Book Description

Field and laboratory tests were conducted on 11 fine-grained soils from the temperate climate of the United States and 17 fine-grained soils from the tropical climates of Puerto Rico, Panama Canal Zone, Hawaii, and Thailand to determine the trafficability and other engineering properties of the soils. Soils were collected from the 6- to 12-in. layer for a wide range of parent materials. Temperate and tropical soils of each parent material were selected on the basis of their similarity in the Unified Soil Classification System and in topographic position. A comparison of physical, mineralogical, and chemical properties, and results of standard and special engineering tests indicate, with few exceptions, no significant differences between temperate and tropical soils from a similar parent material. It is concluded that temperate and tropical soils of similar parent material and Atterberg limits generally have other engineering properties that are similar and behave similarly when subjected to standard and special engineering laboratory tests. Differences in behavior between soils from each of the climates can be associated with differences in Atterberg limits. (Author).