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Detailed Investigation of Index Properties and Rate of Consolidations of Nguzu Edda Lateritic Soils (South-Eastern Nigeria) Used for Road Construction

Received: 24 July 2016    Accepted: 8 August 2016    Published: 13 January 2017
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Abstract

This research project involves detailed investigation of index properties and rate of consolidations of Nguzu Edda lateritic soil used for road construction so as to give details of soil behaviour in solving engineering and environmental issues. Nguzu Edda lies within the Afikpo Syncline of the Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria. It is located within longitude 7°491 E to 7°541 E and latitude 5°451 N to 5°501 N covering an area extent of about 62km2. Seven (7) samples were collected for the geotechnical analysis. Some geotechnical parameters were used to assess the lateritic soils. All the analyses were carried out in accordance with the British Standard code of practice (BS1377:1990). The results indicated that the particle size gradation for gravel ranged from 58 to 89%, sand ranged from 2 to 10% and fines ranged from 9 to 35%; natural moisture content ranged from 4.95 to 12.03%; specific gravity ranged from 2.49 to 2.64; the bulk density ranged from 1662.1 to 1775.2 kg/m3, dry density from 1498.7 to 1689.2 kg/m3; the liquid limit ranged from 32 to 38%, plastic limit ranged from 21 to 25%, plasticity index ranged from 8 to 13%; linear shrinkage ranged from 10 to 16%; the maximum dry density ranged from 1.78 to 1.95 mg/m3, optimum moisture content ranged from 9.1 to 20%; the undrained triaxial test for cohesion (C) ranged from 130 to 146 kN/m2 and angle of internal friction (Ø) ranged from 15° to 20°; the values of free swell index ranged from 12 to 30.8%; the California bearing ratio values for unsoaked condition ranged from 51.29 to 87.50% while soaked California bearing ratio ranged from 33.48 to 62.50%. According to America Association of State Highway and Transport Officials (AASHTO) soil classification, all the samples can be classified as A-2 materials which consist of silty or clayey-gravel and sand and can be rated as excellent material for road construction. They satisfy Federal Ministry of Works and Housing requirements for subgrade and subbase materials. Samples S2, S6 and S7 may likely be suitable only for sub base course materials. The soil samples tested from the study area are adjudged suitable for sub grade, sub base and base course materials.

Published in Engineering and Applied Sciences (Volume 1, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.eas.20160104.12
Page(s) 74-86
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Nguzu Edda, South-Eastern Nigeria, Lateritic Soil, Geotechnical, Nigerian Specification

References
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[33] Akpokodje, E. G. (1987). The engineering geological characteristic and classification of the major superficial soils of the Niger Delta. Eng. Geol., 32. pp. 255-261
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[35] Emesiobi, F.C. (2000). Testing and quality control of materials in civil and highway Engineering. ISBN 078-2009-36-16. pp. 5-7.
[36] Alabo, E. H. and P. Pandy, (1987). Distribution of engineering properties of red soils in the central Lower Niger Delta, Nigeria. Proceeding of the 9th African Reg. Conference Soil Mechanics and Found. Engr., Lagos, pp: 49-55.
[37] Wright, P. H. (1986). Highway Engineering, Sixth Edition. John Willey and Sons: New York, NY.
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[41] Adeyemi, G.O (2003). The influence of topography on some engineering and geological Characteristics of sandstone derived lateritic soil from Ishara, SW, Nigeria. Journal of Applied Science and Tech., 3: 1-6.
[42] Akpokodje, E. G. (1986). The geotechnical properties of lateritic and non-lateritic soils of South-Eastern Nigeria and other evaluation for road contribution. Bull. Int. Assoc. Eng. Geol., 33: 115-121.
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[45] Obiora, S. C. and Umeji, A. C. (2004). Petrographic evidence for regional burial metamorphism of the sedimentary rocks in the lower Benue Rift”. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 38. pp. 269-277.
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    Nwadike Henry Onyebuchi, Nweke Obisi Mathias. (2017). Detailed Investigation of Index Properties and Rate of Consolidations of Nguzu Edda Lateritic Soils (South-Eastern Nigeria) Used for Road Construction. Engineering and Applied Sciences, 1(4), 74-86. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eas.20160104.12

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    Nwadike Henry Onyebuchi; Nweke Obisi Mathias. Detailed Investigation of Index Properties and Rate of Consolidations of Nguzu Edda Lateritic Soils (South-Eastern Nigeria) Used for Road Construction. Eng. Appl. Sci. 2017, 1(4), 74-86. doi: 10.11648/j.eas.20160104.12

