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Characterization of Borrow Material for Embankment Fill and Capping Layer Based on Their Index and Strength: Case Study on Arbarakate to Gelemso road, W/Harerghe, Ethiopia

Received: 14 August 2020    Accepted: 26 August 2020    Published: 14 September 2020
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Abstract

The Arba Rekete-Gelemso gravel Road section is affected by the presence of expansive soil, this soil has shrinking and swelling behavior due moisture fluctuation. The main objective of this research work is to investigate the Characterization of Borrow materials for embankment fill and capping layer based on their index and strength properties for Road Construction of the proposed route. In order to achieve the objectives, field investigation and nine (9) samples were also collected from the identified borrow area and laboratory test analysis were performed such as, Atterberg limits, compaction, CBR and percentage of swell tests. ERA‘s and AASHTO’s standard technical specifications have been used to interpret the data by integrating the field with laboratory test results. The subgrade soil of route, having liquid limit value greater than 60% and plastic index value greater than 30% and CBR value less than 5%, at Chainage km 0+000-4+000, 5+900-8+000, 9+400-12+900, 13+500-14+000, 15+000-16+000, 17+100-17+600, 18+500-20+500, 21+500-34+900, and 35+200-47+000 unsuitable. The index and strength properties of the borrow materials fulfill the requirement for embankment fill and subgrade improvements. Finally, all unsuitable subgrade soil along the study route corridor are recommended to remove and replace with suitable and non-expansive subgrade materials, since enormous amount of selected fill materials that fulfill the requirements for subgrade soils improvement are available nearby the study area.

Published in American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (Volume 5, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajtte.20200504.11
Page(s) 43-50
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Borrow Materials, Embankment Fill and Capping Layer, Index and Strength Properties

References
[1] American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (1993). “AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures,” Washington, D.C U.S.A.
[2] American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (2000). “AASHTO Guide for Design of Pavement Structures,” Washington, D.C U.S.A.
[3] Atkins, H. N. (2003), Highway Materials, Soils and Concretes, 4th Edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
[4] Chen, F. H. (1988). Foundations on Expansive Soils, pp. 1-40. New York, USA: Elsevier Science Publishing Company Inc.
[5] Das, B. M, (2006 & 2007. Principles of Geotechnical engineering fifth& seven edition California State University, Sacramento.
[6] Ethiopian Roads Authority (2002). Site Investigation Manual. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: ERA.
[7] Ethiopian Roads Authority (2002). Geometric Design Manual. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: ERA.
[8] Ethiopian Roads Authority (2002). Pavement Design Manual, Flexible Pavements and Gravel Roads, (I). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: ERA.
[9] Ethiopian Roads Authority (2002). Standard Technical Specification Manual. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: ERA.
[10] Ethio-Infra Engineering PLC (2012). Soils and Materials Report of Arba Rekete-Gelemso Road Project. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Unpublished.
[11] IS-1498. (1997). “Indian standard methods of test for soils,” first revised, bureau of Indian standards manak bhavan, 9 bahadur shah zafarmarg, New Delhi, Indian.
[12] Seifemichael, B. (1985), The Geological Map of Dire Dawa (Map Sheet NC 37-12), EIGS, printed by Ethiopian Mapping Agency, Addis Ababa.
[13] Subah. T & Tapas. K (2011), A Study on Variation of Test Conditions on CBR Determination, BSc Thesis in Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela.
[14] Tesfaye, K.; Acocella, V.; Bekele, A. (2004). The Role of Pre-existing Structures in the Origin, Propagation and Architecture of Faults in the Main Ethiopian Rift. Gondwana Research, Vol. 7, No. 2, pp 467-479.
[15] Zerihun. M (2016) Geological and geotechnical characterization of Bahr Dar-Kunzala Gravel Road Project with special emphasis on subgrade soil, North West Ethiopia, Unpublished, M.Sc thesis in School of Earth Science, Mekelle University.
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  • APA Style

    Shikuri Mahmud, Nade Nuru. (2020). Characterization of Borrow Material for Embankment Fill and Capping Layer Based on Their Index and Strength: Case Study on Arbarakate to Gelemso road, W/Harerghe, Ethiopia. American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 5(4), 43-50. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20200504.11

