cracks 01~ser ~e~'

/II

- -

// .

Norma ,'oncre~e b e a m

-,27

254

-K~,:

a r e r , z , < l ~ar,croTe Deorn

3B

D e f leCT!OP,

~G%

;~5!_

~(~'"

CG

Fi,~. 12. Load-deflection j'or reinfi~rced tatertzed c,mcrete

heam and rein/breed normal ecmcrete beam.

Oo
._4

Study of Normal Concrete With Concrete Which Contained Laterite Instead of Sand
fine aggregate is 137,500 l b i n . (158,000 k g c m )
whereas flexure failure was i m m i n e n t at a bending
m o m e n t of 105,000 Ib in. (121,000 kg cm) which is
a b o u t 77 7,1 o f the ultimate moment.
The deflection o f the beam cast with n o r m a l concrete is a b o u t half o f the deflection o f the beam cast
with concrete which contained laterite prior to the
a p p e a r a n c e o f flexural cracks and a b o u t two thirds
thereafter. Figure 12 shows the load/deflection
curves for the two beams. This observation may
well disqualify the use o f laterite as fine aggregate
in structural concrete. However more tests need to

be carried out on structural members like beams,

slabs and columns before deciding on the suitability
or otherwise o f laterite as one of the aggregates for
concrete. Such investigation would, inevitably,
consider the problem of creep in long term loading.

Acknowledgement--The work reported herein was carried out

in the Materials and Structures Laboratory of the University
of Lagos, Nigeria. The author acknowledged with thanks the
co-operation of the Chief Mechanical Engineer, Nigerian
Railways Corporation, Nigeria, for ihe use of the furnace.
Acknowledgement is also due to Mobil Oil (Nigeria) Limiied
for the free supply of diesel oil used for firing the furnace.

REFERENCES

I.
2.
3.
4.
5.

141

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