European Journal of Engineering and Technology Vol. 3 No.

4, 2015
ISSN 2056-5860

DETERMINATION OF BEARING CAPACITY FOR BUILDING AND

STRUCTURAL DESIGN IN OWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO STATE,
NIGERIA

OTUAGA, Philips Moses

Department of Civil Engineering and Technology
Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Ondo State, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Owo, one of the largest producer of timber and cocoa, a commercial city in Ondo State
requires adequate planning in terms of building and structural design for both low rise and
multi-storey structures, as regards the bearing capacity that is, the ability of a soil to support a
load from a structural foundation without failing in shear .This implies that the stability of a
foundation depends on bearing capacity of the soil beneat5h the foundation and the
settlement of the foundation. This paper presents the shear strength parameters: Cohesion(C)
and the angle of internal friction (ф) of some sampled coordinated points in the study area. It
is found that the minimum bearing capacity is acceptable. This implies that high –rise
building pose none or very little risks irrespective of the technology used in the study area.

Keywords: Planning; Building and Structural Design; Load; Cohesion; Internal Friction; and
Minimum Bearing Capacity.

INTRODUCTION

Good description of soil and site involve close and careful observations of soil profile in-site
and of many aspects of its environment. Laboratory studies are becoming increasingly
important but the significance of field study is undiminished. The purpose of this study is to
carry out soil exploration (collection of data), analysis of data to determine the shearing
strength parameters and to determine the bearing capacity of the soil. The graphs and site
grid plan are provided in the appendix.

Objectives

The purposes of the soil test are:

1. To classify the soil
2. To know the bearing capacity of the soil so as to determine the type of foundation for
the structure.

Location of the Site

From figure 1, the site for the proposed Achievers University, is located in Idasen, Owo, on
longitude 5°36' N, latitude 7° 06' E and elevation 300m above mean sea level, in Owo local
government area of Ondo State, Nigeria with a total land area of 170.6 hectares. The average
annual rainfall is 2100mm, minimum temperature of 18.5°C and maximum temperature of
32°C, humidity range between 65 and 97 and wind speed of 2.0 knot. The site is divided into
grid lines of 50m x 50m square.

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European Journal of Engineering and Technology Vol. 3 No. 4, 2015
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 The topography map of the site has been produced and the elevation of the site
ranges between 293 meters to 327 meters. The site has gentle slopes.
 The site in Idasen, Owo, in Ondo State lies within the rain forest. Rain forest
with their dense layered structure can intercept a significant proportion of the
rainfall. This can have an important bearing on seasonal moisture regimes. All
but the simplest plant communities are layered.
 From the reconnaissance survey carried out, de-afforestation is gradually
taking place and about 40 percent of the site is used for arable farming. The
site is dominated by light and dense vegetation, thus preventing soil erosion
and deposition of soil. In the dense vegetation, there are some trees which are
of economic value like Iroko, Omoh and Afra
 From geological finding, there is the absence of fractures, faults and landslip
on the site in the past and at the present; hence, the trees are vertically upright.
There is also the absence of igneous intrusion that may involve rock
excavation, which can hider construction works.
 From careful examination of the soil, there is the absence of sloping clay
formation, a condition prominent along beeches.
 Surface water flows away at such a rate that a moderate proportion of the
water enters the soil profile and free water lies on the surface for only short
periods. A large part of the precipitation is absorbed by the soil and used for
plant growth, is lost by evaporation, or moves downward into underground
channels. With medium run- off, the loss of water over the surface not reduced
seriously the supply available for plant growth. The erosion hazard is slight for
cultivating this class of soil.
 The soil is well drained, since the water is removed readily but not rapidly
from the soils, which consequently are not wet for a significant part of the
time although they commonly retain near optimum amounts of moisture for
lengthy periods. Well-drained soils are commonly intermediate in texture
although soils of other textural classes may also be well drained.

The site is divided into three zones A, B and C

Zone A

In zone A, there is a hut in grid line 15A whose roof is covered with bamboo and cellophane.
The sides of the hut are not protected from rain. There are about one thousand two hundred
cocoa trees and about twenty-five orange trees in grid lines 10A, 11A and 12A. There is a
major earth road that cut across the site. Erosion is evident along the sides of the earth road
since there is inadequate drainage. There is a swamp and a source in grid lines 13-1, 13-2, 14-
1, 14-2 and 15-1.There is a swampy region in grid lines 29-2, 29-3, 28-2, 27-2, 27-3,26-3 and
26-4. It is bonded by the west by an earth road.

Zone B:

In zone B, there is a hut in grid lines 9B and 10B whose roof is covered with corrugated iron
sheets and the sides are not protected. There is another hut in grid line 14B whose roof is
covered with bamboo; the sides of the hut are not protected from rain. There is a stream that
cut across the site. The stream cut across grid lines 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, 6-2, 7-2, 8-2, 9-2,
11-3, 12-4, 13-5, 14-6, 10-3 and 10-3.

