The laterite is prone to shrinkage and crack due to dehydration

which may result numerous engineering disasters. Lime (5%) and meta-kaolin (4%) were added into laterite for mitigating their shrinkage behavior through improving moisture sensitivity. The samples were compacted at optimal water content and cured for 180 days. And then

samples were vacuumed and saturated immediately. After that

the saturated samples were dehydrated to predetermined moisture content for conducting a series of tests such as shrinkage

unconfined compressive strength

suction and pore analysis. The results showed that compressive strength of laterite increased at first and then decreased with moisture content reducing

which may be caused by micro-cracks derived ascribing to dehumidification. However

the strength of laterite adding with lime

especially lime and meat-kaolinite mixture

would increase with approaching to dry status

even if which has a slight reduction during drying process. This proved that meta-kaolin and lime were able to inhibit the shrinkage effect of laterite

and increase their overall strength. This may be ascribed to the following reasons

meta-kaolin contains lots of amorphous silicon and aluminum oxides and has an edge-surface contacted structure

both enable meta-kaolin to quickly capture calcium ions in calcium hydroxide solution and form cementation hydrates between grains or particles of laterite.