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    AMA Style

    Nwadike Henry Onyebuchi, Nweke Obisi Mathias. Detailed Investigation of Index Properties and Rate of Consolidations of Nguzu Edda Lateritic Soils (South-Eastern Nigeria) Used for Road Construction. Eng Appl Sci. 2017;1(4):74-86. doi: 10.11648/j.eas.20160104.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.eas.20160104.12,
      author = {Nwadike Henry Onyebuchi and Nweke Obisi Mathias},
      title = {Detailed Investigation of Index Properties and Rate of Consolidations of Nguzu Edda Lateritic Soils  (South-Eastern Nigeria) Used for Road Construction},
      journal = {Engineering and Applied Sciences},
      volume = {1},
      number = {4},
      pages = {74-86},
      doi = {10.11648/j.eas.20160104.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eas.20160104.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.eas.20160104.12},
      abstract = {This research project involves detailed investigation of index properties and rate of consolidations of Nguzu Edda lateritic soil used for road construction so as to give details of soil behaviour in solving engineering and environmental issues. Nguzu Edda lies within the Afikpo Syncline of the Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria. It is located within longitude 7°491 E to 7°541 E and latitude 5°451 N to 5°501 N covering an area extent of about 62km2. Seven (7) samples were collected for the geotechnical analysis. Some geotechnical parameters were used to assess the lateritic soils. All the analyses were carried out in accordance with the British Standard code of practice (BS1377:1990). The results indicated that the particle size gradation for gravel ranged from 58 to 89%, sand ranged from 2 to 10% and fines ranged from 9 to 35%; natural moisture content ranged from 4.95 to 12.03%; specific gravity ranged from 2.49 to 2.64; the bulk density ranged from 1662.1 to 1775.2 kg/m3, dry density from 1498.7 to 1689.2 kg/m3; the liquid limit ranged from 32 to 38%, plastic limit ranged from 21 to 25%, plasticity index ranged from 8 to 13%; linear shrinkage ranged from 10 to 16%; the maximum dry density ranged from 1.78 to 1.95 mg/m3, optimum moisture content ranged from 9.1 to 20%; the undrained triaxial test for cohesion (C) ranged from 130 to 146 kN/m2 and angle of internal friction (Ø) ranged from 15° to 20°; the values of free swell index ranged from 12 to 30.8%; the California bearing ratio values for unsoaked condition ranged from 51.29 to 87.50% while soaked California bearing ratio ranged from 33.48 to 62.50%. According to America Association of State Highway and Transport Officials (AASHTO) soil classification, all the samples can be classified as A-2 materials which consist of silty or clayey-gravel and sand and can be rated as excellent material for road construction. They satisfy Federal Ministry of Works and Housing requirements for subgrade and subbase materials. Samples S2, S6 and S7 may likely be suitable only for sub base course materials. The soil samples tested from the study area are adjudged suitable for sub grade, sub base and base course materials.},
     year = {2017}
    }
    

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    T1  - Detailed Investigation of Index Properties and Rate of Consolidations of Nguzu Edda Lateritic Soils  (South-Eastern Nigeria) Used for Road Construction
    AU  - Nwadike Henry Onyebuchi
    AU  - Nweke Obisi Mathias
    Y1  - 2017/01/13
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eas.20160104.12
    AB  - This research project involves detailed investigation of index properties and rate of consolidations of Nguzu Edda lateritic soil used for road construction so as to give details of soil behaviour in solving engineering and environmental issues. Nguzu Edda lies within the Afikpo Syncline of the Southern Benue Trough, Nigeria. It is located within longitude 7°491 E to 7°541 E and latitude 5°451 N to 5°501 N covering an area extent of about 62km2. Seven (7) samples were collected for the geotechnical analysis. Some geotechnical parameters were used to assess the lateritic soils. All the analyses were carried out in accordance with the British Standard code of practice (BS1377:1990). The results indicated that the particle size gradation for gravel ranged from 58 to 89%, sand ranged from 2 to 10% and fines ranged from 9 to 35%; natural moisture content ranged from 4.95 to 12.03%; specific gravity ranged from 2.49 to 2.64; the bulk density ranged from 1662.1 to 1775.2 kg/m3, dry density from 1498.7 to 1689.2 kg/m3; the liquid limit ranged from 32 to 38%, plastic limit ranged from 21 to 25%, plasticity index ranged from 8 to 13%; linear shrinkage ranged from 10 to 16%; the maximum dry density ranged from 1.78 to 1.95 mg/m3, optimum moisture content ranged from 9.1 to 20%; the undrained triaxial test for cohesion (C) ranged from 130 to 146 kN/m2 and angle of internal friction (Ø) ranged from 15° to 20°; the values of free swell index ranged from 12 to 30.8%; the California bearing ratio values for unsoaked condition ranged from 51.29 to 87.50% while soaked California bearing ratio ranged from 33.48 to 62.50%. According to America Association of State Highway and Transport Officials (AASHTO) soil classification, all the samples can be classified as A-2 materials which consist of silty or clayey-gravel and sand and can be rated as excellent material for road construction. They satisfy Federal Ministry of Works and Housing requirements for subgrade and subbase materials. Samples S2, S6 and S7 may likely be suitable only for sub base course materials. The soil samples tested from the study area are adjudged suitable for sub grade, sub base and base course materials.
    VL  - 1
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Geology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria

  • Department of Geology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria

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