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Zone C:

In zone C, there is a hut (with three rooms) in grid line 8C that is gradually degenerating,
whose roof is covered with corrugated iron sheets. The sides are protected from rain. There
are about one hundred cocoa trees and about twenty orange trees. There is a stream that cut
across the site. It is bounded in the east by an earth road. The stream cut across grid lines 4-
4, 9-4, 10-4, 11-4, 12-4, 13-4, 5-5 and between [1-3 and 1-4, 2-3 and 2-4, 3-3 and 3-4, 6-4
and 6-5, 7-4 and 7-5, 8-4 and 8-5]

Test conducted under British Standard

The soil tests are conducted in accordance with British Standard [BS] 1377 of 1975.

Types of test conducted

In this soil analysis, the tests conducted are: -

1. Moisture content.
2. Triaxial / Shear box test

Test 1
The Traxial Compression Test

Aim/Objective: -To determine the sharing resistance of soil

Apparatus: - Rubber membrane, top and bottom porous stones, Perspex cell, water, vertical
load proving ring, soil sample.

Procedure: -The soil sample is cylindrical with a height to diameter ratio of 2:1. The sample
is enclosed in a rubber membrane with porous stones at each end and placed in Perspex cell.
The cell is sealed up and water poured in to fill the cell at any required pressured. Thus
initially the sample is subjected to a principal stress in all directions. A vertical load is
applied through a proving ring at a constant rate of strain until the soil sample fails in shear.
The total vertical stress on the sample is then σ1 (the major principal stress) and since the
sample was initially subjected to a stress σ3 from the water in the cell, the additional vertical
stress applied via the proving ring = σ1- σ3 and this is referred to as the deviator stress. The
test is performed a number of times on similar samples using different initial cell pressure.

Expression of Results

From the result obtained a series of Mohr’s circles of stresses are drawn. A line tangential to
the entire circle is drawn to represent the coulomb shear strength equation and the appropriate
values of C and ф are read off the resulting diagram.

Site Exploration
Selection of Samples for Classification

The first step in classifying the soils from the site is to set out the samples in a logical order
.The samples from each boring are set out in one row with the top sample at the back and the
next in front of it, and so on. The soil samples are then grouped into limited number of types,
from each of which a few samples representing the extremes and means of particle-size

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distribution and consistence are selected for classification tests. The grouping of this stage is
carried out by means of visual comparison of one soil with another, note being taken of the
field description of each soil and of any tentative grouping for classification purpose
suggested at the site. Reference is also made to the relative positions of the soils on the site,
since soils of one type tend to occur in continuous beds.The trial pit is the site exploration
method used.
1. Trial Pits: - This is a 1.2m by 1.5m pit dug in the ground large enough for a ladder to
be inserted, thus permitting a close examination of the sides of the soil profile. With
this method, undisturbed soil [cohesive soils] samples are obtained relatively easily.
The samples, which are 225mm by 225mm by 225mm cube, are wrapped airtight with
black cellophane.

Proforma for recording and indexing the characteristic of a soil site.

Table 1: The topsoil is dominated by compact sandy soil.
Fig Profile Grid Depth of Depth of Description Description Sample Date
. no: reference: top soil strata: of topsoil of strata stoniness
1 2A; 1; 2; 12 0.30m; 0.85m; Dark Medium It has a high June
2C; 0.275m; 0.800m; grayish dense to percentage of 2004
4A 0.275m. 0.900m. brown; dense gravel, little
Brown; reddish percentage of
Dark brown. brown silty sand and
sand reasonable
medium amount of
gravel. salt and less of
clay.
2 2; 1C; 8; 7; 13 0.325m; 0.870m; Grayish Compact The soil has June,
4B 0.15m; .0750m; brown; reddish more than 505 2004
0.225m. 0.950m. Brown, brown and of medium
Brown. fine to gravel,
medium reasonable
gravel. amount of sand
and less of silt.
3 4; 3C 18; 6 0.350m; 0.850m; Grayish Compact It has high June
0.32m. 1.00m. brown; brown silty medium gravel, 2004
Brown. clay and little sand and
gravel. appreciable
amount of silt.
4. 3B; 3; 6 0.375m; 0.85m; Dark brown. Compact The soil has a June
4C 0.325m. 0.900m. Brown. reddish high 2004
brown percentage
sandy silt medium gravel
and clay and about
plus equal
gravel. proportion of
sand and plus
clay.

