International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 11, November 2012)
Water Absorption Properties of Laterite Soil in Road Pavement:
A Case Study Ife-Ilesha Highway, South Western Nigeria
Alayaki F. M.
Abstract - Constructing highways on water-sensitive soils is
often a major problem because water plays a vital role in
causing progressive deterioration of the pavement structure
which is more visible during and immediately after the rainy
season. This study was carried out on the Ife-Ilesha highway,
which is notorious for incessant failures and attempt was
made to establish the relationship amongst the clay content,
consistency limits, California Bearing Ratio (CBR),
Unconfined Compression Strength (UCS), and water
absorption capacity of the subgrade soils. The mean values of
the clay content and water absorption limit for the soil
samples were 40% and 35% respectively. Positive correlation
(R = 0.888) was observed between the clay content and the
Natural Moisture Content (NMC). There were same trend of
positive correlations between shrinkage limit and liquid limit
on one hand and shrinkage limit and plasticity index on the
other with (R = 0.826) and (R = 0.939) respectively. However,
negative correlations were established for swell and CBR
(both soaked and unsoaked) and UCS at R = 0.908, 0.922, and
0.677 respectively. This phenomenon suggested that there was
high water retention capability of the soils due to the high clay
content. This consequentially caused appreciable loss of
strength as the water content in the soil increased.
Keywords - CBR, Clay content, Failure, Ife-Ilesha Highway,
Laterite, Pavement, Water absorption
I. INTRODUCTION
Nigerian roads and highways which are usually
constructed on compacted laterite soils foundation are
widely adjudged as poor engineering structures because of
the associated incessant failures. Although some laterite
soils (especially gravelly aggregates) have been found to be
quite good in pavement construction particularly those with
appropriate geotechnical characteristics; the limited
availability of these materials in the country is a challenge
to constructing durable roads and highways. Another
challenge is the misconception that laterite soils are
amendable to compaction to attain high densities and
bearing capacity for roadwork. This may be true during the
dry season, but it has been noticed that there is usual drastic
loss of the bearing strength in the presence of free water
especially during rainy season and in areas with high
groundwater level to the surface, and especially where no
adequate waterproofing is provided.
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Hence, there is the need to study and establish the
relationship between some crucial engineering properties
and water absorption capacity of laterite soils at the
subgrade level.
II. THE STUDY AREA
Ife-Ilesha highway is located in the deciduous rain forest
area of south-western Nigeria, specifically in Osun state
and lies in the east-north-east direction of Ibadan, the
capital of Oyo state. The climate alternates between dry
season (from about middle of November till about mid-
June) and rain season for the rest of the year. The annual
rainfall is about 1200mm 1500mm and occurs mostly in
thunderstorms (Nigeria Meteorological Agency). It is a
very important highway that links the other parts of south-
western Nigeria to the capital city (Abuja), hence a highly
traffic road.
Ajayi (1981); Elueze (1982); Meshida (1986, 1987); and
Oyinloye (1998, 2001) identified a variety of Basement
Complex rocks on Ife-Ilesha highway and noted their
structural inter-relationship. The terrain is relatively rugged
and undulating, thus necessitating numerous cuts and fills
through hard formations before a satisfactory highway with
minimal or tolerable gradients could be constructed. The
geology consists of underlying Precambrian Basement
Complex rocks, which comprise folder pelitic schist,
quartzite, gneisses and sporadically occurring amphibolites
bodies of varying degrees of metamorphism. Also, the
engineering soils derived from the rocks have striking
peculiarities different from common lateritic soils
developed residually on other rock types such as granite,
gneisses or quartzite known within south western Nigeria
(see figures I & II).
The peculiarities of the engineering soils in Ife-Ilesha
area have been a serious problem to engineers especially in
highway construction. Other scholars who have similarly
studied the rock relationship in the area have been able to
relate the geological history of the rocks to their ancient
marine origin. The rocks are basic and even tholeiitic, i.e.
like flowing magma of basic composition such as a large
regional sill (Olade and Elueze, 1979).
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 11, November 2012)
Field observation made by the author showed that there
was progressive deterioration of the pavement structure,
which is more visible during and immediately after the
rainy season. Consequently, many portions of the highway
have been damaged by massive down warping of the
pavement, potholes, separation of the asphalt finish from
the base course, and verges of the highway are being
eroded by rain fall (see figures III & IV). All these
detrimental features constitute major threats to the lives of
people plying the road.

Figure III: Typical Pot-hole (on Ife-Ilesha Highway) Caused by

Down-Warping of Pavement.
Source: Meshida (2006) field work

Eroded Shoulder
Figure 1: The Geological Map of the Study Area Showing the
Sampling Points.

Figure IV: Eroded Shoulder and Verges along the Highway

Source: Meshida (2006) field work

III. MATERIAL AND METHOD

Figure 2: Schistose Structure seen on Typical Road Cuts along Ife-
Ilesha Highway
The laterite soils samples were obtained along Ife-Ilesha
highway, sampling point commenced from Ipetumodu bye-
pass to Ifewara junction. The road alignment which is
about thirty kilometres was designated as Stable Locations
(SL) and Unstable Locations (UL), according to visual
rating of the road condition. Three sections each were
identified for stable and unstable location and three
samples point were established per section. These locations
were identified along the route, and termed as SL 1, SL 2,
SL 3, UL 1, UL 2, and UL 3.

