A Multi-Dimensional Approach to Revealing Causes of Pavement Failures: Case Study of Minna – Suleja Highway, North-Central Nigeria

Umar Muhammed Umar,Ejepu Jude Steven,Umoru Charles Ile,Ozoji Tochukwu Malachi,Adamu Lukman Musa,Abdulkadir Sani Ahmad,Aweda Abdulwahid Kolawale

doi:10.11648/j.ajwse.20200603.11

Umar Muhammed Umar, Ejepu Jude Steven + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajwse.20200603.11

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Abstract

Remote sensing, geotechnical studies and geophysical data have been applied to determine the causes of the continuous pavement failure of the Minna – Suleja highway in a part of North-Central Nigeria. In this study, remotely sensed data in the form of Landsat 8 OLI and SRTM DEM were processed to extract structural lineaments and drainage pattern of the area. Geotechnical evaluation of soil samples such as grain size analyses, Compaction Test, Atterberg Limits and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) determination were also conducted. Geophysical data acquired were in the form of lateral resistivity profiling data at 500 m intervals and twenty-one Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) spread across the selected sections of the road. Lineament analysis revealed predominant NNE-SSW trending structures. A notable percentage of the Lineaments trend NW- SE. Both sets of lineaments constitute a conjugate fracture system. CBR values in both portions range from 5 – 15% in soaked condition and unsoaked condition at OMC. Plasticity index range from 14 – 30 and 19 – 45 in both portions. Quantitative interpretation of the VES results established the presence of mostly three geologic layers which are: Clayey top soil, sand/lateritic sand and weathered basement. Resistivity values range from 20 Ωm to 300 Ωm for the top soil layer. The depths of this layer were generally less than 3 m. Preponderance of intersections of lineaments along failed portions account for near surface fractures, making these zones weak. This can be linked to low resistivity of the near surface materials and shallowness of the water bearing zones especially on the failed portions on which the road pavement foundation was laid. A distinction could not be made on the results of the geotechnical properties in both the failed and stable portions of the road. Hence, failure factors are not linked to the geotechnical properties of the soils.

Highlights

With increasing civilisation, it has become the norm for people to move from one place to another using various means of communication
The nature of the soils, near surface geologic sequence and their geotechnical properties were investigated to deduce the factors that have been inimical to the integrity/stability of the road
Twenty-one (21) Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) were acquired along the investigated road segment using Schlumberger array with maximum AB/2 separation at 50 m

Summary

Introduction

It has become the norm for people to move from one place to another using various means of communication. Urbanisation is one of the chief factors that contribute to increasing road usage. Umar Muhammed Umar et al.: A Multi-Dimensional Approach to Revealing Causes of Pavement Failures: Case Study of Minna – Suleja Highway, North-Central Nigeria social functioning of the community, the quality of a country’s road network should be constructed in an efficient way in order to maximize economic and social benefits [1]. Several factors have been alluded to deterioration or roads These include road usage, inadequate supervision, poor construction materials, non-compliance to specifications/design problems, inadequate knowledge of the characteristics and more importantly, the behaviour of residual soils on which the roads are constructed [2]. Non incorporation of geological studies during design and construction of roads have been identified to be the major factor causing incessant road failure in Nigeria [3, 4]

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