Abstract:
Investigation of the ground conditions is used for the economical design of the sub structural elements. It is also necessary to obtained sufficient information on type, characteristics and distributions of a soil and rock underlying sites of proposed structures for feasibility and economic studies for a proposed project.
Soil is the ultimate foundation material which supports the structure. The proper functioning of the structure will, therefore, depend on the engineering properties of the underlying soil.
The objectives of this project are to investigate the engineering properties of soils found in the Dello Menna town by conducting different types of laboratory tests of Dello Menna town. This project is useful in providing necessary data or information that can be used in designing civil engineering structures in Dello Menna town.
Soils of the study area are classified according to USCS and AASHTO. USCS indicates one main type of soils, which is highly sandy soil. According to AASHTO classification soils of the study area is A-1-a and A-1-b, the most suitable rating as sub-grade materials for highway.
The grain size distribution indicates all soil samples have sand material more than 50%. Therefore sandy type of soil is dominantly located in the study area.
Grain size analysis tests revealed that, starting from few centimeters below the ground level to the depth of investigation which is three meters, the soil in Dello Menna town is mostly sand and silty sand. In which for sandy soils of Dello Menna town has clay content ranging from 1.61 to 5.46%, silt fraction 6.89 to 10.32%, sand fraction 67.80 to 80.20%, and gravel content from 6.80 to 20.60%
Laboratory tests carried out on disturbed and undisturbed samples revealed that the natural moisture content ranges from 9.27 – 28.97%, within the depth of exploration, the specific gravity of the town ranges from 2.63 – 2.69. These values are good compared with Aurora, 2003.
