Prediction of the Strength Behaviour of the Sandy Soil by using Collapse Potential in the Kintele Site-Congo

Adolphe Kempena

Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo.

Gampio Urbain Mbilou

Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo.

Dhorjeanny Bissombolo

Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo.

Antonio Olimpio Goncalves

Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Agostinho Neto University, Luanda, Angola.

Florent Boudzoumou

Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Congo.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20448/arees.v9i1.4070

Keywords: Collapsible soils, Collapse potential, Collapsibility, Saturated soil, Unsaturated soil, Sandy soil, Water content.


Abstract

This work aims to evaluate the water effect on the soils collapse potential. The laboratory tests based on the soils samples preparation determined the soils properties. Parameters such as water content, dry unit weight, degree of saturation, voids ratio and particles size distribution were determined. The collapse potential was analysed indirectly according to various researchers criteria. The results confirmed the high vulnerability of the study area to collapse. The oedometer tests determined the values of the collapse potential showing the conventional relationship between the collapse potential and the water content. It is noted that increasing water content leads to decrease soils strength to collapse, and the increasing progress of collapse poses a risk to constructions on silty sand. The collapse potential decreases with the increase in the relative density keeping the water content constant. This collapse potential caused by soil water content variation can be reduced from compaction.

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