Technical Parameters of the Cana-Atchia Lateritic Aggregate for Its Use in Road Engineering in Southern Benin

Aims: To determine the technical parameters sought in road engineering of the lateritic aggregate of Atchia village in the Arrondissement of Cana, Commune of Zogbodomey.

Study Design: To valorize the lateritic aggregate of Cana-Atchia in the construction of roads in Benin.

Place and Duration of Study: Colas Benin Entreprise Laboratory and Laboratory of Energetic and Applied Mechanic, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Abomey-Calavi, between January 2021 and March 2022.

Methodology: Thus, with the help of classical road material characterization tests, the values of technical road engineering parameters are determined on prepared specimens.

Results: The different results obtained are the percentage of passings at the 80 µm sieve (13%), the liquidity limit (32.67%), the plasticity index (13.67%), the dry density obtained at the Proctor optimum (2.28t/m3), the CBR index (106%) and the swelling index (0.04%). In the Proctor test, the water content at the OPM is evaluated at 8.20%. Similarly, studies have shown that the lateritic gravel of Cana-Atchia has a natural water content of 3.5% and an organic matter content of 0.75%.

Conclusion: From this study, it appears that the lateritic aggregate of Cana-Atchia has very good technical parameters sought in road engineering, with regard to the technical specifications of the CEBTP guides of 1984 and 2019.