This study covers 25 samples of lateritic materials, in the following granular classes (0/20, 0/25, 0/31.5, 0/40 and 0/50 mm). The samples are taken from the borrow pits of Lam-Lam, Mont Rolland, Pout, Ngoundiane and Sindia, all located in the Thiès region of western Senegal. The materials were tested to determine their classes and behaviors. The quality of these materials used in pavements is declining. Pavements constructed using lateritic materials often deteriorate prematurely. The cause is not well understood. Considering their composition and how their granularity influences their geotechnical characteristics would ensure their sustainable and optimal use. This publication aims to prevent the rapid deterioration of pavements. It recommends using lateritic materials with their optimal grain size. The methodology consists of three steps. First, samples with different grain sizes are identified using classification tests. Second, the samples are classified. Finally, their bearing capacity is qualified to determine their suitability for road pavement and to identify the class with the best geotechnical characteristics for resilient use. The results of the analyses reveal that the lateritic gravels studied are classified as G3 and I2 according to GTR 2023. On the one hand, these classes are equivalent to the GM (silty gravel and silty gravel with sand) and GW-GM (well-graded gravel with silt) classes of ASTM 2000. On the other hand, behavioral parameters change more markedly with granular classes than with borrow pits. This led to identifying the 0/31.5 mm granular class as the optimal class within the considered set. Therefore, to obtain lasting pavement layers with optimal bearing capacity, it is necessary to eliminate particles in lateritic gravel greater than 31.5 mm in size. As part of this study, the authors have put forth proposals to enhance the existing definition of lateritic gravel materials and their respective road classes.
LCPC-SETRA (2000) Réalisation des remblais et des couches de forme. 2nd Edition, SETRA/LCPC.
AFNOR (1992) NF P11-300: Exécution des terrassements-Classification des matériaux utilisables dans la construction des remblais et des couches de forme d’infrastructures routières. LCPC, 21.
AFNOR (2005) NF EN ISO 14688-2: Principes pour une classification: Dénomintion, description et classification. Principles for soil classification: Naming, description and classification. 13.
Paige-Green, P., Netterberg, F. and Pinard, M.I. (2024) Testing of Lateritic Materials for Road Pavements. 42 nd Southern African Transport Conference , Pretoria, 8-11 July 2024, 16. https://repository.up.ac.za/server/api/core/bitstreams/2264dd47-0bc7-4884-a3e1-fb1e766436ef/content
Okonkwo, V.O., Omaliko, I.K. and Ezema, N.M. (2022) Stabilization of Lateritic Soil with Portland Cement and Sand for Road Pavement. OALib , 9, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1108560
Razali, R., Rashid, A.S.A., Razali, R., et al . (2022) Experimental Study on Mechanical Behavior of Laterite Soil Treated with Quicklime. Journal of Mechanical Engineering , 11, 109-122. https://doi.org/10.24191/jmeche.v11i1.23592
Ouedraogo, M., Bamogo, I., Sanou, H., Sanogo, S.S.S., Soré, S., Sanou, S.O., Aubert, J.-E. and Millogo, Y. (2023) Improvement of Geotechnical and Mechanical Properties of Laterite from Burkina Faso Using Sugar Cane Molasses for Use as Road Structural Layers. Journal de la Société Ouest - Africaine de Chimie , 52, 32-43.
Kumar, A. and George, V. (2018) Effect of Soil Parameters on Resilient Modulus Using Cyclic Tri-Axial Tests on Lateritic Subgrade Soils from Dakshina Kannada, India. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering , 36, 3987-4000. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-018-0550-7
Nagaraju, T.V., Sunil, B.M. and Rao, M.V. (2023) Utilization of GGBS-Based Geopolymer Lateritic Soils for Sustainable Pavements. In: Sil, A., N. Kontoni, DP. and Pancharathi, R.K., Eds., Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering , Springer, 429-439. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-4055-2_34
Nagaraju, T.V., Bahrami, A., Prasad, C.D., Mantena, S., Biswal, M. and Islam, M.R. (2023) Predicting California Bearing Ratio of Lateritic Soils Using Hybrid Machine Learning Technique. Buildings , 13, Article 255. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13010255
Paige-Green, P. and Van Zyl, G.D. (2019) A Review of the DCP-DN Pavement Design Method for Low Volume Sealed Roads: Development and Applications. Journal of Transportation Technologies , 9, 397-422. https://doi.org/10.4236/jtts.2019.94025
FALL, M., Sarr, D., Ba, M., Berbinau, E., Borel, J., Ndiaye, M., et al . (2011) Evolution of Lateritic Soils Geotechnical Parameters during a Multi-Cyclic OPM Compaction and Correlation with Road Traffic. Geomaterials , 1, 59-69. https://doi.org/10.4236/gm.2011.13010
Fall, M., Ba, S., Sarr, D., Ba, M. and Ndiaye, M. (2011) An Alternative Method to the West African Compaction (WAC) Test Procedure. Geomaterials , 1, 25-27. https://doi.org/10.4236/gm.2011.12004
Odier, L., Millard, R.S., Pimentel, D.-S. and Mehra, S.R. (1968) Routes dans les pays en voie de développement. Éditions EYROLLES.
