Portuguese studies on engineering properties of lateritic soils

Abstract

The frequent occurrence of lateritic materials in the Portuguese overseas provinces and the need to use them in road construction made it necessary to carry out studies in order to improve the technical and economical conditions of their use. This report gives an up to date account of the state of these studies and of the conclusions reached, particularly in so far as roadspecifications for lhe mechanical stabilisation of lateritic materiais is concerned. A new parameter -  swelling - was introduced in these specifications and a proposal presented for the acceptance of lateritic materials with consistency limits that are somewhat higher than those recommended in current specifications (AASHO: M 145-49 and ASTM: D 1241-55 T) as long as swelling does not exceed 10 per cent.

Considering the results obtained in the roads already constructed it is to be expected that the scope of the specifications be widened even further, studies being carried out to ground this widening, among which the study of the aptitude to petrify by drying observed in these materials and the analysis of their mineralogic composition.