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    ACS Style

    Shikuri Mahmud; Nade Nuru. Characterization of Borrow Material for Embankment Fill and Capping Layer Based on Their Index and Strength: Case Study on Arbarakate to Gelemso road, W/Harerghe, Ethiopia. Am. J. Traffic Transp. Eng. 2020, 5(4), 43-50. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20200504.11

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    AMA Style

    Shikuri Mahmud, Nade Nuru. Characterization of Borrow Material for Embankment Fill and Capping Layer Based on Their Index and Strength: Case Study on Arbarakate to Gelemso road, W/Harerghe, Ethiopia. Am J Traffic Transp Eng. 2020;5(4):43-50. doi: 10.11648/j.ajtte.20200504.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajtte.20200504.11,
      author = {Shikuri Mahmud and Nade Nuru},
      title = {Characterization of Borrow Material for Embankment Fill and Capping Layer Based on Their Index and Strength: Case Study on Arbarakate to Gelemso road, W/Harerghe, Ethiopia},
      journal = {American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering},
      volume = {5},
      number = {4},
      pages = {43-50},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajtte.20200504.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20200504.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajtte.20200504.11},
      abstract = {The Arba Rekete-Gelemso gravel Road section is affected by the presence of expansive soil, this soil has shrinking and swelling behavior due moisture fluctuation. The main objective of this research work is to investigate the Characterization of Borrow materials for embankment fill and capping layer based on their index and strength properties for Road Construction of the proposed route. In order to achieve the objectives, field investigation and nine (9) samples were also collected from the identified borrow area and laboratory test analysis were performed such as, Atterberg limits, compaction, CBR and percentage of swell tests. ERA‘s and AASHTO’s standard technical specifications have been used to interpret the data by integrating the field with laboratory test results. The subgrade soil of route, having liquid limit value greater than 60% and plastic index value greater than 30% and CBR value less than 5%, at Chainage km 0+000-4+000, 5+900-8+000, 9+400-12+900, 13+500-14+000, 15+000-16+000, 17+100-17+600, 18+500-20+500, 21+500-34+900, and 35+200-47+000 unsuitable. The index and strength properties of the borrow materials fulfill the requirement for embankment fill and subgrade improvements. Finally, all unsuitable subgrade soil along the study route corridor are recommended to remove and replace with suitable and non-expansive subgrade materials, since enormous amount of selected fill materials that fulfill the requirements for subgrade soils improvement are available nearby the study area.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Characterization of Borrow Material for Embankment Fill and Capping Layer Based on Their Index and Strength: Case Study on Arbarakate to Gelemso road, W/Harerghe, Ethiopia
    AU  - Shikuri Mahmud
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajtte.20200504.11
    T2  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
    JF  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
    JO  - American Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2578-8604
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtte.20200504.11
    AB  - The Arba Rekete-Gelemso gravel Road section is affected by the presence of expansive soil, this soil has shrinking and swelling behavior due moisture fluctuation. The main objective of this research work is to investigate the Characterization of Borrow materials for embankment fill and capping layer based on their index and strength properties for Road Construction of the proposed route. In order to achieve the objectives, field investigation and nine (9) samples were also collected from the identified borrow area and laboratory test analysis were performed such as, Atterberg limits, compaction, CBR and percentage of swell tests. ERA‘s and AASHTO’s standard technical specifications have been used to interpret the data by integrating the field with laboratory test results. The subgrade soil of route, having liquid limit value greater than 60% and plastic index value greater than 30% and CBR value less than 5%, at Chainage km 0+000-4+000, 5+900-8+000, 9+400-12+900, 13+500-14+000, 15+000-16+000, 17+100-17+600, 18+500-20+500, 21+500-34+900, and 35+200-47+000 unsuitable. The index and strength properties of the borrow materials fulfill the requirement for embankment fill and subgrade improvements. Finally, all unsuitable subgrade soil along the study route corridor are recommended to remove and replace with suitable and non-expansive subgrade materials, since enormous amount of selected fill materials that fulfill the requirements for subgrade soils improvement are available nearby the study area.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Agricultural & Natural Resource Office, West Hararghe Zone, Chiro, Ethiopia

  • Institute of Technology, Oda Bultum University, Chiro, Ethiopia

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