THE PROPERTIES OF LATERITE SOILS AS THEY AFFECTS THE STABILITY OF BITUMEN STABILISED BRICKS

The purpose of this study is to determine the properties of laterite soil and how they affect the stability of bitumen stabilized bricks. The samples for the study were disturbed samples sourced in seven locations in Adamawa State. Each sample weigh 20kg transported to the laboratory for tests. The tests conducted include: Sieve Analysis, sedimentation Test, Liquid Limit Test, Plastic Limit Test, Activity Ratio, Free Swell Test and Optimum Moisture Content Test. Three research questions guided the study and the findings of the study include; that the samples shows increase percentage smaller or less than 63 microns sizes, which indicate that the samples are more of silt and clay particles. The properties of the laterite soils taken for the study include; liquid limit ranging from 35-49, plasticity index from 11-14 percent, the activity ratio ranges from 1.0-1.4, and free swell test shows less than 100 percent. One of the recommendations made was that, Laterite soil stabilization should precede a study of the particles size distribution to ensure that the categories of the Laterite soil can bland with the bitumen emulsion to envelop the particles for the purpose of preventing moisture movement in the bricks.