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 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 11, November 2012)
Eighteen bulk samples were taken altogether at about
1.00 meter depth, since road construction activities seldom
exceed this depth.
Laboratory tests that were carried out on the natural soil
were: Visual description of the soils, Natural Moisture
Content (NMC), grain size distribution (wet/dry sieving),
compaction test, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) soaked
and unsoaked, and Unconfined Compression Strength
(UCS). All were performed in accordance with B.S 1377
(1990) for natural soil.
One and two-way ANOVA were used to determine the
mean values for each of the parameter tested and to
determine their variances within and between-groups of
samples, and the significance was based on = 0.05.
Thereafter, correlations and regression equations were
developed to establish the relationships amongst the
properties using Microsoft Excel.
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.1 Classification and Visual Observation
More than 60% of the samples were classified as
inorganic sandy clays of low to medium plasticity (CL)
based on Unified Soil Classification System. Others were
classified as Inorganic micaceous silty soil (MH). It was
observed that some of the soil samples contained shinning
slivery particles which were suspected to be mica, and
these particles were slippery when rubbed between the
fingers, also full dispersion of the soil grains was not
achieved with sodium hexametaphosphate: shinning
powder-like particles were still attached to the grains after
oven dying. It was also observed that concretionary gravel
in some of the samples dissolved easily within minutes
when soaked in water. This gave the first-hand evidence of
the susceptibility of the soils to water.
4.2 Comparison of Sections
Comparison of the mean values of many of the
geotechnical properties of soils beneath the stable and
unstable sections of Ife-Ilesha highway revealed that there
was little or no difference between the two sections (see
Tables I and II). The only significant differences recorded
in the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and Maximum Dry
Density (MDD) values could be attributed to the
composition of the soils samples in Yakoyo and
Itagunmodi (see Fig. I). These soils have general
description of sandy silty clay of low to high plasticity,
and with concretionary gravels in places. Thus, the high
CBR and MDD values were based on the concretionary
gravels present in the soils.
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4.3 Natural Moisture and Clay Contents
The natural moisture content range was 6 26%, while
the mean value was 17%. Also 15 64% was obtained as
the clay content range (% passing No. 200 B. S. sieve) and
the average value was 40% which was greater than the 35%
specified by FMWH (1970) for subgrade soil. A positive
linear correlation (R = 0.888) was established between the
clay content and the natural moisture content (see Fig. V).
Also, there were positive correlations with high
significance values between the shrinkage limit and liquid
limit on one hand and between shrinkage limit and
plasticity index on the other, with correlation values of R =
0.826 and R = 0.939 respectively (see Figures VI and VII).
Similar correlations between linear shrinkage, plasticity
index, and liquid limit were also established by Ruddock
(1967); Wooltorton (1968); and Gidigasu (1972) as
reported by Gidigasu (1976).
The positive correlation showed that the higher the clay
content, the higher the water content. This phenomenon
was explained by McCarthy (2007), that the surface of clay
particles has a net negative electrical charge, and the edges
have positive and negative charges, as a result of their
molecular grouping and ions arrangement. Due to the
extremely small size of clay particles and the very high
ratio of particles surface to particle mass, the forces of the
electrical charge have profound effect on the behaviour of
the particles in associating with other particles and water
present in the soil. The state or nature of water that is in the
immediate environment of clay particle is not clearly
understood, but it has been established that there is strong
attraction between the water and the clay particles.
4.4 Void Ratio and MDD
Meshida (2006) revealed that both subgrade and the
borrowed soils in the study area are flaky in texture and
were established to be mica-schist-derived soils which
suggested that adequate field compaction might not have
been achieved. This peculiar nature of the soils was
established in this study. The void ratio was discovered to
have a positive linear relationship with the Maximum Dry
Density (MDD). The soil void increased rather than
decrease at the West African Compactive effort (see Fig.
VIII).
4.5 Swell, CBR and UCS
Negative high correlations were established between the
swell and CBR (both soaked and unsoaked) at significant
level on one hand, and negative correlation with UCS on
the other.
 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 11, November 2012)
The negative value denoted that the higher the swell, the water for 24hours (Table II).
lower the corresponding strength value. This A note of caution is hereby sounded on the use of the
consequentially means that there was appreciable loss of CBR test for pavement design in Nigeria, because apart
strength as the water content in the soil pores increased from the fact that the test is an arbitrary one, there is no
(Figures IX, X, & XI). data to effect the local conditions, which defer from
All the CBR values of both unsoaked and soaked temperate zones for which the test is designed. There is
samples were within the specified range of 6 20% and therefore an urgent need to intensify researches on the
may thus be classified as good subgrade soils however; the evaluation of shear strength characteristics of laterite soils
UCS values of all the soils were lower than the specified for tropical road construction.
limit of 103KN/m2. Furthermore there were appreciable
losses of strength when the compacted soils were soaked in
Table I
Comparison of Mean Values of Geotechnical Properties of Subgrade Soils beneath Some Section of Ife-Ilesha Highway

