Volume 5, Issue 5, May – 2020 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

Geotechnical Characterization of Lateritic Soils in

Some Selected Parts of Lagos State
1
J.A Ige, 2S.O. Ajamu and 3O.T. Idowu
1,2
Department of Civil Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso

Abstract:- In Nigeria, the non-availability of generalized I. INTRODUCTION

relevant data on materials used for road construction
particularly for initial preliminary engineering planning Geotechnical characterization is the evaluation of the
and designs, has been the bane and cause of failure of properties of soil to ascertain its suitability for the project
most of our highway construction projects, such that, under consideration, through scientific means. It is a
failure occurs almost immediately after the project is fundamental step towards the proper design, construction
commissioned or even before. Hence, the needs to and long term performance of all types of geotechnical
characterize the engineering properties of lateritic soils projects. For a Highway Engineer, knowledge of the
in various borrow pits in Lagos state. characterization of soil is extremely important, since the
pavement structure and foundation of structures rests on
Disturbed soil sample were collected at three soils. The engineering properties of soils are investigated,
different points from three different borrow pits namely because the stability of the pavement and the structures is
Nisha at Eleranigbe, Okeosho and Ibeshe Ikorodu, all governed by the strength of soils on which they rest. Soils
in Lagos state, South-western Nigeria for relevant are seldom uniform in character due to its parent material,
geotechnical analysis at Civil Engineering laboratory, hence the need for geotechnical characterization to increase
University of Lagos, Nigeria . The samples were the productivity of soil and to improve the workability of
subjected to laboratory tests to determine their index the soil mass. The understanding of soil behavior in solving
properties, shear strength, compaction and soil bearing engineering and environmental issues as swelling soil
capacity in accordance to British Standard especially expansive lateritic soils that can cause significant
Specification: BS: 1377 of 1990. damage to road construction and other Engineering
application is the sole aim of geotechnical engineering.
From the result,the natural water content and (Adeyemi, 2014).
specific gravity for Nisha, Oke osho and Ibeshe were
4.83, 13.7& 8.87% and 2.69, 2.66 & 2.66 respectively The design life of a road project is the guaranteed life
while the average percentage by weight passing the No. span it is designed to last, while the useful life is the period
200 sieve (0.075mm) are 7.3, 45 and 43.7%. The average of commencing from the date of commissioning to the last
liquid limit, plastic limit, shrinkage limit and plasticity day it ceases to be useful. The design life of a good or well-
index for Oke osho and Ibeshe were (46.5, 16.4, 7.3& constructed road varies from 10 to 50 years depecnding on
30.2%), and (45.1, 15.0, 6.3& 30.1%) respectively while the type of highway condition. The various conditions are
samples from Nisha borrow pit was non-plastic. From high volume (Trunk A: 30 to 50 years), high volume
the analysis, theMaximum Dry Density (MDD) values (Trunk B: 20 to 50 years), low volume (paved: 15 to 25
and the Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) are 1.817, years) and low volume (aggregate surface: 10 to 20 years)
1.857&1.788 mg/m3 and 10.3, 15.1 &16.3% respectively. (Kadyali and Lal, 2013). One of the major causes of road
The soaked and unsoaked CBR values were 48, 25.3 & accident is bad road which is usually caused by wrong
16.3% and 54.3, 43 & 35.3% for Nisha, Oke-osho and application of constructional materials especially laterite as
Ibeshe respectively. The unconfined compressive base and sub-base material by construction companies (
strengths were 5.3, 123.3 and 74kN/m2 while the Ogunribido et al., 2014).
cohesion were 2.7, 61.7 and 37kN/m2for Nisha, Oke
osho and Ibeshe respectively. The subgrade is the compacted natural earth
immediately below the pavement layers. It is the foundation
According to AASHTO Classification System, for road works. Its functions are to receive the stress
samples from Nisha are grouped as A-1 (1) while generated from the above layers, to receive materials from
samples from Oke Osho and Ibeshe can be group as A- the above layers and act as bedding layers. The sub base is
5(8). Laterite soil from Nisha met the requirement to be the layer of aggregate material laid on the subgrade, on
used as sub base for road construction while laterite soil which the base course layer is located. Sub base is often the
from Oke osho and Ibeshe are poor material for road main load-bearing layer of the pavement. Its role is to
construction according to Nigerian Standard of soil spread the load evenly over the subgrade, improve drainage
classification for roads and bridges and therefore condition, and minimize frost action damage and to remove
require stabilization. heave. The quality of sub base is very important for the
useful life of the road and can outlive the life of the surface,
Keywords:- Concrete and gravel. which can be scrapped off and after checking that the sub
base is still in good condition, a new layer can be applied.

