International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (IJEAT)

ISSN: 2249 – 8958, Volume-7 Issue-1, October 2017

Engineering Properties of Laterites Obtained in

Ede, Southwestern Nigeria
TIJANI, Murtadha Adekilekun, AKINLEYE, Monsuru Tunde, JAIYEOBA, Kehinde Folake

Abstract: Engineering properties of laterites obtained from four
different pits in Ede were evaluated to determine their suitability
for road construction. Samples from each pit sites were subjected
to sieve analysis, atterberg limits, linear shrinkage, compaction
and California bearing ratio adopting British Standard 1377
(1990) testing methods. The sieve analysis results showed that
percentage passing No 200 sieve ranged between 12.4 and 33.6%.
The liquid, plastic limit and plasticity index varied between 24.0
to 34.7%, 16.7 to 23.6% and 7.3 to 11.1% respectively. The linear
shrinkage is of the order 4.0 to 7.0%. The maximum dry density
ranged from 1.72g/cm3 to 2.12g/cm3 while optimum moisture
content varied from 9.0 to 11.1%. California bearing ratio ranged
between 35 to 85%. The soils were classified as A-2-4 and A-2-6
which implied that they are suitable for sub-grade, good fill and
sub-base and base materials. This geotechnical data obtained will
be useful for future road foundation design and construction in
the study area.
Keywords: Laterites, engineering properties, road
construction, Ede.
I. INTRODUCTION
The construction of the foundation of most engineering
structures require that adequate information about the
engineering properties of the soil and sub soil conditions of
the area are known. This is necessary for the engineering
planning, design and construction of such foundations to be
based on sound geotechnical parameters. The relative
abundance and ease of acquisition of lateritic soil in Nigeria
has made its application as foundation soil common in
engineering construction works especially roadways.
Therefore, understanding its properties will prevent
engineers, designers and contractors from selecting
unsuitable laterite materials for road construction.
Lateritic soils are commonly formed in tropical regions
within 30oN and 30oS of the equator. Its properties depend
on numerous factors which include climate, parent rock,
topography, vegetation and time (Gillot, 1969; Gidigasu,
1976). Ola (1983) defined laterite as products of tropical
weathering with red, reddish brown or dark brown colour. It
may contain nodules or concreting and are generally found
below hardened ferruginous crust or hard pan. Furthermore,
laterite is described as a highly weathered material, rich in
secondary oxides of iron, aluminum, or both. It is void or
nearly void of bases primary silicates, but it may contain
large amounts of quartz and kaolinite (Alexandra and Cady,
1962). Many authors have worked on geotechnical
properties of lateritic soil in Nigeria.
Jackson (1980) stated that lateritic soils have been used
successfully as base and sub-base materials in road
construction. Nwankwoala et al. (2014) identified wrong
application of laterite as base and sub base materials in road
construction as a major cause of road failure. According to
Jegede (2000),highway failure can be attributed to
undesirable fine fraction content of laterite used as sub base
soils. Addition of lime to lateritic soil increases its
geotechnical properties (Balogun, 1984). Ogunsanwo (1989)
assessed CBR and shear strength of some compacted
lateritic soils from southwestern part of Nigeria. Others
authors include Bello, 2007,Agbede and Osuolale, 2005,
Adewoye et al., 2004, Adeyemi, 2002, Oladeji and Raheem
2002 and Agbede, 1992. However, there exist no published
documents on the engineering and geotechnical properties of
laterites in the study area. Hence, the need for this research.
This paper presents the result of engineering properties of
lateritic soils obtained from four different burrow pits
available in Ede, southwestern Nigeria. The area lies
between latitudes 7o44’08’’ and 7o44’45’’North of the
Equator and longitudes 4o23’20’’ and 4o25’04’’ East of the
Greenwich median (Figure 1). According to Rahaman
(1976), the study area belongs to the Pre-Cambrian
Basement Complex of southwestern Nigeria. It forms part of
the African crystalline shield which consists predominantly
of migmatised and undifferentiated gneisses and quartzite
(Areola, 1982 and Akintola, 1982).
II. METHODOLOGY
Preparation of samples was done in accordance with
BS1377 (1990). Trial pits of depth ranging from 1.0 to 1.5m
were dug at four different laterite burrow pits in the study
area to collect fairly disturbed samples (Figure 1). Samples
collected were air-dried before being subjected to laboratory
tests. The tests carried out include the following: Sieve
analysis, atterberg limits, linear shrinkage, compaction
(West African Standard) and California bearing ratio.

