Critical state parameters for a saturated lateritic clay

The critical state soil mechanics is the most useful framework for understanding responses of different soil type to mechanical stress. For lateritic soil, widely distributed soil in the tropics and well recognized for its rich composition in oxides of iron and aluminum (sesquioxide), its mechanical behaviour has not been well studied within this framework. Therefore, a good understanding of the compressibility and shear strength properties of the lateritic soil would improve the designs of structures built on it. This paper presents experimental data from isotropic compression and consolidated undrained triaxial tests on saturated samples of lateritic soil from Nigeria. The data from these tests are presented and interpreted within the critical-state framework. Effects of sesquioxide composition on the compressibility and dilatancy is reported and discussed.