Investigation into Some of the Engineering Properties of Soils in Adet Town
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Date
2015-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate soils engineering properties and prepare soil map of
Adet town. Samples from ten test pits were used for this study. Both disturbed and undisturbed
samples were retrieved from the open test pits dug manually.
Laboratory tests performed on disturbed soil samples included natural moisture content, specific
gravity, Atterberg limits, free swell as well as grain size analysis. Oedometer consolidation tests,
swelling pressure test and unconfined pressure tests were also carried out by performing tests on
undisturbed samples.
Reconnaissance survey and laboratory test results revealed that the soils in the town are mainly
two types. The first one which covers the northern part of the town is black clay soil which has a
characteristics of specific gravity ranging from 2.62 to 2.67, liquid limit of 77-86%, plasticity
index of 42-51% , clay fraction of 56-71%, free swell values of 67-100%, compression index of
0.266, recompression index of 0.047,preconsolidation pressure of 250kPa,coefficient of
permeability ranging from 10-8 to 10-11 cm/sec and swelling pressure of 125kPa.
The second type that is found in most parts of the town is red soils which are classified as clay
and inorganic silts according to Unified Soil Classification System. These red soils have
characteristics of specific gravity ranging from 2.70 to 2.85, liquid limit of 47-72%, plasticity
index of 14-39%, clay fraction of 21-90%, compression index of 0.19-0.299, recompression index
of 0.023- 0.029,pre consolidation pressure ranging from 150 to300 kPa, coefficient of
permeability ranging from 10-8 to 10-10 cm/sec and free swell values of 27-67.5%.
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Geotechnical Engineering stream