Revised Version Manuscript Received on October 31, 2017.

Tijani, Murtadha Adekilekun, Department of Civil Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering, Adeleke University, Ede, Nigeria. E-mail: Figure 1. Google Map Showing Locations of the Studied
tijani.murtadha@adelekeuniversity.edu.ng Laterite Burrow Pits (LBP 1 – 4).
Akinleye, Monsuru Tunde, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty
of Engineering, Adeleke University, Ede, Nigeria.
Jaiyeoba, Kehinde Folake, Department of Agricultural Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering, Adeleke University, Ede, Nigeria.

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 Engineering Properties of Laterites Obtained in Ede, Southwestern Nigeria

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Transportation Officials (AASHTO) are presented in Table
1. Results of atterberg limits and linear shrinkage are
The Results of grain size distributions and classification of
presented in Table 2 while Table 3 showed the compaction
soil according to Unified Soil Classification System (USCS)
and California bearing ratio test results.
and American Association of State Highway and

Table 1: Sieve analysis results and Soil Classifications according to USCS and AASHTO
Sample Grading % passing BS sieves (mm)
codes 9.5 4.75 2.36 1.70 0.600 0.425 0.300 0.150 0.075 USCS AASHTO

LBP1 84.4 63.2 46.9 37.4 33.0 30.1 27.4 17.8 12.4 SC A-2-4 (0)

LBP2 99.1 91.2 73.4 63.1 52.3 46.6 43.5 36.4 33.6 SC A-2-4 (0)

LBP3 99.2 95.0 88.6 72.4 56.3 33.1 28.8 26.3 24.2 SC A-2-6 (0)

LBP4 91.2 78.8 72.2 58.2 44.6 35.6 28.3 24.1 21.9 SC A-2-6 (0)

Table 2: Results of Atterberg Limits and Linear Shrinkage

Atterberg Limits
Sample codes Linear Shrinkage (%)
LL (%) PL (%) PI (%)
LBP1 24.0 16.7 7.3 4.0
LBP2 27.0 16.8 10.2 6.0
LBP3 34.7 23.6 11.1 7.0
LBP4 34.1 23.1 11.0 6.4

Table 3: Results of Compaction and CBR Tests.

Sample codes O.M.C. (%) M.D.D. (mg/m3) CBR
LBP1 9.0 2.12 74

LBP2 10.0 1.72 42

LBP3 8.0 1.88 35

LBP4 11.1 2.04 85

As shown in Table 1, the amount of materials finer than No
200 (0.075mm) BS test sieve ranges from the minimum
value of 12.4% for LBP1 to maximum value of 33.6% for
LBP2. Thus, according to Federal Ministry of Works and
Housing (1997) specification, all the lateritic soil samples
tested are suitable for subgrade, subbase, and base materials
as the percentage by weight finer than No. 200 BS test sieve
is less than 35%.
According to Unified Soil Classification System (USCS),
all the samples are classified as SC which implies that their
workability as construction materials is good for both road
and embankment construction. Furthermore, the results of
sieve analyses (Table 1) and atterberg limits (Table 2) were
used to make classification according to AASHTO. Samples
from LBP1 and LBP2 belong to group A-2-4 which infers
that the soil could be rated as good for sub grade with good
drainage characteristics. Samples from LBP3 and LBP4
belong to group A-2-6, which suggests that the soil could be
rated as fair for sub grade with fair drainage characteristics
and a slightly volume change property.
Furthermore, from the results of atterberg limit in Table 2,
the liquid limits values ranges from 24.0% to 34.7%, the
plastic limit is of the order 16.7% to 23.6% while the
plasticity index varied from 7.3% to 11.1%. The Federal
Ministry of Works and Housing (1997) specified 50%
maximum value of liquid limit for subbase and base
materials, Simeon et al. (1973) recommended plastic limit of
161
25% maximum for sub grade tropical soils while Federal
Ministry of works (1997) gives a specification of 12% as the
upper limit for plasticity index for good sub-base materials.
All the studied soil samples fall within this specifications,
thus making them suitable for subgrade, subbase and base
materials. From Table 2, the linear shrinkage for LBP1 is
4.0%, LBP2 6.0%, it is 7.0% for LBP3 while LBP4 had
6.4% linear shrinkage. Based on the Federal Ministry of
work specification the maximum value for highway sub-
base materials is 8%, therefore studied soils can be rated as
good. The lower the linear Shrinkage of a soil the better it is
as a sub-base materials.
The compaction data obtained from the laboratory test
provides information on the performance of the soils under
mechanical remoulding, as envisaged during earthworks and
road construction. The maximum dry density of the samples
range between 1.72mg/m3 and 2.12mg/m3 and optimum
moisture content ranges between 8.0% and 11.1% (Table 3).
These values are within the range of results obtained for
soils within some parts of Southwest Nigeria (Bello et al.,
2007; Agbede and Osulale, 2005 and Ogunsanwo, 1989).
According to O‟Flaherty (1988) the range of values that
may be anticipated when using the standard proctor test
methods are:
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 International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology (IJEAT)
ISSN: 2249 – 8958, Volume-7 Issue-1, October 2017

