Investigation on Some of The Engineering Characteristics of Soils in Tiya Town, Ethiopia

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Date

2015

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is intended to investigate some of the engineering properties of Tiya soil. Tiya is a megalithic site located at about 80km south of Addis Ababa in the Soddo area on the road to Butajira. In addition to being tourist center, investors are also attracted to construct buildings and roads in Tiya town and the nearby areas. However, the engineering properties of the soil in the town are not yet studied. This research is therefore directed to the study of the physical and mechanical properties of soils i.e. investigating the index properties, consolidation characteristic, and shear strength, identifying the characteristics of the soil and preparing a tentative soil map of the town. After visiting the proposed site, ten test pit points were selected. Representative disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from open pits by direct manual excavation. The laboratory tests that were carried out include index properties, one dimensional consolidation, shear strength tests. The tests yielded a specific gravity ranging from 2.42 to 2.67, plasticity index ranging from 18 to 51%, clay fraction ranging from 17.08 to 55.51%, free swell values from 34 to 102.5%. From one-dimensional consolidation test conducted on undisturbed soil samples, compression index, Cc, ranges from 0.218 to 0.246 and measured swelling pressure of 250kPa. The unconfined compression strength tests gave value that range from 84 to 313 kPa at natural water content ranging from 27.25 to 49.07 %. The types of soils which are conducted in the research are CH, MH, ML and CL for the depth of 0.7m, 1.5m & 3m that is shown on the soil map. Low, Marginal and Highly potentially expansion soils according to free swell tests are presented on the tentative soil map.

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Soils Engineering

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