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The base course layer is a structural element of the B. Data Acquisition
pavement, located directly under the surface layer. If there Disturbed soil samples weighing at least 50kg, were
is a sub base course, it is constructed directly above this collected at three different points from each of the study
layer. Otherwise, it is built directly on top of the sub grade. areas, for relevant geotechnical analysis at Civil
Its purpose is to distribute traffic wheel loads over the Engineering laboratory, University of Lagos, Nigeria . All
whole foundation and contributes to drainage and frost the tests were performed according to British Standard
resistance. A pavement is said to be defective, when it can Specification: BS: 1377 of 1990.
no longer perform these functions during its design life.
Kadyali and Lal (2013,). Hence, the durability of a highway C. Tests to determine Geotechnical Properties of Lateritic
pavement is a function of the ease and rigidity of the Soils
pavement soil to transmit the stress induced in it to the sub- For the purpose of this study the tests required are
soil such that unnecessary deformation is avoided. Sunil specific gravity, sieve analysis, moisture content,
and Shrinhari (2006). Atterberg’s limits, compaction, California Bearing Ratio
(CBR) and Unconfined Compression(UC).
In many countries in Africa there is a growing
realization of the cost-effectiveness of upgrading gravel  Specific gravity
roads to a sealed standard even at relatively low traffic It is also known as the particle density test. The two
levels, often less than 200 vehicles per day. This has methods that are mostly used to determine soil particle
challenged road authorities to make optimum use of density are the gas jar and small pycnometer methods. The
naturally occurring materials which are often rejected by gas jar method is suitable for all soil, including gravel,
traditional specifications for use in the upper layers of road provided that not more than 10 percent material is retained
pavements. One such naturally occurring material is on a 37.5mm test sieve. The small pycnometer method is
Laterite. the definitive method (in the UK) for soils composed of
sand, silt and clay-sized particles. Both methods require
Lateritic soils are very important in the construction the soil particles to be oven-dried at 1050C and then placed
industries and activities as construction material and in a container for weighing with and without being topped
foundation support for engineering structures. It forms in up with water. The particle density was determined from
tropical and subtropical regions where the climate is humid. the equation:
Laterites are reddish brown, well graded and sometimes
extend to depth of several tens of meters. The significant GS = (m2 – m1) / [(m4 – m1) – (m3 –
features of the lateritic soils are their unique colour, poor M2)] (equ 4)
fertility, and high clay content and lower cation exchange where,
capacity. Abundance of these soils and their favourable m1 = mass of container (g)
engineering properties make them useful as a construction m2 = mass of container and soil (g)
or foundation material for roads construction. However, if m3 = mass of container, soil and water (g)
successful use is to be made of this material, the conditions m4 = mass of container and water (g)
under which it can be successfully used must be carefully
specified. Generally, previous researches show that roads  Sieve analysis
failed due to negligence of road maintenance, inadequacies Particle size distribution was used to determine the
in design and poor workmanship, poor soil properties like percentages of various grain sizes present in the soil
low CBR and high liquid limits etc. among others (Adeleke samples. The wet and the dry sieving method were used
and Adetoro, 2014; Jegede, 2004). for the grain size analysis.

II. MATERIALS AND METHODS  Determination of Moisture Content

The amount of water present in a soil has a profound
A. Location and Description of the Study Area effect on soil behavior. Moisture content is the amount of
Lagos is a state located in the South-Western water expressed as a proportion by mass of the dry solid
geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is divided into 5 divisions particles. The moisture content is required as a guide to
namely; Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe. classification of the lateritic soil and as a control criterion
Lagos is a part which originated on Islands separated by in re-compacted soils. The oven-drying method was used
creeks, such as Lagos Island, Badagry and Epe, fringing the to determine the moisture content in this work. The
South West mouth of Lagos Lagoon while protected from moisture content of the soil was calculated as a percentage
the Atlantic Ocean by islands. It is the nation’s largest of the dry soil.
urban area. The study areas are to be considered are borrow
pits of laterite at, Nisha, Eleran igbe (Epe Local  Index Properties Determination (Atterberg Limits)
Government), Ibeshe (Ikorodu Local Government) and Knowing these properties helps in calculating shear
Oke Osho, Temu village (Epe Local Government) stress actions on soil mass and the behavior of the soil in
changing moisture conditions.

