ROAD CONSTRUCTION USING LATERITIC SOIL

The suitability of a lateritic soil developed on olivine basalt in wes tern southeast Queensland, Australia, as paving material has been inve stigated. The particle size distribution and plasticity characteristic s of the soil do not comply with the standard specification for paving materials. However, the soil has a high shear strength, resulting in a low Western Australian Confined Compression Test class number. The h igh shear strength of the soil at its in situ moisture content is due to its high angle of shearing resistance and its suction under in situ moisture conditions. Volumetric shrinkage of the soil does not consti tute a problem as its shrinkage is low. The in situ strength of a pave ment constructed with the lateritic soil, determined using a Clegg imp act hammer, and the field dry density, have increased with time and th e passage of traffic since construction. The pavement performance was good. A criteria suitable for the selection of a lateritic soil as pav ing material under the climatic conditions prevailing in western south east Queensland has been suggested.