GEOTECHNICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF LATERITIC SOILS AT FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE-EKITI, IKOLE CAMPUS: IMPLICATIONS FOR FOUNDATION DESIGN
Abstract
Frequent structural collapses in Nigeria underscore the need for adequate geotechnical investigations to support safe and economical foundation design. This study assesses the geotechnical properties of lateritic soils from the Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ikole Campus, to provide site-specific data for construction. Soil samples were collected from five trial pits at 1.0 m depth and analysed for particle size distribution, natural moisture content, Atterberg limits, specific gravity, compaction, and consolidation in accordance with BS 1377:1990. The soils collected were primarily silty and sandy clay, with fine soil and silt ranging from 42.68% to 73.44% passing the 0.075 mm sieve, and were classified as A-4 to A-7 according to the AASHTO classification system. Natural moisture content ranged from 8.78% to 17.55%, specific gravity ranged from 2.23 to 2.75, and plasticity index ranged from 18.45% to 25.45%, corresponding to medium to high plasticity. The optimum moisture content range for the compaction tests was 12.24%- 18.14%, and the maximum dry density was 1.775-1.834 g/cm³. Consolidation test results revealed a compression index of 0.081 - 0.138, a coefficient of consolidation of 36.212 - 56.460 m²/yr, and a coefficient of volume compressibility between 1.430 × 10-4 and 3.226 × 10-4 m²/kN. These results indicate slow consolidation, meaning the soils will require time to settle and may undergo long-term deformation under load. While suitable for limited uses such as earth dams, the soils’ high plasticity and moisture sensitivity suggest that most civil engineering works on them will require stabilisation to achieve adequate performance.
KEYWORDS: Lateritic soil, Geotechnical properties, Soil classification, Consolidation, Compaction, Foundation design, Ekiti State
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