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 Liquid limit  California bearing ratio
The liquid limit is the empirically established The laboratory CBR test measures the shearing
moisture content at which a soil passes from the liquid state resistance of a soil under controlled moisture and density
to the plastic state. Two methods can be used to determine conditions. The test yields a bearing-ratio number that is
the liquid limit. They are the cone-penetrometer and the applicable for the state of the soil as tested.
Casagrande method. The Casagrande is used for the
determination of the liquid limit of a sample of natural soil,  Unconfined Compression Test
the Casagrande method was used in this work. Air dried soil were compacted at the optimum
moisture content (OMC) and maximum dry density (MDD)
 Plastic limit respectively. After compaction, the compacted soils were
The plastic limit is the empirically established extruded from the mould (split mould). The samples were
moisture content at which a soil becomes too dry to be placed in a load frame machine driven strain controlled at
plastic. It is used together with the liquid limit to determine 0.10%/min until failure occurred. Three specimens were
the plasticity index. The plastic limit is the lowest moisture prepared for each test and the average result taken.
content at which the soil is plastic.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 Compaction
This test was performed to determine Maximum Dry  Specific Gravity Test
Density (MDD) Optimum and corresponding Moisture Results of specific gravity tests in Table 1 reveal that
Contents (OMC) in accordance with BS 1377 procedure samples from Nisha has specific gravity of an average
and liquid limit (LL) and plastic limit (PL) were determined value of 2.69, Oke Osho has specific gravity that ranges
along with. from 2.65 to 2.66 having an average value of 2.66 while
samples from Ibeshe ranges from 2.66 to 2.69 (appendix iv)
with an average value of 2.66. In like manner, laterite
samples from Ogbagi and Akoko (table 2.14) and Ibadan-
Ife expressway (table 2.17) also ranged between 2.60 and
2.76.

Test No Nisha Oke Osho Ibeshe

Wt. of bottle filled with water, m4 (gm). 77.7 77.7 77.7
Wt. of bottle +soil +water, m3 (gm). 93.6 93.5 93.5
Wt. of bottle +soil , m2 (gm) 52.9 52.9 52.9
Wt of bottle, m1(gm) 27.6 27.6 27.6
Wt of water used,(m3-m2)gm 40.7 40.6 40.6
Wt of soil used, (m2-m1) gm 25.3 25.3 25.3
Volume of soil, (m4-m1)-(m3-m2) 9.4 9.5 9.5
𝑚2 − 𝑚1 2.69 2.66 2.66
𝐺𝑠 =
(𝑚4 − 𝑚1) − (𝑚3 − 𝑚2)
Table 1:- Summary of Specific Gravity Test Results

 Particle Size Distribution by Wet Sieving Analysis AASHTO Classification System (Table 2.2), samples from
The summary of the sieve analysis result are presented Nisha are grouped as A-1 and rated excellent to good as a
in Figures 1,2and 3. It shows the percentages by mass of subgrade while samples from Oke Osho and Ibeshe can be
the soil passing in the individual test sieves of varying group as A-5 and rated fair to poor. The lateritic soils from
sizes. The average percentage by weight passing the No. Minna were classified as A-3, A-2-4 and A-2-6, sample
200 sieve (0.075mm) from Nisha is 7.3; Oke osho recorded from Neni in Anambra sample was classified as A-2-4
an average value of 45 while Ibeshe recorded an average with the AASHTO classification while the other soils were
value of 43.7. The grain size distribution shows that the soil classified as A-2-6 soils but were all classified as SC
sample from Nisha borrow pit can be described as Reddish (Clayey sands) according to USCS classification system.
brown silty medium fine grained soil with occasionally fine The grain size analysis for laterite samples from Quarry,
grained gravels, soil sample from Oke osho can be Ilorin shows that soil sample ADET 1 is silt-clayey, very
described as Reddish brown silty sandy clay with gravelly sand while sample ADET 2 is gravelly, silt-clayey
occasional fine grained gravels while the soil sample from sand. The samples from Ibadan-Ife expressway are
Ibeshe borrow pit can be described as Brown silty sandy generally well graded with average amount of coarse
clay with occasional fine grained gravels. According to particles between 73.39% & 59.71%.