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5. 8B; 3; 9 0.325m; 0.875m; Dark brown; Reddish It contains a June

1C 0.350m. 0.875m. Dark brown. brown high percentage 2004
sandy clay. of sand and
Clay with little
or no gravel.
6. 3A; 19; 16 0.300m; 0.875m; Compact Dense Has a high June
2A 0.275m. 0.900m. Brown soil; brown percentage of 2004
Brown. sandy clay. sand and less of
Gravel, Greasy
to the touch.
7. 7B; 10; 2 0.350m; 0.925m; Brown; Compact Has an almost June
3B 0.225m. 0.850m. Brown. brown equal 2004
sandy clay proportion of
and layers sand and clay. -
of silt. Do not –exhibit
dilatancy.
8. 7B; 9; 15; 10 0.30m; 0.850m; Brown; Compact Has little or no June
2A; 0.315m; 0.1.150 Dark brown; brown silty gravel, almost 2004
2B 0.225m. m; Brown. sand with equal
0.850m. layers of Proportions of
silty silt and sand. -
clay. Show some
shrinkage on
drying.
9. 2B; 13; 1 0.30m.; 0.825m; Dark Medium Has a high June
4C 0.225 0.715m. Brown; dense brown proportion of 2004
Brown. silty sand sand, medium
with clayey of silt and clay
layers, and less of
containing gravel.
occasional
gravel.
10. 5A; 19; 25; 10 0.35m; 0.875m; Brown; Medium Have equal June
2A; o.275m; 0.825m; Brown; dense to proportions of 2004
4B 0.225. 0.900m. Brown. dense red gravel and sand
brown silty with a
sand and High proportion
gravel. of silt and clay.

11. 4A; 27; 14 0.375m; 0.850m; Brown; Compact Has a little or June
3A 0.300m 0. 900m. Dark brown. brown no gravel, has a 2004
clayey sits high proportion
and dense of silt and clay
brown and adequate
sand. amount of sand.
- exhibit
dilatancy

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12 3A; 28; 12; 26 0.350m; 0.925m; Dark Compact Has a little or June
3C; 0.375m; 1.150m; Brown; brown no gravel, has a 2004
4A 0.325m 0.980m. Grayish sandy clay. high or
brown; Dark proportion of
brown. clay and
adequate
amount of sand.
- Do not
exhibit
dilatancy
13. 3B; 5; 14 0.475m; 1.O50m; Dark brown; Compact Has a little or June
7A 0.375m. 0.980m. Dark brown. brown silty no gravel and 2004
sand with equal
layers of proportion of
silty Clay. Sand, silt plus
clay.- Show
some shrinkage
on drying.
14. 4B; 6; 13 0.350m; 0.900m; Brown; Compact Has a little or June
7A 0.375m 0.850m. Brown. brown no gravel, less 2004
sandy clay. proportion of
Sand and
compacted to
that clay.
- Do not
exhibit
dilatancy
15 6B; 7; 3; 12 0.275m; 0.850m; Dark Compact Contains little June
4C; 0.300m; 0.900m; Brown; brown silty or no gravel, a 2004
3B 0.250m 0.900m. Brown; sand. high proportion
Dark brown. of Sand
compared to
that of silt.
-Exhibit
dilatancy
16. 3C 2 0.365m 0.95m Dark brown. Hard brown Has little or no June
silty clay. sand with high 2004
proportion of
clay and little
silt
17. 3A 25 0.325m 0.90m. Brown. Compact Has little or no June
brown gravel, high 2004
sandy clay. proportion of
sand and
adequate
amount of clay.
- Show some
shrinkage on
drying

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18. 3A 22 0.350m 0.875m. Dark Medium Have a higher June

Brown. dense brown proportion of 2004
sandy silt. sand, adequate
amount of silt
and little or no
gravel.
- Exhibit
dilatancy
19. 5c 7 0.150m 0.90m Brown. Compact Has a little June
brown proportion of 2004
sandy clay. gravel, adequate
amount of clay
and high
proportion of
sand. Do not
exhibit
dilatancy

Analysis of Data

This involves laboratory experiment on the samples on each of the tests stated above. Test
results are computed and graphs plotted. The analyses of the data after plotting the graphs are
given below.

From the test result, the cohesion (c) between the soils particles, the angle of internal friction
(), and the unit weight () of the soil are determined. With the information given above, the
Bearing capacity of the soil can be determine. Terzaghi`s equation for the ultimate bearing
capacity (qu) for a strip footing of breadth B and depth Z, soil cohesion C and unit weight of
soil () is given by: -
qu = cNc + zNq + 0.5BN.

Where Nc, Nq and N are dimensionless numbers known as bearing capacity factors. Their
values depend only on the value of the angle of shearing resistance () for the soil.

