TITLE:
Stabilization of a Lateric Clay from Burkina Faso with Cement-Metakaolin for an Application in Road Construction
AUTHORS:
Souleymane Sanou, Issiaka Sanou, Moussa Ouedraogo, Halidou Bamogo, Lohami Valentin Landry Gnoumou, Younoussa Millogo, Seynou Mohamed
KEYWORDS:
Lateritic Clay, Cement, Metakaolin, Road Construction, The California Bearing Ratio Index
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering,
Vol.11 No.6,
June
30,
2023
ABSTRACT: The objective of this work is to obtain a composite of clay-cement-metakaolin having good mechanical properties and geotechnical. To do this, a lateritic clay from Burkina Faso referenced ALK was characterized by various methods (X-ray diffraction, infrared spectrometry, thermal analysis and Inductively Coupled Plasma, Atomic Emission Spectrometry) in order to be used as a base course after adding cement and metakaolin. The results of the mineralogical characterization of this clay showed that it is composed of kaolinite (65.7 wt.%), quartz (19.3 wt.%) and goethite (10.8 wt.%). The geotechnical tests carried out showed that ALK is moderately plastic with a plasticity index Ip = 22%. The optimum moisture content and the maximum dry density are respectively 15.9% and 1.76 g∙cm-3. Simple compressive strength and splitting tensile strength are Rc = 1.59 MPa and ft = 0.149 MPa respectively. The California Bearing Ratio (CBR) index at 95% is 40% and above the minimum value of 30% shows that ALK can be used as a sub-base course in road construction. The addition of cement and metakaolin in various proportions improved the CBR index and the mechanical strength of the composites produced. This improvement is due to the formation of hydrated calcium silicate (CSH) resulting from the pozzolanic reaction between the portlandite of the cement and the amorphous silica of the metakaolin. Thus the 2 wt.% metakaolin and 6 wt.% cement formulation with a 95%CBR index of 81% is suitable for the development of a base course in road construction.