No abstract

DISCUSSION 725 performance. Furthermore, the performance investigations which showed high proportions of fines in the base materials are not conclusive evidence of particle breakdown, and subsequent unsatisfactory performance, as apparently no samples were taken before or during construction. It is the writer's (23) and others' experience that high fines content (certainly within the so-called failure range quoted by the author of 16% to 28% passing No. 200 sieve) is a characteristic feature of lateritic gravels. The writer does not dispute that some particle breakdown does not occur; rather he questions the author's concentration on this aspect when other factors (such as plasticity, gradation, construction techniques) have much greater influence on pavement performance. It seems analogous to asses a concrete compression strength from an investigation of the coarse aggregates only and few would accept this.