Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of the bearing capacity of near-surface soils using integrated methods: A case study of Otukpa, Ogbadibo Lga, Benue state, North-Central Nigeria

  • Research Articles
  • Published:
Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

The load bearing capacity of soils in Otukpa area of Benue state, Nigeria was evaluated by characterizing the geotechnical, geophysical and structural properties of the soil. The evaluation was necessary because aside the area holding good prospect for future increase in human population, sparsely distributed low-weight buildings in the area have cracks and other signs of failure. Remote sensing/GIS, geophysical and geotechnical approaches were integrated to achieve the objective. 2-D tomography and processed remotely sensed data confirmed the presence of areas of strength especially to the north. Stratigraphy of the northern portion consist of four layers; loose top soil (0-0.26m), compact clayey sand (0.26m-3.33m), dry clayey sand (3.33m-74.21m) and saturated clayey sands (74.21m-201.58m) While the stratigraphy in the south is slightly different; compact topsoil (0-1.2m), loose sand (1.2m-10.81m), compact sand (10.82m-19.71m) and compact clay sand (19.71m-56.03m). The plastic limit range from 11-17% with average specific gravity of 2.64g/cm3. Permeability ranges from 7.8×10-6m/sec to 3.36×10-4m/sec while volume compressibility under 250kN ranges from 7.27×10-5m2/kN to 1.3×10-4m2/kN and the rate of consolidation under 250kN is within 12.43 m2/year to 1.33m2/year. MDD peaks at 1.85g/cm3 at an OMC of 12.11% and is lowest at 1.67g/cm3 at an OMC of 11.99%. UCS ranges from 31-45kN/m2 while shear strength is between 258.81kN/m2 to 338 kN/m2. Due to the variability of engineering properties of soils, the southern part of the area is preferred for locating the buildings. Generally, careful foundation design in the area is necessary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abraham, B., Yirgale, G. and Gebrehiwot, G. (2013) Application of VES and Horizontal Profiling to decipher existing subsurface stratification in Segen Damsite, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Jour. Environ. Earth Sci., v.3(10), pp.42–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abimbola, O.W. and James, O.R. (2012) Contemporary issues in building collapse and its implication for sustainable development. Jour. Building Construction and Planning Res., v.2, pp.283–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, M.G., Holcombe, E.A. and Renaud, J.P. (2007) Assessing slope stability in unplanned settlements in developing countries. Jour. Environ. Managt., v.84(1), pp.101–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adejumo, S.A., Oyerinde, A.O. and Aleem, M.O. (2011) Intergrated Geophysical and Geotechnical subsoil evaluation for pre-foundation studies of proposed site of Vocational and Entrepreneuship centre at the polythecnic, Ibadan SW Nigeria. Internat. Jour. Scientific and Engg. Res., v.6(6), pp.910–917.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akintorinwa, O.J. and Adeusi, F.A. (2009) Intergration of Geophysical and Geotechnical investigation for a proposed Lecture classroom complex at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, SW Nigeria. Ozean Jour. Appld. Sci., v.2(3), pp. 241–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Akinrimade, A.O., Ogunsawo, O. and Ige, O.O. (2013) Geophysical and Geotechnical inveestigation of river Ero Ajuba, SW Nigeria for Dam development. Internat. Jour. Sci. Tech., v.2(7), pp. 518–528.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arindam, D. and Sabyasachi, R. (2014) Effect of expansive soils on foundation and its remedies. Internat. Jour. of innovative research in Science, Engineering and Technology, v.3(6), pp.92–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arora, K.R. (2004) Soil mechanics and foundation Engineering. Standard Publishers Distributors, Delhi, 903p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aghamelu, O.P. and OKOGBUE, C.O. (2011) Geotechnical assessment of road failures in Abakaliki area, South-East Nigeria. Internat. Jour. Civil and Environ. Engg., v.11(2), pp.22–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aghamelu, O.P. and Okogbue, C.O. (2013) Some geological consideration and durability analysis on the use of crushed pyroclastics from Abakaliki, South-East Nigeria as concrete aggregate. Jour. Geotech. Geol. Engg., v.31(2), pp.699–711.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blyth, F.G. and De-Freitas, M.H. (1984) A geology for Engineers (7th Ed).Arnold Publishers, 325p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cripps, J.C., Bell, F.G. and Culshaw, M.G. (1985) Groundwater and Engineering Geology: Proceedings of the 21st Annual conference of Engineering group of Geological Society held at the University of Sheffield on 15th-19th Sept., 1985. Geol. Soc. london, 9p

