Abstract:
The study focuses on index properties, shear strength and consolidation tests in order to examine the soils characteristics. Nine representative test pits were excavated over different parts of the town from which eighteen samples were taken and laboratory tests done on the collected samples. For all tests the apparatus and the procedures used for analysis were done according to American Society for Testing Materials standard Method. Index property laboratory tests such as: Natural moisture content, Grain size analysis, Atterberg limits test, Specific gravity and free swell conducted on disturbed samples and engineering properties such as shear strength and consolidation tests were conducted on undisturbed samples. Grain size Analysis result indicated that, the area was predominated by fine grained (cohesive) soils. In which the percentage of gravel fraction from 0 –0.14 %, sand fraction ranges from 3.60 – 12.86%, silt fraction from 15.60 – 35.62% and clay fraction from 52.64 to 78.12 Laboratory test result revealed that Natural moisture content of the soil ranges from 25.2-31.2. The Liquid Limit ranges from 52.30 to 74% .Likewise, the plasticity index in percent of the soils ranges from 26.78 to 39.59%, the free swell test results obtained range from 29 to 40 % .The soil