Roger, J., et al . (2009) Notice explicative de la cartographie multicouches à 1/50 000 et 1/20 000 de la zone d’activité du Cap-Vert. DMG, 245.
Autret, P. (1980) Contribution à l’étude des graveleux latéritiques traités au ciment. Ecole National des Ponts et Chaussées (ENPC), 297.
Autret, P. (1983) Latérites et graveleux latéritiques. Institut des Sciences et Techniques de l’Équipement et de l'Environnement pour le Développement (ISTED), 38.
Gidigasu, M.D. (1976) Laterite Soil Engineering-Pedogenesis and Engineering Principles. Developments in Geotechnical Engineering.
Diome, F. (1996) Rôle de la structure du sol dans son fonctionnement hydrique. Sa quan-tification par la courbe de retrait. UCAD.
Diop, B.O., Gbaguidi, I., Lo, P.G., Sène, S., Cisse, A., Ba, M., et al . (2025) Compositional Suitability Assessment and New Classification of Lateritic Soils for Road Construction: Case of Materials from the Thies Region in Senegal. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection , 13, 71-88. https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2025.131005
CEBTP (1990) Utilisation des graveleux latéritiques en technique routière. ISTED.
AFNOR (1999) NF P 94-093 Soils: Investigation and Testing—Determination of the Compaction Characteristics of a Soil—Standard Proctor Test—Modified Proctor Test. LCPC, 15.
AFNOR (2012) NF EN 933-1: Détermination de la granularité: Analyse granulométrique par tamisage. 17.
Head, K.H. (2006) Manual of Soil Laboratory Testing. 3e Edition, Whittles Publishing.
IDRRIM (2023) Guide des terrassements des remblais et des couches de forme. Cerema.
AFNOR (1993) NF P 94-051 Soil: Investigation and Testing—Determination of Atterberg’s Limits-Liquid Limit Test Using Casagrande Apparatus—Plastic Limit Test on Rolled Thread. LCPC, 14.
AFNOR (1998) NF P 94-068: Sols: Reconnaissance et Essais—Mesure de la quantité d’adsorption de bleu de méthylène d’un sol ou d’un matériau rocheux. Détermina-tion de la valeur de bleu de méthylène d’un sol ou d’un matériau rocheux par l’essai à la tâche. 8.
AFNOR (1999) NF EN 933-9: Quantification des fines—Essai au bleu de méthylène. 11.
AFNOR (2005) NF EN 13286-2: Méthodes d’essai de détermination en laboratoire de la masse volumique de référence et de la teneur en eau—Compactage Proctor. 18.
AFNOR (2004) NF EN 13286-47: Méthode d’essai pour la détermination de l’indice portant Californien (CBR), de l’indice de portance immédiate (IPI) et du gonflement. 11.
Ogunsanwo, O. (1985) The Microfabric and Permeability of a Laterite Clay. First International Conference on Geomechanics of Tropical Lateritic and Saprolitic Soils , 1, 397-402.
AFNOR (2005) NF P 94-512-11: Reconnaissance et essais géotechniques—Essais de la-boratoire sur les sols—Partie 1: Détermination de la perméabilité au perméamètre à charge constante ou variable. 26.
Saadi, L.A. (2003) Méthodologie de contrôle de l’homogénéité et de la perméabilité des barrières argileuses. Paris VI.
Casagrande, A. (1948) Classification and Identification of Soils. American Society of Civil Engineers , 113, 783-810.
Skempton, A.W. (1953) The Colloidal Activity of Clays. 3 th International Conference of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering , Switzerland, 16-27 August 1953, 57-61.
Gomez-Gutierrez, I.C., Bryson, L.S. and Hopkins, T.C. (2011) Correlations between Geotechnical Properties and the Swell Behavior of Compacted Shales. Geo - Frontiers 2011, Dallas, 13 Mar 2011, 4119-4128. https://doi.org/10.1061/41165(397)421
Mvondo-Ondoa, J. (1979) Rôle de la granularité et de la composition minéralogique sur la compactibilité et la résistance au cisaillement des mélanges de sable et d’argiles. Paris VI.
