INVESTIGATION OF THE STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF LATECRETE MATERIALS
INVESTIGATION OF THE STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF LATECRETE MATERIALS
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Date
2012-08
Authors
IMONI, SAMSON
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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 13.58 N/mm2 was
recorded for the reinforced concrete beams and 7.80 N/mm2 for reinforced latecrete
beams, indicating that the flexural strength of latecrete beam is approximately 50% of
that of concrete beam specimens. The load-deflection behaviour of the beams are
essentially linear within the elastic range of loading and the measured plots of the stress
and strain shows that the flexural modulus of the reinforced concrete beams was 3.78 x
105 N/mm2, while that of the reinforced latecrete beams was 4.50 x 105 N/mm2. Also,
the flexural modulus of both plain concrete and latecrete beams was the value of 2.70 x
105 N/mm2. Based on the findings of this investigation, it was observed that the
behaviour of latecrete is similar to that of concrete; however, the concrete materials
showed better strength characteristics than the latecrete materials.
Description
A Thesis submitted to the School of Postgraduate Studies,
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Award of
Masters Degree in Civil Engineering.
Keywords
INVESTIGATION,, STRENGTH,, CHARACTERISTICS,, LATECRETE,, MATERIALS.