Author(s)

Cherif Bishweka^1,2, Marcelline Blanche Manjia^2,3, François Ngapgue^2,4*, Ursula Joyce Merveilles Pettang Nana^2,3, Chrispin Pettang^2,3

¹Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Applied Technologies, Free University of the Great Lakes Countries, Congo, North Kivu, Goma.
²Civil and Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, Research and Postgraduate Training Unit for Engineering and Applications Science, Post Graduate School for Science, Technology and Geosciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
³Department of Civil Engineering, National Advanced School of Engineering Yaoundé, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁴Fotso Victor University Institute of Technology, Bandjoun, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.

The aim of this study is to contribute to the mastery of the physical characteristics of lateritic soils in order to improve their use for the manufacture of Compressed Stabilized Earth Bricks (CSEB) in the province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The study of the physical characteristics of lateritic soils was carried out. Samples were subjected to experimental identification tests on the physical characteristics (water content, density characteristics, particle size distribution and consistency). The results of the laboratory analysis of soil samples show that the water content varies between 5.4% and 36.99%. The density of the solid grains has an arithmetic mean of 2.5 g/cm³. The apparent density varies from 0.83 to 1.35 g/cm³. As for the dry density, it is in the range of 0.61 to 1.25 g/cm³. These relatively low densities indicate that the material studied has a significant degree of deformability. From the particle size analysis, it appears that the material studied contains an important fraction of fine particles. According to the consistency study, the soils studied are plastic clay as Ap class according to the Central Laboratory for Roads and Bridges (CLRB) geotechnical classification system. The particle size curves of the studied samples are within the preferential range of good soils for the manufacture of CSEB. The points representing the studied samples are within the preferential plasticity range of good soils for the manufacture of CSEB. From the above parameters, it appears that the studied material is well adapted for the manufacture of the Compressed Stabilized Earth Bricks.

Lateritic Soils, Identification Tests, Characterization, Classification, Earth Construction

Bishweka, C. , Manjia, M. , Ngapgue, F. , Nana, U. and Pettang, C. (2021) Contribution to the Characterization of Lateritic Soils for the Manufacture of Compressed Stabilized Earth Bricks. Open Journal of Civil Engineering, 11, 411-426. doi: 10.4236/ojce.2021.114024.