Correlation of Plasticity Index and Liquid Limit Values of the Laterite from Sindia (Senegal)

摘要

The plasticity of lateritic soils plays an important role in the mechanical behaviour of these materials under pavement. Plasticity is usually assessed in Senegal by means of the plasticity index (I_P). The determination of plasticity index requires the execution in the laboratory of two tedious tests: one for the liquid limit (w_L) and one for the plastic limit (w_P). The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the reduction of the time necessary for determining the consistency limits at construction sites, by means of correlations between plasticity index and liquid limit. Laboratory tests were made on 228 samples of Sindia laterite (Senegal). The results show a strong correlation between the values of plasticity index (I_P) and liquid limit (w_L) of the studied data. These findings were then checked by applying to the studied data the relationship proposed by Lyon Associates for ferruginous soils.