The Chemical and Mineralogical Composition and Their Effects on Strength Parameters of Cohesive Soil Developed over Enugu Shale

Abstract

The results of chemical and mineralogical composition of cohesive soils developed over Enugu Shale, as well as the effects on the strength parameters are presented in this paper. The strength parameters were determined in the cohesive soil specimens in the study area, while the chemical and mineralogical tests were done on the representative soil types from the study area. Some correlations between chemical composition and strength parameters of cohesion and angle of internal friction as well as other physical parameters such as liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index and activity of soil were obtained. The effects of chemical and mineralogical composition on strength parameters, based on the correlation between chemical composition and strength parameters (cohesion and angle of internal friction) were examined. The results show that chemical and mineralogical compositions significantly affect the angle of internal friction and cohesion thereby impacting on the strength of cohesive soils developed over Enugu Shale.