    Google Scholar 

  • Fakere, A.A., Fadairo, G. and Fakere, R.A. (2012) Assessment of building collapse in Nigera: A case of Naval Building, Abuja, Nigeria. Internat. Jour. Engg. Tech., v.2(4), pp.584–599.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagbenle, O.I. and Oluwunmi, A.O. (2010) Building failure and collapse in Nigeria: The influence of informal sector. Jour. Sustainable Development, v.3(4), pp. 268–276.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghazavi, M. and Eghbali, A.H. (2008) A simple limit equilibrium approach for calculation of ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations in two layered granular soils. Jour. Geotech. Geol. Engg., v.26(5), pp.535–542.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Igwe, O. (2014) The compressibility and shear characteristics of soils associated with Landslides in Geologically different localities-Case examples of Nigeria. Arabian Jour. Geosci., v.8(8), pp.6075–6084.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Igwe, O. and Fukuoka, H. (2015) The effect of water saturation on the stability of problematic slopes at the Iva valley Area, Southeast Nigeria. Arabian Jour. Geosci., v.8 (5), pp. 3223–3233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Igwe, O. (2015) Predisposing factors and the mechanism of rainfall induced slope movements in Ugwueme, Southeast Nigeria. Bull. Engg. Geol. Environ., v.75 (2), pp.623–636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James, A.N. and Edworthy, K.J. (1985) The effect of water interaction on Engineering structures. Hydrol. Sci. Jour., v.30(3), pp.395–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jegede, O.G. and Olaleye, B.M. (2013) Evaluation of engineering geologic and geotechnical properties of subgrade soils along re-alligned Igbara-Ikogosi highway, Soth-west Nigeria. Internat. Jour. Engg. and Sci., v.2(5), pp.18–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jegede, O.G. (2004) Highway pavement failure induced by poor geotechnical properties at a section along the F209 Okitipupa-Igbokoda highway, Southwest Nigeria. Ife Jour. science, v.6(1), pp.41–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Joseph, O.C. (2015) Integration of Geophysical and Geotechnical methods to site characterization for construction work at the school of management Area, Lagos State polythecnic, Ikorodu, Lagos-Nigeria. Internat. Jour. Energy Science and Engg., v.1(2), pp.40–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, D. and Das, S.K. (2005) An experimantal study of the parameters influencing ultimate bearing strength of weak floor using physical modelling. Geotechnical and Geological engineering, v.23, pp.1. doi:10, 1007/s10706-003-3158-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, A., Ohri, M.L. and Bansal, R.K. (2007) Bearing capacity test of strip footings in reinforced layered soils. Geotechnical and Geological Engg., v.25(2), pp.139–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krynine, D.P. and Williams, R.J. (2005) Principles of Engineering Geology and Geotechnics. CBS publishers, Cochin, India, 730p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loke, M.H. (1999) Electrical imaging surveys for Environmental and Engineering studies. Minden heights, 11700 Penang, Malaysia, 57p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laws, S., Ebarhardt, E., Loew, S. and Descoeudres, F. (2003) Geomechanical properties of shear zones in the Eastern Aar Massif, Switzerland and their imlpication in Tunnelling work. Jour. Rock mechanics, Rock Engg., v.36(4), pp.271–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawal, A.I. and Anikoh, G.A. (2014) Investigation of Geotechnical paramters of sandstone in Banda, Kogi State, Nigeria using Regression model. Jour. Mining World Express, v.3, pp.39–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawal, A., Yero, U.Y. and Ameh, D.P. (2015) Application of 2D resistivity imaging/GIS in dam foundation studies: A case study of Otobi Area of Oturkpo LGA, NC Nigeria. Internat. Jour. Scientific and Engg. Res., v.6(9), pp.792–789.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martins, O.I., Calistuis, A. and Sambaba, O. (2012) Erodibility of soils of the southwest of Benue State, Nigeria. The Pacific Jour. Sci. Tech., v.13(2), pp.437–447.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niazi, F.S. and Mayne, P.W. (2013) Cone penetration test based direct method for evaluating static axial capacity of single pile. Geotech. Geol. Engg., v.31(4), doi:10.1007/s10706-013-9662-2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oyedele, K.F. and Okoh, C. (2011) Subsoil investigation using intergrated methods at Lagos, Nigera. Jour. Geol. Min. Res., v.3(7), pp. 169–177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oluwafemi, O. and Ogunribido, T.H. (2014) Intergrated Geophysical and Geotechnical Assessment of the permanent site of AAUAkungba-Akoko, SW Nigeria. Pelagic Research Library, v.5(2), pp.199–209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oyedele, K.F., Oladele, S. and Adedoyin, O. (2011) Application of Geophysical and Geotecgnical methods to site characterization for construction purposes at Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria. Jour. Earth Sci. and Geotech. Engg., v.1(1), pp.87–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savelev, V.S. (1972) Effect of Groundwater on stability of slopes and structures erected on them on thawing of frozen soil. Cold region and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, New Hampshire, 10p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Salami, B.M., Falebita, D.E., Fatoba, O.J. and Ajala, M.O. (2012) Intergrated Geophysical and Geotechnical investigation of a Bridge site-Acase study of swamp/creek Environment in SE lagos Nigeria. Ife Jour. Sci., v.14(1), pp.75–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semih, S.T., Zuhal, O., Ali, K. and Aykut, E. (2007) A rapid technique to determine allowable bearing pressure. International earthquake symposium, Kocaeli (22nd-26th Oct., 2007), pp.234–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Udoh, B.I., Egboka B.C.E. and Aghamelu, P.O. (2012) The status of the soil at the permanent site of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, SE Nigeria. Canadian Jour. Pure Appld. Sci, v.6 (1), pp.1837-1845.

