GEOTECHNICAL STUDY OF THE PROPERTIES OF SOILS: A CASE STUDY OF NASSARAWA – EGGON TOWN AND ENVIRONS, NORTHERN NIGERIA

Main Authors: Stephen J. Mallo, Alu A.Umbugadu
Format: Article Journal
Terbitan: , 2012
Subjects:
Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/833425
Daftar Isi:
  • The principal objective in geotechnical testing is to know the properties and behavior of soil as an engineering material. The performance of soil in engineering practice is greatly influenced by the natural environmental conditions and conditions imposed by construction of structures. The aim of soil testing is to obtain reasonably representative values of the soil properties that are reliable and have direct and significant bearing upon the solution of the practical problems involved especially in various aspects of civil engineering. This important more so that Nasarawa State is relatively young with high prospects for growth and development. Several representative samples taken at an average depth of 1.25 m have been studied within a 48 km 2 area with the view of establishing geotechnical properties of the soils around Nasarawa- Eggon and its environs. The study involves some geotechnical testing of soils such as Sieve Analysis, Atterburg Limits (Liquid, Plastic and Shrinkage Limits), Consolidation, Compaction, Bulk Density, and Specific Density. The results of geotechnical testing shows Plastic Limit (PL) value of 23.70% and a corresponding Plasticity Index (PI) of 21.20%. The highest bulk Density and specific gravity values of soils are 22.25 KN/m2 and 2.68 respectively while the Sieve Analysis indicates particles sizes vary between o.1 to 1.5 mm.