Original Research Article
Behaviour and Effect of Clay Soils on Engineering Constructions in Nigeria: Implications for Geotectonism
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Article Number: DRJEIT29087657011
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26765/DRJEIT29087657011
ISSN: 2354-4155
Vol. 7(5), pp. 84-96, September 2020
Copyright © 2020
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article
Abstract
Expansive soils occurring in arid and semi-arid climatic regions (with most parts of northern Nigeria inclusive) of the World cause unaccounted problems on civil engineering structures. Such soils swell when given access to water and shrink when they dry out. This present study examines the condition of brick and fire clay soils from Kankara and Dutsin-Ma in Katsina State, and Sokoto sedimentary Basin, both in Nigeria, that poses engineering problems when used in construction. The methodology adopted for the study was mainly primary and secondary sources in which clay studies were collected and investigated in the field, based on their mineralogical and physical behaviours. Other sources of data came from previous constructions that used clay soils. The findings of the study were that the clay soils have significant geotechnical and structural engineering challenges, accompanied with a lot of damages and costs lost if used. It was recommended that modern divisive means of modifying the structures of clay soils be adopted to improve their properties.
Keywords: Expansive soils, Swell-Shrink behaviour, structural damage, engineering constructions, NigeriaReceived: July 3, 2020 Accepted: August 26, 2020 Published: September 30, 2020