    Google Scholar 

  • Una, C.O., Igwe, O., Maduka, R., Brooks A., Ajodo, R., Adepehin, E.J. and Okwoli, E. (2015) Integrating Geotechnical and Geophysical techniques in assessing frequent building collapse in Akpugo, Nkanu West LGA, Enugu State Nigeria. Arabian Jour. Geosciences, v.8(12), pp.10951–10960.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varghese, V.K., Babu, S.S., Bijukumar, R., Cyrus, S. and Abraham, B.M. (2013) Artificial neutral network:A solution to ambiguity in prediction of engineering properties of fine grained soil. Geotech. Geol. Engg., v.31(4), pp.1187–1205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, Y.G. (2004) Bearing capacity of unsaturated expansive soil. Geotech. Geol. Engg., v.22(4), pp.611–625.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engineering Geology Unit, Department of Geology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Peter Ameh, Ogbonnaya Igwe & Bernadette Ukah

Authors
  1. Peter Ameh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ogbonnaya Igwe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bernadette Ukah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Ameh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ameh, P., Igwe, O. & Ukah, B. Evaluation of the bearing capacity of near-surface soils using integrated methods: A case study of Otukpa, Ogbadibo Lga, Benue state, North-Central Nigeria. J Geol Soc India 90, 93–101 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-017-0668-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-017-0668-x

Search

Navigation