For clay, maximum dry density (MDD) may fall before
1.44Mg/m3 and 1.685Mg/ m3 and optimum moisture
content (OMC) may fall between 20-30%. For silty clay
MDD is usually between 1.6 and 1.845Mg/m3 and OMC
ranged between 15-25%. For sandy clay, MDD usually
ranged between 1.76 and 2.165Mg/m3 and OMC between 8
and 15%. Hence, the studied soil samples are sandy clay.
The unsoaked California bearing ratio value (Table 3) for
the sample LBP1 is 74%, for LBP 2 is 42%, it is 35% for
LBP3 while LBP4 had CBR of 85%. According to Federal
Ministry of Works and Housing (1997) subgrade, subbase,
and base soils should be less than or equal to10%, 30%, and
80%, respectively. Hence, all the samples except sample
from LBP4 have their unsoaked CBR value less than 80%
which is the maximum value recommended for soils to be
used as base materials (Federal Ministry of Works and
Housing, 1997).
IV. CONCLUSION
Engineering properties of laterites obtained in Ede,
southwestern Nigeria have been examined. The result
showed that the studied soil samples are classified as sandy-
clay, incompressible, easily compactable with good
drainage. All samples tested are suitable for road
construction except sample from LBP4 which have its
unsoaked CBR value greater than 80% recommended in
Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (1997)
specification. These valuable data obtained from the
geotechnical analysis can be useful for civil engineers in the
design and construction of roads in Ede and environs for
maximum durability and efficiency. It is recommended that
engineering confirmatory test be carried out before
embarking on any construction such as road. Laterite sample
from LBP4 should be stabilized to meet the standard
requirement before being use.
11. British Standard Institution.1990. “Methods of Test for Soils for Civil
Engineering Properties (BS 1377)”. British Standard Institution:
London, UK. 143.
12. Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. 1997. “General
Specifications for Roads and Bridges”., Volume II.145-284. Federal
Highway Department: Lagos, Nigeria.
13. Gidigasu, M.D. 1976. “Laterite Soil Engineering: Pedogenesis and
Engineering Principles”. Development in Geotechnical Engineering.
9:554.
14. Gillot, J.E. 1969. Clay in Engineering Geology. Elsevier Publishing:
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
15. Jegede, G. (2000) “Effect of soil properties on pavement failure along
the F 209 Highway at Ado-Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria”,
Construction and Building Materials, 14, pp. 311 – 315.
16. Nwankwoala, H.O., Amadi, A.N., Ushie, F.A. and Warmate, T.,
(2014). Determination of Subsurface Geotechnical Properties for
Foundation Design and Construction in Akenfa Community, Bayelsa
State, Nigeria. American Journal of Civil Engineering and
Architecture, 2 (4), 130-135.
17. O‟Flaherty, C.A. 1988. Highway Engineering, Vol.2. Edward Arnold
Publishers, London, UK.
18. Ogunsanwo, O. 1989. “CRB and Shear Strengths of Compacted
Laterites Soils from Southwestern Nigeria”. Quarterly Journal
Engineering Geology. London. 22:317 – 328.
19. Ola, S.A. 1983. “Geotechnical Properties of an Attapulgite Clay Shale
in Northwestern Nigeria”. Engineering Geology.19:1-13.
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Construction”. Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology.
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21. Simeon, A.B., Geisecke, J. and Bidlo, G., (1973), Use of Lateritic
soils for Road Construction in North Dahomey. Engineering Geology.
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