LATERITE SOILS IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION

The paper reviews the literature on 'laterite', especially its use as a road-building material in tropical countries. There is a wide diversity of opinion concerning nomenclature, testing procedures and acceptance criteria, as well as great variation in engineering behaviour. The use of methods developed in temperate climates for material selection have proved unsatisfactory because of different climatic conditions and the peculiar properties of the material. There is a real need for the development of testing procedures related to behaviour in the field and improvement in the execution and control of construction work. (a). For the covering abstract of the conference, see IRRD abstract no. 218081. /TRRL/