UNSATURATED

GEOTECHNICAL
PROPERTIES OF SOME
LATERITIC SOILS IN
ADO-EKITI, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA.
UDUEBOR MICHEAL A.
CV E / 0 6 /7 9 8 8

S U P E R V I S O R : P R O F.
S. A. OL A

M AY , 2 0 1 4

INTRODUCTION
UNSATURATED SOILS

INTRODUCTION
Optimization of factors
of construction is being
harped upon more and
more these days owing
to the increased need
for
engineering
infrastructure and the
limited
available

INTRODUCTION
Part
of
the
efforts
at
ensuring
maximization of the limited resources has
also been the recent look into the widely
neglected area of unsaturated soil
mechanics, with intent of ascertaining to
a
confident
level
the
properties,
characteristics and behaviour of soils in
unsaturated soil conditions.

AIM AND
OBJECTIVES
RESEARCH FOCUS

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

In
practice,
several
design
and
maintenance measures are undertaken
to maintain unsaturated conditions
because
they
provide
favourable
engineering properties. However, the
conventional procedures for design are
often based on empirical procedures and
not on unsaturated soil mechanics

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this research is to determine
the unsaturated geotechnical properties
and behaviour of selected lateritic soils.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the research include;
Carrying out laboratory investigative tests to
determine
the
unsaturated
strength
properties of the soils.
Obtaining baseline information that would
aid unsaturated soil mechanics calculations
and evaluation.
Comparing results with known models to
check if they would prove valid, and if found

JUSTIFICATION
WHY THIS RESEARCH?

JUSTIFICATION
As pointed out by Fredlund and Rahardjo
(1993), classical soil mechanics and
geotechnical engineering have been
often taught with an implicit assumption
that soil is either dry (0 per cent
saturation) or saturated (100 per cent
saturation).

JUSTIFICATION
In many engineering problems, however, a
soil is often neither saturated nor dry.
Relatively, limited research has been
conducted on unsaturated soils so there is
an
urgent
need
to
improve
the
understanding of the behaviour and
mechanics of an unsaturated soil especially
as regards to tropical soils.

SCOPE OF THIS
STUDY
THE EXTENT OF THIS RESEARCH

SCOPE OF THIS STUDY

The study intends to characterize the
water retention characteristics curves,
shear strength versus Suction for two
tropical lateritic soils previously selected
by Abe (2008). These would be carried
out on each soil sample at several
suctions and two compacted densities.

ONE

SOIL WATER CHARACTERISTIC CURVE

DETERMINATION
MODELLING
COMAPRISONS UNDER DIFFERENT COMPACTION DENSITIES
AND WATER CONTENTS

TWO

SHEAR STRENGTH UNDER UNSATURATED

CONDITIONS

DETERMINATION
COMPARISONS UNDER DIFFERENT COMPACTION DENSITIES,
WATER CONTENTS AND STRAINS

THREE

TERMITE ACTIVITY ON LATERITIC SOIL

DETERMINATION
EFFECT ON UNSATURATED PROPERTIES
COMPARISONS WITH NON-WORKED LATERITIC SOILS

LOCATION OF THE
STUDY AREA
LOCATION OF THE RESEARCH

LOCATION OF THE STUDY AREA

The study area is located in Ado-Ekiti,
the Capital of Ekiti State, South-Western
Nigeria. The area is readily accessible by
a network of roads which also link the
area with nearby towns.

Road Map of Ado-Ekiti

Source: Google Map, 2014

SL1

Map Showing Sample Location 1 (SL1), Abuja Hostel, Federal

Poly., Ado-Ekiti.
Source: Google Maps, 2014

SL2

Map Showing Sample Location 2, (SL2) Health Centre along

Igirigiri Road in Odo-Ado quarters, Ado-Ekiti
Source: Google Maps, 2014

EXPECTED
CONTRIBUTION TO
KNOWLEDGE
ADDITION TO KNOWLEDGE

EXPECTED CONTRIBUTION TO
KNOWLEDGE
Add to knowledge in the area of
unsaturated soil mechanics especially
with a look at tropical soils.
It would provide necessary baseline
information for future research efforts
into the behaviour of soils under
unsaturated conditions.

EXPECTED CONTRIBUTION TO
KNOWLEDGE
Provide
data
necessary
for
the
determination of the unsaturated shear
strength properties and characterization
of the water retention characteristics of
the selected tropical soil which would
serve useful in provision of a more
economic design both in building and
road construction works

MATERIALS AND
METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH PROCESS

MATERIALS
Disturbed and undisturbed lateritic soil
samples from tests pits dug manually
around the study area would be obtained
with depths ranging from 1.0 to about 2.0
m deep. Twenty (20) soil samples would
be categorized and labelled with respect
to location and sample type.

Predefined Soil Test Sample

Categorization.
Location

Sample Type

Beside Abuja hostel of the

Federal Polytechnic (SL1)
Non Reworked
6 Samples
Soil (NRS)
Termite
Reworked Soils
From Top of
2 Samples
Termitarium
(TTRS)
Termite
Reworked Soils
From Bottom of
2 Samples
Termitarium
(BTRS)

Health centre along

Igirigiri road (SL2)
Non Reworked
6 Samples
Soil (NRS)
Termite
Reworked Soils
From Top of
2 Samples
Termitarium
(TTRS)
Termite
Reworked Soils
From Bottom of
2 Samples
Termitarium
(BTRS)

METHODOLOGY
As this study is concerned only with the
unsaturated soil properties of the soil,
little preliminary tests would be carried
out. The tests required for determining
the unsaturated soil properties of the
selected soils are briefly outlined below.

METHODOLOGY
Bulk Density Test (BS
1377- 4:1975)
This test would be carried
out both on the field and in
the laboratory. This is to
determine the in-situ bulk
density of the soil in order to
produce soil test samples

METHODOLOGY
Compaction Test (BS 13774:1975)
The compaction test would be
carried out to determine the
maximum dry density of the soil
samples for the given compactive
effort and the moisture content
at which it is achieved. This

METHODOLOGY
SWCC Test (ASTM D 6836
02)
The Soil Water Characteristic
Curve Test would be carried out
in accordance with ASTM D 6836
02, the designated standard
test
method
for
the
determination of the soil water

METHODOLOGY
Saturation
Equilibration
Suction
Gravimetric
Measurements

METHODOLOGY
Unconsolidated
Undrained
(Triaxial)
Test (BS1377-8:1990)
Six (6) samples from
both locations would be
tested at five (5) different
levels
of
saturation,
making a total of thirty

METHODOLOGY
A uniform pressure (being the
calculated overburden pressure)
would be applied to the soil, and
the shearing process started
immediately at a strain rate of
0.5mm/min without allowing any
drainage of water. In this test
there will be no dissipation of pore

METHODOLOGY
Tests also would be carried out
at varying strain rates to
determine the effect of the rate
of strain on the strength
properties of the selected soil
samples.

PROJECT
SCHEDULE
RESEARCH DURATION

PROJECT SCHEDULE
It is expected with a high level of
allowance given for contingencies that the
study would be concluded in sixteen (16)
weeks, and average of four (4) months.
The sequence of work for this research is
outlined with specific durations indicated
below.

Sequence of Work
Sequence of Work
Visit to Study area, Recovery of soil
samples, In-Situ soil
test/investigation
Laboratory Tests, Analysis of
Results

Duration (Weeks)
1
10

Collation, Correlations, Discussions,

Report Writing

Thesis Report, Final Seminar

Total

16

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