IDENTIFICATION ET CLASSIFICATION GÉOTECHNIQUE DU LŒSS DE GHARDAÏA (SUD ALGERIEN)

Abstract

The most of arid regions have aeolian deposits of loose granular soils. These deposits are lœssial soils. They mainly composed of uniform particles of silt. They are found in large quantities around the world. Some authors suggest that there are deposits of peri-Saharan lœss type. In Africa, some authors were examined the lœss of Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Egypt and northern Nigeria ... etc. The well-known example of these type deposits has been studied by COUDE-GAUSSEN (1987) on the Matmama plateau in southern Tunisia. In Algeria, some deposits were observed in the Ghardaïa region. The results of the laboratory testing program to determine the geotechnical properties of the Algerian lœss are presented and discussed. The testing set includes particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, carbonate content, methylene blue test, sand equivalent and the chemical analysis. The mechanical characteristics of single shear and Proctor test were also investigated. The results obtained from this research indicate that the Algerian lœss is comparable to those of several parts of the world and quite similar to those of Matmata in southern Tunisia.