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Fig 1:- Particle Size Distribution Curve for Nisha

Fig 2:- Particle Size Distribution Curve for Oke Osho

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Fig 3:- Particle Size Distribution Curve for Ibeshe

 Moisture Content Determination

The natural water content of soil samples from Nisha borrow pit ranges from 4.5% to 5.3% with an average value of 4.83,
Oke osho ranges from 13.3% to 14.1% with an average of 13.7 while Ibeshe ranges from 8.5% to 9.4% with an average of
8.87% (table 4.2). The average natural water content for all the samples are lower than the optimum moisture content (table 4.6)
which shows that they are not prone to failure. The natural moisture content for lateritic soils at Ogbagi and Akoko are also
lower than the optimum moisture content (table 2.14).

Nisha Oke Osho Ibeshe

1 4.5 13.3 8.5

2 4.7 13.7 8.7
3 5.3 14.1 9.4
Aver. (% ) 4.8 13.7 8.9
Table 2:- Summary of water content

 Atterberg Limit ranged from 28.85% to 34.9% while liquid limit values for
Soil samples from Nisha borrow pit can be described Agidi- Akoko, Quarry- Ilorin and Ibadan-Ife expressway
as non-plastic, the liquid limit for Oke Osho has an average ranged from 34.2% to 53.5%.
value of 46.5%, plastic limit of an average of 16.4% while
the plasticity index is of average value of 30.2%. The The plastic limit and plasticity index values for
liquid limit for Ibeshe has an average of 45.1%, plastic samples from Minna, Agidi-Akoko ranged from 18.2 to
limit of an average value of 15.0% while the plasticity 28.92 and 9.11 to 29.5 respectively while samples from
index has an average value of 30.1% (table 4.3). The liquid Ogbagi has zero for both plastic limit and plasticity index
limit values for samples from Minna, Ogbagi and Anambra value.

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location /sample Natural water content Liquid limit, LL (%) Plastic limit, PL (%) Plasticity Index, PI (%)
number wc (%)
Nisha 1,2 & 3 4.8 Non Plastic
Oke osho 1 13.3 46.7 16.6 30.1
Oke osho 2 13.7 46.5 16.3 30.2
Oke osho 3 14.1 46.4 16.2 30.2
Average 13.7 46.5 16.4 30.2
Ibeshe 1 8.5 45.3 15.1 30.2
Ibeshe 2 8.7 45.1 15.1 30.0
Ibeshe 3 9.4 45.0 14.9 30.1
Average 8.9 45.1 15.0 30.1
Table 3:- Summary of Atterberg Limit

 Compaction Test (WAS)

From table 4.4, samples from Nisha gave optimum moisture content (OMC) of an average value of 10.3% and maximum
dry density (MDD) of an average value of 1.817(mg/m3). Samples from Oke osho have the OMC of an average value of 15.1%
with the MDD of an average value of 1.857(mg/m3). The OMC for Ibeshe borrow pit as an average value of 16.3% with the
MDD of an average value of 1.788(mg/m3). Samples from Anambra has OMC and MDD of 9.5% to 14.6% & 1.77g/cm 3 to
1.98g/cm3 respectively while samples from Ogbagi and Akoko are 13.5% & 26.0% and 1483kg/m 3 & 1780kg/m3. However,
samples from Minna and Ibadan- Ife expressway are 9.74% & 1.858g/cm3 and 9.6% to 15.4% & 1810 to 2076kg/m3 respectively

Fig 4:- Moisture content versus Dry density Curve of Nisha

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Fig 5:- Moisture content versus Dry density Curve of Oke osho

Fig 6:- Moisture content versus Dry density Curve of Ibeshe

 California Bearing Ratio

From the result in Table 4 the samples from Nisha, Oke Osho and Ibeshe borrow pits have soaked CBR values of an
average of 48%,25.3% and 16.3% respectively while the unsoaked values are an average value of 54.3%,43% and 35.3%
respectively.

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However, samples from Ogbagi and Akoko have CBR values of 14% and 31% respectively while the CBR values for
samples from Ibadan-Ife are below recommended values.

