Evaluation of soil bearing capacities and its implication for foundation compatibility in Calabar, Nigeria

Eni, Devalsam Imoke, Oko, Comfort and Oka, Peter Onen

Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Calabar Calabar, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author E-mail: devimoke@yahoo.com; Tel: 234-703-198-5619

Accepted 19 February, 2013

Abstract

Recently in Nigeria, failure of a foundation occurs due to inadequate bearing capacity of the soil beneath the foundation, leading to shear failure, overturning and sliding of the foundation. The study seeks to assess soil bearing capacities for soils of different locations in Calabar Municipality to ensure that proposed developers are guided properly. A hand penetrometer was used in measuring the soil bearing capacities of soils and it provided readings in pounds per square foot. The highest value was obtained at Atekong Street, which was characterized by silt sand with a load bearing value of 5000 psf. Also the percentage of sand and silt was 96.4% and 15. 5% respectively. It was observed that settlement occurs on cohesive less soil before the bearing capacity B reached. Based on this, the researchers recommended that deep foundations should be placed at greater depths (i.e. D>3m) while shallow foundations should be D<3m.

Keywords: Bearing capacity, foundation, soil types, profile pits