INVESTIGATION OF THE STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF LATECRETE MATERIALS

📄 Project Abstract

A laboratory Investigation of the Strength Characteristics of Latecrete materials was carried out. The laterite used falls under AASHTO soil classification A-7-6 (10) with low plasticity clay (CL) according to the Unified soil classification system. This laterite is within zone four gradation characterized by fine laterite and has kaolinite as its dominant clay mineral. The Experimental programme involves the fabrication of twenty four cubes, six cylinders, and twenty beams of concrete and latecrete materials; and testing them for compressive strength, tensile strength and flexural strength. Tests show that the 28 days compressive strength of concrete cubes was 23.26 N/mm2, while that of latecrete cubes was 8.89 N/mm2. The tensile strength of concrete cylinders was found to be 1.82 N/mm2, while that of latecrete cylinders was 0.67 N/mm2. The Flexural strength recorded for plain concrete beams was 2.89 N/mm2, while plain latecrete beams has a value 1.44 N/mm2. The flexural strength of 1...