location/ Moisture Moisture unit weight unit weight % swelling

content content after before after soaking potential
sample before soaking MC soaking γb γb(Mg/m3) CBR Value (%)
number soaking MC (%) (Mg/m3)
(%)

unsoaked soaked

Nisha 1 10.5 10.8 1.993 2.071 0.000083 52.0 46.0

Nisha 2 10.3 10.7 2.005 2.109 0.000079 54.0 47.0

Nisha 3 10.1 10.5 2.013 2.103 0.000077 57.0 51.0

Average 10.3 10.7 2.004 2.094 0.000077 54.3 48

Okeosho1 15.3 17.8 2.128 2.218 0.288 40.0 23.0

Okeosho2 15.1 17.4 2.137 2.219 0.279 43.0 25.0

Okeosho3 14.9 17.2 2.148 2.227 0.275 46.0 28.0

Average 15.1 17.5 2.138 2.221 0.281 43 25.3

Ibeshe 1 16.5 18.8 2.076 2.159 0.379 32.0 14.0

Ibeshe 2 16.3 18.5 2.078 2.146 0.368 35.0 17.0

Ibeshe 3 16.1 18.3 2.083 2.167 0.347 39.0 18.0

Average 16.3 18.5 2.079 2.157 0.365 35.3 16.3

Table 4:- Summary of California Bearing Ratio Results

 Unconfined Compressive Strength

The unconfined compressive strength for the soil samples from Nisha, Oke Osho and Ibeshe borrow pits are an average
value of 5.3 kN/m2,123.33kN/m2 and 74kN/m2 respectively while cohesion values are 2.7kN/m2 , 61.7kN/m2 &37.0kN/m2
respectively.

However, soil samples from Ibadan-Ife expressway have unconfined compressive strength that ranged from 105.62 to
123.65kN/m2 for stable location and 50.92 to 135.8kN/m2 for unstable location.

Unit Strain (Σ) % Strain Average Sample stress Average Sample stress Average Sample stress
kN/m2 (Nisha) kN/m2 (Okeosho) kN/m2 (Ibeshe)
∆L/L0

0 0 0 0 0

0.20 20 1.19 16.94 8.81

0.40 40 2.2 28.73 16.23

0.60 60 3.21 40.48 22.60

0.80 80 4.04 50.50 30.30

1.00 100 4.70 62.16 34.44

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1.20 120 5.03 71.43 40.24

1.40 140 5.28 78.98 46.37

1.60 160 7.01 87.51 50.43

1.80 180 7.00 95.33 54.67

2.00 200 5.99 102.86 62.37

2.20 220 111.55 67.23

2.40 240 120.44 70.57

2.60 260 121.86 73.08

2.80 280 119.47 75.25

3.00 300 116.60 71.15

Table 5:- Summary of Percentage strain and Average sample stress

Fig 7:- Unconfined Compressive Strength Curve for Nisha

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Fig 8:- Unconfined Compressive Strength Curve for Oke osho

Fig 9:- Unconfined Compressive Strength curve for Ibeshe

IV. CONCLUSION  Soil samples from Nisha satisfy the recommended

values for both the MDD (1.672 -2.12) and OMC (9.6 –
Based on the result of laboratory tests, the following 19.2) to be classified as Silty clays (CL) and samples
conclusions are drawn: from Oke osho and Ibeshe also meets the requirements
 The average natural water content for all the samples to be classified as Clayey Silts (ML).
are lower than the optimum moisture content which  Samples from Nisha meets the requirement for the sub
shows that they are not prone to failure hence good as a base only and does not meet the requirement for the
pavement material. base course while samples from Oke osho and Ibeshe
 The average percentage by weight passing the No. 200 does not meet any of the requirements.
sieve (0.075mm) from Nisha is 7.3; Oke osho recorded  Giving a general rating of all samples according to the
an average value of 45 while Ibeshe recorded an AASHTO system of soil classification laterite soil from
average value of 43.7 , indicating that samples from Nisha are grouped as A-1 and rated excellent to good
Oke osho and Ibeshe were more plastic compared to while laterite soil from Oke osho and Ibeshe are
sample from Nisha, grouped as A-5 and rated fair to poor.

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REFFRENCES

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Road Pavement Failure Caused by Soil Properties
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[2]. Adeyemi, G.O. (2014), Geotechnical Properties of
subgrade soils along sections of the Ibadan- Ife
express way, south western Nigeria, Journals of
Natural Sciences Research, Vol. 4, No. 23
[3]. AASHTO, (2007), Materials Characterization;
Pavement Manual, section 2, 3-2, 0(1)
[4]. Jegede, G., (2004), Highway Pavement Failure
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[5]. Kadyall, L.R. and Lai, N.B. (2013). Principles and
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[6]. Ogunribido, T.H., Thompson, M.Z. and Adesuyi,
A.R., (2015), Effects of Engineering Properties of Soil
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[7]. Sunil, B.M., Sitaram, N. and Shrinhari S. (2006)
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