International Journal Geology and Mining IJGM

Vol. 3(3), pp. 137-140, October, 2017. www.premierpublishers.org. ISSN: XXXX-XXXX

Research Article

Classification and Assessment of Soil Compaction Level

in Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria for Construction
Purpose
*I.S. Didei1, G.C. Soronnadi-Ononiwu2
1,2
Department of Geology, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Soil compaction is essential in construction. The failure to displace air from between particles
when constructing buildings, roads, parking lots, dams, walls, swimming pools, or utility trench
inevitably leads to unwanted soil movement and water penetration into the earth beneath
construction projects.Soil compaction is one of the most important aspects of any earthwork
construction. Assessing the level of compaction of soil in Amassoma is to ascertain the
compatibility or rate of compaction of the underlining earth materials (soils).Nine (9) samples were
collected at regular intervals of 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m, 6m, 7m, 8m and 9m which were used for the
analyses. The samples collected were subjected to different laboratory test to determine the index
properties and the level of compaction of the soil. Sieve analysis result of the samples shows that
the percentage of fines and sands are in the range of 21.57%-63.20% and 36.80% and78.73%,
respectively.Atterberg result also shows that the soil liquid limit (LL) is in the range of 48.51%-
54.90% plastic limit (PL) ranges from 29/13%-36.51% and 14.78%-25.18% for plastic index (PI).
Another experiment shows that the value of maximum Dry Density (MD) and Optimum Moisture
Content (OMC) are 1.70g/cm3 and 18 40%. The analysis done for this work reveals that the soil in
the area (Amassoma) can be classified as medium to high plastic soil (unified soil classification
system) and that the soil in moderately compacted. Comparing the CBR test results with the
Nigeria standard, the soils found in Amassoma can be used as sub-grade materials for
construction.

Keywords: Atterberg limit, CBR, Maximum Dry Density, optimum Moisture Content, Soil Compaction, Sieve Analysis.

INTRODUCTION

Soil compaction, which is an aspect of geotechnical
investigation is undertaken to obtain information about the
properties of soil and rock underlining a given area. The
behaviour of every foundation and road depends primarily
on the engineering characteristics of the underlining
deposits of soil.The compaction analysis done on soil is to
reveal the level of compaction of the earth material and its
reliability and safety to withstand loads of various
categories if subjected to soil compaction in the method of
mechanically increasing the density of the soil. Soil
compaction changes pore spaces particle sizes, particles
distributionand soil strength and also decreases the
`Classification and Assessment of Soil Compaction Level in Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria for Construction Purpose
porosity of the soil (Harris 1971). To determine the level of
soil compaction, the degree of compaction needs to be
quantified.Compaction generally is the process by which
the volume of air in a pavement mixture is reduced by
usingexternal forces to reorient the constituent aggregate
particles into more closely spaced arrangement.
*Corresponding Author: Innocent Sunday Didei,
Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta
University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. E-mail:
dideiinnocent@gmail.com
Didei and Soronnadi-Ononiwu 138
Figure 1. Location map of the studied samples
This reduction of air volume in a mixture produces a
corresponding increase in unit weight or density (Robert et
al. 1996). Various researchers have stated that
compaction in the greatest factor in determining dense
graded pavement performance (Scherocman and
Martenson 1984, brown 1984, Hughes 1984, Hughes
1989). Inadequate compaction as been the major factor for
the failure of roads, bridges and structures in the Niger
Delta Region of Nigeria owing to the facts that the
environment has been a water log area. There is this need
of carrying proper assessment of the level of compaction
of the soil in this area to avoid lost of properties and
damages due to earth materials.
Geomorphology and geology
The study area is situated in the central Niger
Deltasedimentary basin of southern Nigerian on the West
Africa continental margin. The physiographic of this study
area conform to the geomorphic features of the Niger Delta
governed by several factors which influences the
transport, deposition of sediments and growth of the Delta.
It consist mainly of fresh water, Swamps, mangrove
swamps, beaches, bars, estuaries (Etu-Efeotor and Odigi
1983) which stretched from Benin River Estuary and
`Classification and Assessment of Soil Compaction Level in Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria for Construction Purpose
terminate at the mouth of the Imo River. The knowledge of
the geomorphological units of the Niger Delta today in
derived mainly from the works of (Allen 1968) as Weber
(1971). The study area is a low land area within the range
of 0-20m above sea level and is drained and criss-cross
by a network of distributaries (Youdiowei et al. 2012).
According to Allen (1968), that four morphological units in
the sub aerial Niger Delta was recognized. These are the
outer barrier island complex, the vegetated tidal flat, the
lower lood plain formed by the number of distributaries and
the Benue rivers and the narrow upper flood plain.
The study area which is located in Bayelsa state of Nigeria
is therefore a corner floodplain formed by the number of
the distributaries of the Null River.
Location of the study area
The study area is located within the vicinity of Amassoma
community in Southern-Ijaw Local Government Area of
Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study area is found within
longitude 5o40E and 6o10Eand latitude 40o30N and
5o00N (fig 1). The study area is located in the Niger Delta
rain forest vegetative region and is accessible by a good
road network and river system (Didei et al., 2016)
 Int. J. Geol. Min. 139

