Determination of Bearing Strength Characteristics of Fine and Coarse Cohesive Soils from its Index Properties

Edmund Nana Asare; Gideon Boateng; Albert Kafui Klu; Isaac Ofori Ampong

Abstract

The variation in geology, cost and complexity in the preparation and testing for strength characteristics of soils from location to location has challenged geotechnical engineers to make optimum use of empirical formulas to predict bearing strength characteristics of soils. One major One major One major One major One major One major problem associated with bearing capacity of soil includes the different engineering properties associated with different geologic formations which have led to the deterioration of engineering structures. This paper seeks to establish a correlation between CBR and Ultimate bearing capacity from the intrinsic characteristics of fine and coarse soils within the Tarkwaian. Laboratory investigations were conducted on two different soils compressed at various placement conditions (i.e. moisture content and dry density) and tested using CBR and Direct shear tests. Linear relationships of CBR and ultimate bearing capacity with the consistency factor which is formed by combining placement conditions and soil intrinsic parameters were established. The results declared that the established relationships could predict CBR and ultimate bearing capacity absolutely with a coefficient of determination (R2) more than 0.9. In addition, t – test performed on the R2 value revealed that the relationship is statistically significant. These findings affirm that the recommended equations are good and helpful to forecast bearing strength parameters for diverse soils.Keywords: Placement Condition, Consistency Factor, Bearing Strength, Soils types, Index Properties