GEOTECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME BORROW PITS AROUND AFE BABALOLA
UNIVERSITY, ADO-EKITI, SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA.
Abstract
This research work has analyzed the geotechnical characteristics of two
borrow pits around Afe babalola university. The research work was
carried out by collection of soil samples from borrowpit 1 (beside
Federal polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria) and borrowpit 2 (along Afe
Babalola farm, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria) and taken to the laboratory for soil
test. The particle size analysis shows that the percentages passing
number 200 British Standard sieve are 22.18% and 13.02% for borrowpits
1 and 2 respectively. Atterberg limit results show that borrow pit 2 has
sandy particle sizes predominating. Hence the soil sample as a result of
its particle size composition happens to be a cohesionless soil with no
plasticity while pit 1 has liquid limit of 32.5%, plastic limit of
27.77%, plasticity index of 5% and shrinkage limit of 5.8%. The
natural moisture content for the soil samples are 5% and 9.7% for
borrowpit 1 and borrowpit 2 respectively. The specific gravity for
borrowpit 1 and borrowpit 2 are 2.67 and 2.60 respectively. The soaked
CBR value for the soil samples are 70% and 66%. The maximum dry
density for the soil samples are 1.82Mg/m3 and 2.0Mg/m3 for borrowpit 1
and borrowpit 2 respectively. While that of Optimum moisture content are
16.24% and 13.5% for borrowpit 1 and borrowpit 2 respectively. The
unconfined compressive strength (qu) for borrowpit 1 soil sample is
91.5kN/m2. The unconfined compressive strength of borrowpit 2 could not
be obtained as it is a sandy material. Hence borrowpit 1 can be
classified as A-2-4 material (silty or clayey gravel and sand) while
borrowpit 2 can be classified as A-3 material (fine sand).