Reiffsteck Ph., and Nguyen Pham P.T., (2005) Influence de la répartition granulométrique sur le comportement mécanique d’un sol. In: Japanese Geotechnical Society, Ed., Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering , IOS Press, 583-586. https://doi.org/10.3233/978-1-61499-656-9-583
Diop, B.O., Gbaguidi, I., Lo, P.G., Cisse, A., Sène, S. and Ba, M. (2018) Grain Size Influence on the Compaction Aptitude and the Bearing Strength of the Gravel Lateritic Soils. Geomaterials , 8, 63-76. https://doi.org/10.4236/gm.2018.84005
Cisse, A., Lo, P.G., Diaw, E.B., Sene, S., Diagne, M., Gbaguidi, I., et al . (2016) Contribution to Improving the Quality of Road Base Layers: Concept of Optimum Maximum Diameterand Its Application to the Laterite of Sindia (Senegal). Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences , 8, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.19026/rjees.8.2696
Guilloux, A. (1978) Influence de la pétrographie sur la compactabilité et la portance des sables fins traités (Région Parisienne). Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 133.
AGEROUTE (2015) Catalogue de structures de chaussées neuves et Guide de dimension-nement des chaussées au Sénégal. MITTD.
CEBTP (1984) Guide pratique de dimensionnement des chaussées pour les pays tropicaux, 2nd Edition, La documentation française.
LCPC-SETRA (1998) Catalogue des structures types de chaussées neuves. SETRA. https://doc.cerema.fr/Default/doc/SYRACUSE/13990/catalogue-des-structures-types-de-chaussees-neuves
Terzaghi, K., Peck, R.B. and Mesri, G. (1996) Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice. 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Van Ganse, R. (1957) Proprietes et applications des laterites au Congo beige. Académie Coloniale.
Hubert, B., Philipponnat, B., Payant, O. and Zerhouni, M. (2019) Fondations et ouvrages en terre.Éditions EYROLLES.
Diop, B.O., Talla, K., Sylla, N.F., Ndiaye, N.M. and Ngom, B.D. (2023) Physical Analyzes Applied to Lateritic Soils of Western Senegal for Their Geochemical, Mineralogical and Morphological Identification. MRS Advances , 8, 607-612. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43580-023-00591-5
Brewer, R. (1964) Fabric and Mineral Analysis. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Jamagne, M. (1967) Bases et techniques d’une cartographie des sols. Annales Agronomiques , 18, Article 142.
Folk, R.L. (1954) The Distinction between Grain Size and Mineral Composition in Sedimentary-Rock Nomenclature. The Journal of Geology , 62, 344-359. https://doi.org/10.1086/626171
Chaulagai, R., Osouli, A., Salam, S., Tutumluer, E., Beshears, S., Shoup, H., et al . (2017) Influence of Maximum Particle Size, Fines Content, and Dust Ratio on the Behavior of Base and Subbase Coarse Aggregates. Transportation Research Record : Journal of the Transportation Research Board , 2655, 20-26. https://doi.org/10.3141/2655-04
Berthaud, Y., De-Buhan, P. and Schmitt, N. (2018) Aide mémoire mécanique des sols, 3e Edition, DUNOD.
Otçu, N.Ü., Uzundurukan, S. and Kaplan, G. (2017) Determination of the Plasticity Index of Soils with Fine-Grained Soils Using Methylene Blue Test. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection , 5, 165-181. https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2017.53012
ASTM (2000) Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System), D 2487-0. ASTM International.
AFNOR (1993) NF P 98-241-1: Essais relatifs aux chaussées—Mesure de la masse volumique des matériaux en place—Partie 1: Mesure ponctuelle de la masse volumique moyenne apparente par gammadensimètre à transmission directe. LCPC, 11.
AFNOR (1996) NF P 94-061-2: Détermination de la masse volumique d’un matériau en place. LCPC, 9.
Ganoumi, M.E. (2010) Eau dans le sol. Hassan II.
SETRA (2006) Comprendre les principaux paramètres de conception géométrique des routes.
Casagrande, A. and Fadum, R.E. (1940) Notes on Soil Testing for Engineering Purposes. Harvard University, 74.
Millogo, Y. (2008) Étude géotechnique, chimique et minéralogique de matières premières argileuses et latéritiques du Burkina Faso améliorées aux liants hydrauliques: Application au génie civil (bâtiment et route). Université de Ouagadougou.
Bagarre, E. (1990) Utilisation des graveleux latéritiques en technique routière. IFSTTAR.