Characterizing And Engineering Classification Of Guguba Soils Which Is Potentially Found In Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia.

Abstract

Classification of soils, can be used to apply the principle functions of soil science in engineering to predict soil behavior in ordered to use for construction industries or any civil engineering projects. Particle size refers to the grain size distribution of the whole soil and includes stones and gravel as well as sand, silt and clay particles. Each particle size family is defined by its properties that tend to a group of soils in relation to use and management. 1Guguba soils found in Dire Dawa are not classified using scientific methods as requirements for any construction application. Therefore, this research is conducted to identify the major groups or classification of the soils and develop standardized materials for construction materials or purposes. This research was conducted through identifying the potential areas in which Guguba soils found from map study, walking in all kebeles (site reconnaissance) and laboratory experiments to evaluate the engineering behavior of soil samples collected from eight kebeles of the city. From the study Guguba soils was fine grained soils with mostly Silt materials. And silty sand soils in which the percentage of clay ranges from 7.26-17.07%, silt from 29.14-50.87%, sand from 37.22-49.80 % and gravel 0-25%. It has similar engineering properties and the same group classification. The soils have free swell value of less than 50% which was non expansive. And compression strength of Guguba soil ranges from 233.27 Kpa-568.7 kpa and shear strength ranges 116.63 kpa to 284.35 Kpa that showed the soils are very stiff and hard.