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Evaluation of the level of compaction of the soil of the area
under study area carried out by analyzing Nine (9) soil
samples from a borehole drilled with the aid of a hand
auger. The collection of samples was done at regular
interval of 1m spacing-from 1m-9m depth. Laboratory
investigation for detailed analyses was done on
representative disturbed samples obtained from the
borehole for the purpose of ascertaining the level of
compaction of the sub-soil materials. The samples
collected from the borehole were subjected to both
physical examination and laboratory testing. The
laboratory analysis that was done on the samples was in
accordance with the American society for testing and
material (ASTM). This analysis was done in order to
provide quantitative confirmation concerning the nature of
the sub-soil.
From the experimented results, liquid limits (LL) and
plastic limits (PL) are in the ranges of 48.51% - 54.90%
and 29.13% - 36.51% respectively. The platicity index (PI)
ranges between 14.78% -25.78%. From the Atterberg limit
results obtained, the Amassoma soil can be classified as
moderate to high plasticity soil on the basis of the Unified
Soil Classification System (USCS).
Compaction test
The objective of this test was to determine the relationship
between water and dry density of the soil type and the
optimum water content and corresponding maximum dry
density of the soil. The table below shows the value for
these parameters
Table 3. Compaction values

Borehole number BH-1

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Sample Number SP-1
Depth (M) 0.5
The sieve analysis test helps to determine the particular Optimum Moisture content (OMC) (%) 18.4
size distribution (PSD) results that show the distribution of Maximum Dry Density (MDD) (mg/m3) 1.7
the sub-soil. The percentage of fines and sands range
between 21.57% - 63.20% and 36.80% - 78.13% sandy silt Table 4. CBR value (California Bearing Ratio)
and silty sand Borehole number 1
Depth(m) 0.5
Table 1 and 2 show the laboratory test results for PSD and Sample number 1
Atterberg limit. Optimum Moisture content (%) 18.4
Maximum Dry Density (g/cm3) 1.7
Table 1. Value for sieve analysis test distribution
Soaked CBR Value 4
Serial Sample Properties Unsoaked CBR Value 5
number Depth(m) number
Gravel Sand Silt The CBR instrument was used in testing each of the soil
1 1 1 0 78.13 21.87 samples. The soil samples were soaked for 1day, 2days
2 2 2 0 53.73 46.27 and 3days and the corresponding CBR values was
3 3 3 0 58.38 41.62 obtained and also unsoaked CBR values were also
4 4 4 0 68.38 31.5 obtained.
5 5 5 0 36.8 63.2
6 6 6 0 37.48 62.52 The unsoaked and soaked CBR values, values from the
7 7 7 0 54.15 45.85 table reveals that the Amassoma soil is a fairly sub-graded
8 8 8 0 49.58 50.42 material, but would require approximate stabilization for
9 9 9 0 46.31 53.69 the soil to be need as a sub-base material.

Table 2. Consistency Values The Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) and the Maximum
Dry Density (MDD) values shows that the Amassoma soil
Serial Depth(m) Sample Properties is moderately compacted because of the high percentage
Number Number Liquid Plastic Plasticity of sand over fines (silt and clays).
limit limit Index
(%) (%) (%)
1 1.00 1 54.04 30.69 23.35
2 2.00 2 53.07 30.59 22.48 CONCLUSION
3 3.00 3 54.89 29.12 25.78
4 4.00 4 50.42 30.53 19.89 Results obtained from experimented values from CBR,
5 5.00 5 54.9 36.51 18.89 compaction test, sieve analysis and Atterberg reveals that
6 6.00 6 50.38 3.15. 17.24 the soil type ranges from moderate to high plasticity,
7 7.00 7 48.51 33.73 14.78 moderately compacted, can be used for sub-grade
8 8.00 8 49.26 32.96 16.3 material in construction and also as a sub-base material if
9 9.00 9 52.35 29.13 23.22 appropriate stabilization measures are put in place.

`Classification and Assessment of Soil Compaction Level in Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria for Construction Purpose
Didei and Soronnadi-Ononiwu 140
This study has revealed a general knowledge of the
compaction level of the soil of the study area and has given
a clue to the geotechnical characteristics of the area from
the results obtained in the various laboratory experiments
conducted. This has made provision for an existing data
that can be used for civil engineering design and other
form of construction in order to reduce adverse effects and
occurrence of post constructional problems.
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Accepted 20 September 2017
Citation: Didei IS, Soronnadi-Ononiwu GC (2017).
Classification and Assessment of Soil Compaction Level
in Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Nigeria for Construction
Purpose. International Journal Geology and Mining 3(3):
137-140.
Copyright: 2017 Didei and Soronnadi-Ononiwu. This is
an open-access article distributed under the terms of the
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unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any
medium, provided the original author and source are cited.