Experimental Investigation on the Bearing Capacity of Selected Soils in Ayedaade Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

As a result of the importance of foundation in engineering construction, it is important to investigate the bearing capacity of construction soils, this study therefore investigated the bearing capacity of soils in Ayedaade Local Government Area, southwest Nigeria. To achieve the aim of this study, soil samples were collected from selected 20 construction sites in the study area. Using standard procedures, preliminary and geotechnical tests such as natural moisture content, particle size analysis, specific gravity, Atterberg limits, compaction and triaxial tests were conducted on the soil samples. Subsequently, Terzaghi’s bearing capacity equations were employed, alongside already determined shear strength parameters, to estimate the bearing capacity of different footing geometry (circular, square and strip footing). Results showed that majority of the soil samples are well-graded and could also be classified as A-2-4. Results of triaxial tests also showed that the soils are all c-ϕ soils. For each of the soil samples, square footing had the highest bearing capacity while strip footing had the lowest. It was also concluded that the tested soils are all excellent to good foundation materials.