Engineering Characteristics of Red Soil a Case from Western Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Engineering Characteristics of Red Soil: A Case from Western Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Medhanit Akalu A Thesis Submitted to School of Earth Science Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Engineering Geology) Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia June, 2017 1 Engineering characteristics of Red soil a case from Western Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Engineering Characteristics of Red Soil: A Case from Western Addis Ababa, Ethiopia A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Science in Engineering Geology By Medhanit Akalu Advisor Dr. Zemenu Geremew ii Engineering characteristics of Red soil a case from Western Addis Ababa, Ethiopia D E C L A R A T I O N I hereby declare that this thesis is my original work that has been carried out under the supervision of Dr. Zemenu Geremew, School of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University during the year 2017 as part of the Degree of Master of Science Program in Engineering Geology in accordance with the rule and regulation of the institute. I further declare that this work hasn't been submitted to any other University or Institution for the award of any degree or diploma and all sources of materials used for the thesis have been duly acknowledged. Medhanit Akalu Signature____________________________ Place and date of submission: School of Graduate Studies, Addis Ababa University June, 2017 iii Engineering characteristics of Red soil a case from Western Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank the Generous and Almighty God who is always there for me to made my way smooth to reach here. I would like to thank my advisor, Dr.Zemenu Geremew for his persistent support and determined follow-up that helped me to come up with the thesis topic. Moreover, he guided me on how to strengthen my ideas and arguments for this research work and throughout the whole steps of its development. I am thankful to Addis Ababa University, School of Earth science supportive staff who helped me by providing support what I needed on time. I want to express my feeling of gratitude to Dr. Tarun Kumar Raghuvanshi, Assistant Professor, School of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University. I am also grateful for the sources of data I received from the organizations: Ethiopian construction design and supervision works Corporation, Saba Engineering plc, Ethiopian Meteorological Agency (EMA). Especial Thanks to Dangote Mugger Cement Factory for their help with the XRF Equipment service.I thank Addis Ababa University Earth Science Department stuffs, Engineering Geology Stream lecturers and I would like to thank also my friends and classmates who contributed in many ways to the accomplishment of this thesis work. Nobody has been more important to me in the pursuit of this project than the members of my family. I would like to thank my parents, whose love and guidance are with me in whatever I pursue. Most importantly, I wish to thank my loving and supporting husband, Mele. Every result described in this thesis was accomplished with the help and support of my friends at Ethiopian Construction Design & Supervision Works Corporation, Soil Laboratory section. Thank you guys! iv Engineering characteristics of Red soil a case from Western Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Contents CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 2 1.1 Background................................................................................................................. 3 1.2 Problem Statement ...................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................ 4 1.4 Objectives of the Study ............................................................................................... 4 1.4.1 General Objective ................................................................................................ 4 1.4.2 Specific Objectives............................................................................................... 4 1.5 Methodology ............................................................................................................ 5 1.6 Scope of the study ..................................................................................................... 6 1.7 Limitations ................................................................................................................ 6 1.8 Thesis Outline .......................................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................. 7 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 7 2.2. Review on Tropical Red Soils .................................................................................. 7 2.3 Origin and Formation of Residual Soils ..................................................................... 8 2.3.1 Weathering Process ............................................................................................ 8 2.3.2 Climate .............................................................................................................. 9 2.3.3 Topography .......................................................................................................... 9 2.4. Engineering Characteristics of Soils ......................................................................... 10 2.5 Red Soil Distribution in Ethiopia .......................................................................... 12 2.5.1 Red Soil Distribution in Addis Ababa ............................................................... 13 2.6 Review on Engineering Property of Red Soil in Ethiopia ........................................ 14 CHAPTER 3 THE STUDY AREA .................................................................................. 17 v Engineering characteristics of Red soil a case from Western Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 17 3.2 Location of the Study Area ................................................................................... 17 3.3 Regional Geology of Addis Ababa ........................................................................ 18 3.3.1 Alaji Basalts ..................................................................................................... 18 3.3.2 Entoto Silicic .................................................................................................... 18 3.3.3 Addis Ababa Basalts ........................................................................................ 19 3.3.4 Nazareth Group ................................................................................................ 19 3.3.5 Bofa Basalts ..................................................................................................... 20 3.4 Local Geology of Study Area ................................................................................. 21 3.5 Soil Distribution in Addis Ababa............................................................................. 21 3.6 Physiography .......................................................................................................... 23 3.7 Climate ................................................................................................................... 24 3.7.1 Rainfall ............................................................................................................ 25 3.7.2 Temperature ...................................................................................................... 27 3.8 Drainage ................................................................................................................ 27 3.9 Hydrogeology ........................................................................................................ 28 CHAPTER 4 DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS ................................................. 29 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 29 4.2 Laboratory Analyses ............................................................................................... 29 4.2.1 Index Property Tests ......................................................................................... 30 4.3 Soil Classification ................................................................................................... 34 4.4. Mechanical Property Tests ....................................................................................... 35 4.4.1 Shear Strength .................................................................................................. 35 4.4.2 Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) ........................................................ 36 4.4.3 Consolidation .................................................................................................. 37 4.4.4 Proctor Compaction ......................................................................................... 37 vi Engineering characteristics of Red soil a case from Western Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 4.5 Chemical Property Tests ..........................................................................................