Safe bearing capacity of soil

Assume the following foundation parameters for all computations: -

- Width of strip footing = 1.5m
- Depth of footing = 1.5m
- Factor of safety = 3.0
 The ultimate bearing capacity (qu) can be determine
qu= cNc + zNq + 0.5BN.
And therefore, the
 Safe bearing capacity (q) of the soil is: -
q = ultimate bearing capacity
Factor of safety

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Table 2
Fig Grid No. Profile No. Cohesion Angle of Unit Ultimate Safe
C [KN/m²] internal weight of bearing bearing
friction the soil () capacity capacity
() in KN/m³. [qu] [q]
degrees KN/m² KN/m²
1 1; 2; 12 2A; 2C; 48 13 18.25 740.25 246.75
4A
2 8; 7; 13 2; 1C; 4B 38 10 18.84 417 .04 139.01
3 18; 6 4; 3C 60 10 20.11 600.67 200.22
4 3; 6 3B; 4C 39 10 18.34 422.04 140.68
5 3; 9 8B; 1C 20.01 10 20.01 520.07 173.36
6 19; 16 3A; 2A 60 18 21.00 1044.75 348.25
7 10; 2 7B; 3B 40 24 18.49 1499.23 499.74
8 9; 15; 10 7B; 2A; 22 23 19.1 928.08 309.36
2B
9 13; 1 2B; 4C 50 25 18.85 1787.23 595.74
10 19; 25; 5A; 2A; 63 27 19.4 2462.4 820.8
10 4B
11 27; 14 4A; 3A 58 30 17.85 2806.45 935.48
12 28; 12; 3A; 3C; 25 23 18.43 978.5 326.1
26 4A
13 5; 14 3B; 7A 20 19 23.1 706.5 235.5
14 6; 13 4B; 7A 38 20 17.88 990.2 330.07
15 7; 3; 12 6B; 4c; 3B 50 20 17.98 1219.54 406.51
16 2 3C 68 18 17.83 1125.85 375.28
17 25 3A 48 28 18.76 2282.28 760.76
18 22 3A 61 20 18.65 1438.75 479.58
19 7 5C 50 22.4 19.1 1358.13 452.71

Results and Discussion

The soil composition of the site is stable and firm, and can be used as a foundation and
subgrade material. The soil range from clay to silt to medium gravel. Coarse and boulders
does not dominate.

The optimum moisture content of the soil ranges between 8% and 18.5% and the maximum
dry density ranges between 1.53g/cm³ and 2.09g/cm³. Using the AASHTO and Casagrande
soil classification system, the soil ranges between good and poor, and GC and CI
respectively. The safe bearing capacity of the soil ranges between 139.01 KN/m² and 935.43
KN/m².

RECOMMENDATION

The following recommendations are made:

 A safe Bearing Capacity of 139.01 KN/m² is adopted for all foundation design.
 Strip footing is adopted
 Most soils can be used as subgrade material except CI soils.

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European Journal of Engineering and Technology Vol. 3 No. 4, 2015
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CONCLUSION

From the investigations carried out, it is evident that the study area is situated on a firm soil;
the bearing capacity of the soil exceeds 100kn/ m², thus eliminating the use of pile and raft
foundations.

AKOKO SOUTH-WEST LOCAL GOVT. AREA

USO
AREA EMURE - ILE UPENME

OSE LOCAL GOVT. AREA

AREA AREA
3

1 ISUADA
2
AREA IYERE
4 AREA
AKURE 5
L.G. AREA O) 6
A ( OW 7
GW
REN AREA
E 8
UPELE
AREA
IDASEN
AREA

KEY
LOCAL GOVT
BOUNDARY

EDO ROADS

STATE TOWN AREA BOUNDARY

KEY TOWNS
1. USO
2. EMURE ILE
3. UPENUME
4. ISUADA
5. ERENGWA (OWO)
6. IYERE
7. IDASEN
8. UPELE

FIGURE 1: OWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA (MAP)

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ISSN 2056-5860

REFERENCES

British Standards Institution BS. 1 377: (1975) Methods of test for soils for Civil Engineering
Purposes. Pitman Advanced Publishing Program, London.
Bishop, A. W. (1948) A new sampling tool for use on cohesionless soils below ground water
level. Geotechnique. Pitman Publishing Inc.
Hodgson J.M (1978) Soil sampling and soil description. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Hvorslev, M. J. (1949) Subsurface exploration and sampling of soils for civil engineering
purposes waterways expt., U.S. Corps of Engineers.
Penman, A.D.M. (1960) A study of the response time of various type of piezometer. Pore
Pressure Conf., London.
Robert Whitman V. and William Lambre T. (1968) Geotechnical engineering. John Wiley &
Sons Toronto.
Smith, G.N (1977) Elements of soil mechanics for civil and mining engineers. Granada
Publishing Limited, New York.
Terzaghi, K, & Peck, R.B. (1948) Soil mechanics in engineering practice. John Wiley and
Sons, Inc.

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