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Foundation Quality Assessment of Sub Soils in Parts of Nonwa-Gbam, Tai LGA, Rivers State, Nigeria
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Foundation Quality Assessment
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I10-1717102
Abstract
An assessment of the quality of sub soils which form the foundation of structures in parts of Nonwa-Gbam communities in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, was carried out to determine the suitability of the soils for ongoing construction of structures in the communities. A total of six geotechnical boreholes were drilled to 10m each .Three boreholes each in Nonwa and Gbam communities. Soil samples (disturbed) retrieved at 1m intervals in both locations, described and classified according to their depths on the field to determine the subsurface stratigraphy of the soils. Laboratory tests were carried out to determine the quality of the soils by identifying and classifying the soils using the particle size distribution (wet and dry sieve analysis) and moisture content of the soils. The subsurface stratigraphy in Nonwa consists of dark brown silty sand fom 0-4m, underlain by light brown sandy clay from 4-8m and fine to medium to coarse sand from 8-10m. While in Gbam, the stratigraphy consists of dark to light brown silty, sandy clay from 0-6m, sandy clay from 6-8m and sand from 8-10m Results of the wet sieve (hydrometer) analysis show the occurrence of 80% sand. These sands are poorly graded, with a high percentage of the fine to medium fraction from the dry sieve analysis of the soils with moisture content percentages below 50%. These results are indicative of the ability of the soils to transmit fluids thus, low water retention capacity of the soils which makes them good foundation materials for construction. Although, further analysis of the soils is recommended to determine their bearing capacities, before the construction of the structures in Nonwa-Gbam.
Keywords
Subsurface soil stratigraphy, Particle size distribution, poorly graded sand and Moisture content
References
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How to cite this paper
@article{1717102,
author = {Usen, L. N, Ehibor, I. U.},
title = {Foundation Quality Assessment of Sub Soils in Parts of Nonwa-Gbam, Tai LGA, Rivers State, Nigeria},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {9},
number = {10},
pages = {3280-3285},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1717102.pdf},
abstract = {An assessment of the quality of sub soils which form the foundation of structures in parts of Nonwa-Gbam communities in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State, was carried out to determine the suitability of the soils for ongoing construction of structures in the communities. A total of six geotechnical boreholes were drilled to 10m each .Three boreholes each in Nonwa and Gbam communities. Soil samples (disturbed) retrieved at 1m intervals in both locations, described and classified according to their depths on the field to determine the subsurface stratigraphy of the soils. Laboratory tests were carried out to determine the quality of the soils by identifying and classifying the soils using the particle size distribution (wet and dry sieve analysis) and moisture content of the soils. The subsurface stratigraphy in Nonwa consists of dark brown silty sand fom 0-4m, underlain by light brown sandy clay from 4-8m and fine to medium to coarse sand from 8-10m. While in Gbam, the stratigraphy consists of dark to light brown silty, sandy clay from 0-6m, sandy clay from 6-8m and sand from 8-10m Results of the wet sieve (hydrometer) analysis show the occurrence of 80% sand. These sands are poorly graded, with a high percentage of the fine to medium fraction from the dry sieve analysis of the soils with moisture content percentages below 50%. These results are indicative of the ability of the soils to transmit fluids thus, low water retention capacity of the soils which makes them good foundation materials for construction. Although, further analysis of the soils is recommended to determine their bearing capacities, before the construction of the structures in Nonwa-Gbam.},
keywords = {Subsurface soil stratigraphy, Particle size distribution, poorly graded sand and Moisture content},
month = {April},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I10-1717102}
}