Properties Stable Unstable Differences Mean Specified Remark References

Location Location Value Value (specified values)
Range Range
Clay Content (%) 15 62 20 64 Insignificant 40.33 35% All samples have FMWH (1997)
values > 35%
Natural Moisture 6 21 6 26 Insignificant 16.50
Cont. (%)
Liquid Limit (%) 28 - 68 48 < 50% 67% of samples have Ditto
30 - 69 Insignificant
values within
acceptable limit
Plastic Limit (%) 14 35 12 - 37 22.78
Insignificant

Absorption Limit 19 48 23 - 43 34.61 < 8% The values are far Bhatia and
Insignificant
(%) above 8%, thus the Hammond (1970)
soils are likely to be
difficult to compact
Max. Dry Density 1641 - 1736 - Significant 1801.1
(Kg/m3) 1915 1983

OMC (%) 9 22 12 20 Insignificant 16

Void Ratio 0.401 0.456 Significant 0.56

0.55 0.72

CBR (%) 16 96 19 37 Significant 36.67 6 20% All values fall within RRL (1957), but
unsoaked the specified value FMWH (1997) is
classified as fair to silent on CBR value
good subgrade. for subgrade
CBR (%) 11 74 12 18 Significant 24.50 6 20% Same as above Same as above
soaked
Swell (%) 0.001- 0.118- Significant 0.114 Very high water
0.370 0.144 retention capacity

UCS (KN/m2) 3 76 17 39 Significant 32.06 103 All samples below Madedor (1983)
KN/m2 specified value

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 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 11, November 2012)
Table II
Comparison of CBR values of Stable and Unstable Locations
Location CBR unsoaked (%) CBR soaked (%) Strength reduction
Range Mean Range Mean due to 24hrs
soaking (%)
Stable 16 96 48.56 11 74 34.44 29
Unstable 19 37 24.78 12 18 14.56 41

Table III
Correlations and Regression Equations

Correlated Quantities Correlation Significance Regression Equation

Coefficient
Clay content and NMC 0.888* 0.018 y = 0.337x + 2.892
Shrinkage limit and liquid limit 0.826* 0.043 y = 2.698x + 30.161

Shrinkage limit and Plasticity 0.939** 0.006 y = 2.038x + 11.745

index

Void Ratio and MDD 0.875* 0.022 y = 813.82x + 1346.1

Swell and CBR (Unsoaked) 0.922** 0.009 y = -280.99x + 68.699

Swell and CBR (soaked) 0.908* 0.012 y = -215.47x + 49.064

Swell and UCS 0.677 0.139 y = -193.16x + 54.076

*Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level ( 2-tailed)

**Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed)

25 y = 0.3374x + 2.892
Natural Moisture Content %

R = 0.7892
20 R = 0.888

15

10

0
20 30 40 50 60
Figure VI: Linear Correlation between Shrinkage Limit and Liquid
Clay Content % Limit

Figure V: Linear Correlation between Clay Content and Natural

Moisture Content
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 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 2, Issue 11, November 2012)

35 60 y = -215.47x + 49.064
y = 2.038x + 11.748
R = 0.8809 R = 0.824
50
30 R = 0.939 R = - 0.908

CBR Soaked %
40
Plasticity Index

25 30

20 20

10
15
0
0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25
10 Swell %
2 4 6 8 10 12
Shrinkage Limit %

Figure X: Linear Correlation between Swell and CBR Soaked

Figure VII: Linear Correlation between Shrinkage Limit and
Plasticity Index

1950
Maximum Dry Density (Kg/m3)

y = 813.82x + 1346.1
1900 R = 0.7661
R = 0.875
1850

1800

1750

1700

1650
0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
Figure XI: Linear Correlation between Swell and UCS
Void Ratio (e)

V. CONCLUSION
The analysis of the subgrade soils under the stable and
Figure VIII: Linear Correlation between Void Ratio and Maximum
Dry Density unstable sections of Ife-Ilesha highway revealed that there
was little or no difference in the engineering properties of
the soil samples obtained from both sections. The state of
stability seen at the stable sections during this investigation
was just a mirage, as the samples showed appreciable
reduction in strength when soaked in water which revealed
their susceptibility to water. The non-availability of side
drains and inadequate surface drainage are also paving way
for direct ingress of water below the pavement. This
phenomenon further contributed to the instability of the
road aside the non-suitability of the soils based on the
geological and engineering properties.

Figure IX: Linear Correlation between Swell and CBR Unsoaked

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 International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering
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Acknowledgement
The author is indebted to Dr. E. A. Meshida of the
Department of Geology and Geophysical Sciences,
University of Lagos, Nigeria, for the supply of literatures of
his findings on this study area and Dr. G. O. Adeyemi for
the identification of sites.
Also appreciated is Prof. O.A. Falade, Head of Civil
Engineering Department, University of Lagos, for allowing
the use of the Soil Mechanics Laboratory, and Messrs
Salami and Adedoyin (chief technologist and his assistant),
for the technical assistance given during the laboratory
testing of the soils.
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