Effects of elevated temperature and treatment duration on selected index and engineering properties of lateritic soils
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Date
2024-12-12
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Abstract
Lateritic soils are important to various engineering applications, especially in tropical regions, where they serve as key
components in road construction, embankments, and other geotechnical structures. This study investigated the com-
bined effects of elevated temperature and heating duration on the index and engineering properties of lateritic soils
derived from two distinct parent rocks (charnockite and quartzite) in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Disturbed lateritic soil samples
were heated in a furnace at various temperatures (100, 200, 300, and 400 °C) for two designated durations (2 and 3 h).
Standard geotechnical tests were conducted to evaluate Atterberg limits, compaction parameters, and unconfined
compressive strength. The results showed that elevated temperature led to a decrease in the plastic limit, liquid limit,
plasticity index, optimum moisture content (OMC), and UCS for both soils, though the extent varied between the two
parent rocks. For instance, at 400 °C for 3 h, the plasticity index decreased by 47.82% for charnockite-derived soil and
55.22% for quartzite-derived soil. At the same temperature for 2 h, it decreased by 38.79% for charnockite-derived soil
and 48.92% for quartzite-derived soil. Similarly, UCS decreased by 29.83% for charnockite-derived soil and 25.97% for
quartzite-derived soil at 400 °C for 3 h, while at 400 °C for 2 h, UCS decreased by 21.20% for charnockite-derived soil
and 23.48% for quartzite-derived soil. Conversely, maximum dry density (MDD) increased with temperature, rising by
up to 20.64% for charnockite-derived soil and 14.66% for quartzite-derived soil at 400 °C for 3 h, and by 18.29% for
charnockite-derived soil and 12.62% for quartzite-derived soil at 400 °C for 2 h. Longer heating durations (3 h) generally
caused more pronounced changes in soil properties compared to shorter durations (2 h). For instance, OMC decreased
by 13.41% for charnockite and 14.18% for quartzite at 400 °C for 3 h compared to a 2-h duration. Statistical analyses
indicated that temperature had a significant influence on most properties, while the effect of heating duration was less
consistent. These findings highlight the need to consider both temperature and heating duration when evaluating the
engineering behavior of lateritic soils exposed to elevated temperatures. Practical implications include potential adjust-
ments in construction practices and design parameters for road construction and embankments in regions prone to high
temperatures, such as those experiencing frequent forest fires.