Evaluation of Suitability of Expensive Soils for Safe Building Foundation: A Case Study of Tulu Bolo Town, Central Ethiopia
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Date
2007-07
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
Expansive soils in many parts of Ethiopia pose significant damages to foundation
for light buildings including the study area, Tulu bolo town. Therefore, identification
of the location and area extent of these expansive soils and evaluation of them is a
paramount importance to mitigate this problem. This particular study was intended
to address the major problem of Tulu Bolo town with objective of evaluating the
factors for the suitability of expansive soils for safe building foundation design in
Tulu bolo town. In order to achieve the objectives of the present study a systematic
methodology has been adopted, such as; Literature reviewing, physical
observation on the performance of the buildings foundation and associated
problems and Laboratory analysis of soil samples. The laboratory analysis for
evaluating of expansiveness of soils consists of Grain size distribution and soil type
analysis, Atterberg limit analysis, shrinking and swelling analysis and Consolidation
test. Average Atterberg limit of all the samples indicates that the values are very
high and the soil is very expansive. It is possible to generalize that based on the
Atterberg limit all the study area, the town Tulu bolo is located on very expansive
soils. Like the Atterber limits value the swelling and shrinking values of the soil
sampled showed nearly equal value but found to be very expansive which could
cause big cracks. In addition with the expansiveness of the soils the consolidation
test for settlement analysis indicates that the soils are very poor for foundation
because of high clay content. The spatial variation of the soils in the study area is
insignificant and it makes difficult to select the best sight for foundation of buildings.
However even for this insignificant variation it was possible to put rank of suitability
(Degree of expansiveness) in the study area. Therefore soil sample one is relatively
better than the others. When buildings are constructed over expansive soils there
are conditions to be considered for safe foundation. This study recommended that
any building constructed in the town should be based on causations described in
the recommendation part of this paper in order to prevent huge loss of money from
construction of buildings.
Key words: Expansive Soils, Buildings’ Foundation, Cracks of buildings, Atterberg
limits, Soil Consolidation and Tulu Bolo
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Keywords
Expansive Soils, Buildings’ Foundation, Cracks of buildings, Atterberg limits, Soil Consolidation and Tulu Bolo