GEFREM Engineering

Geotechnical Investigation and Material Testing

Center

FINAL GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION REPORT

Project Type : Commercial Building

Owner : Yonas Teklehaymanot
Location : MEKELLE

Consultant : NOMY Engineering PLC

Investigation Facilitated by: GEFREM Geotechnical Investigation and Material

Testing Center
Address: +251930002400

November 29, 2018

Addis Ababa
 GEFREM Engineering
Geotechnical Investigation and Material Testing Center

Table of contents
1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1. Project Description........................................................................................................................ 1
1.2. Limitations..................................................................................................................................... 1
1.3. Purpose and Scope of the Investigation ....................................................................................... 2
2. Outline of the Investigation .................................................................................................................. 2
2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 2
2.2. Field Investigation ......................................................................................................................... 3
2.3. Laboratory Tests ........................................................................................................................... 3
2.3.1. Sieve Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 3
2.3.2. Atterberg Limit Tests............................................................................................................. 3
2.3.3. Unconfined Compression Strength Test (UCS Test).............................................................. 3
2.3.4. Direct Shear Strength Test .................................................................................................... 3
3. Bearing Capacity at the Selected Points ............................................................................................... 4
4. Conclusions and Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 4
4.1. Conclusions ................................................................................................................................... 4
4.2. Recommendation.......................................................................................................................... 5
5. Appendix: Laboratory and Field Test Results ........................................................................................ 6

List of Tables
Table 1: Bearing Capacity at the selected locations...................................................................................... 4

Final Geotechnical Investigation Owner/Project: Gast Solar Mechanics PLC

 GEFREM Engineering
Geotechnical Investigation and Material Testing Center
Date: 28/10/2018
Ref. No: GFE-033/2018
To: NOMY Engineering PLC

Ref: Geotec. Invest. Result for Gast Solar Mechanics PLC, Store Building
Subject: Submission of Soil Investigation Report
Dear Sir,
It is to be recalled that our company has signed a contract with NOMY Engineering PLC for

geotechnical investigation of Gast Solar Mechanics PLC, Store Building. As part of the
contract our company has agreed to submit the final soil (ground) investigation to facilitate the
design of the building.
For any further information or clarifications, please don’t hesitate to contact us on the following
address.
We would like to thank you for your confidence to collaborate with our company and we hope to
cooperate with you in our future career too.

Yours Sincerely

Brhane Weldeanenya (MSc in Geotechnics and Geohazards, Practicing professional highway

and Material Engineer)
General Manager
Address:
 Phone: +251930002400
 Email: brishey35@gmail.com

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 GEFREM Engineering
Geotechnical Investigation and Material Testing Center

1. INTRODUCTION

A contract has been signed between NOMY Engineering PLC and GEFREM Geotechnical
Investigation and Material Testing Center for the Geotechnical Investigation of the Gast Solar
Mechanics PLC in Mekelle, Semen Wereda according to the list of tests proposed by the
consultant.

The agreement between the consultant and Gefrem Geotechnical Investigation Center is the
detail geotechnical Investigation of the store. This report hence compiles the complete
geotechnical investigation for the project as per the signed agreement.

1.1. Project Description

This project is located in Northern Ethiopia, Mekelle City, and Semen Sub City/Lachi area, some
hundred meters towards the Feleg-Daero road. In this project, it is commonly seen that there is
vibration effect from the Messobo quarry during blasting though it may not have that much
effect on the main structural frames. The store project is located in a fat black clay soil where it
is expected to be expansive. This is so as most of the studies done on this area usually show that
there are expansive soils.
1.2. Limitations
This report has been prepared by GEFREM Geotechnical Investigation and Material Testing
Center to present the observation and findings of the investigation. This report was prepared in
accordance with generally accepted geotechnical engineering practice; no warranty, expressed or
implied, is made. The observations and findings presented in this report are based on information
collected during the field exploration and laboratory testing program. The results described in
this report reflect subsurface conditions only at the specific locations, and to the depths explored.
Soil conditions and water levels at other locations may differ from conditions observed at boring
locations. If conditions encountered during subsequent work differ from those described in this
report, the conclusions of this report should be re-evaluated by GEFREM Geotechnical
Investigation. GEFREM Geotechnical Investigation is not responsible for any claims, damages
or liability associated with interpretation of subsurface data by others or reuse of the subsurface
data or engineering analyses without the express written authorization of GEFREM Geotechnical
Investigation.

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Geotechnical Investigation and Material Testing Center

1.3. Purpose and Scope of the Investigation

The purpose of this site investigation is to determine the existing soil profiles and engineering
characteristics of the subsurface conditions at the site and to provide the designer with comments
on:
• Suitable footing types, foundation depths and geotechnical design parameters
which will be required for a safe and economic design and excavation of the
engineering works, such as the soil bearing capacity, expected foundation
settlement, side slope stability, hydrological conditions at the site and other
special recommendation which depends on the site nature.
• Methods of construction of foundation and footings, site seismicity characters,
groundwater conditions, quality control requirements and outdoor subgrade and
soil retaining parameters.

2. Outline of the Investigation

2.1. Introduction

The geotechnical investigation includes the following steps/ procedures:

 Office Discussion: in this case the geotechnical engineer and the designer of the project
has discussed about the condition of the area and the purpose of the building with number
of stories, and in case if there is any underground structure. Accordingly, it was discussed
the project is a store building shade.
 Waking around the site: a similar field visit was arranged, where the main consultant and
the geotechnical engineer has physically visited the project. During this stage, it was seen
that the project is located in a black clay soil.
 Preliminary Investigation: there was no any preliminary investigation done on this
project.
 Detailed Investigation: Detailed investigations such as field density, UCS, Direct Shear
Strength Test (DSST), Atterberg Limit Tests, and Sieve Analysis were commenced by
the geotechnical investigation center.

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Geotechnical Investigation and Material Testing Center

Figure 1: Location of test pits, #1, #2 and #3

2.2. Field Investigation

All the basic field investigations (the filed density tests in this case) were done in three of the test
pits. The results of the field investigations done in this project are attached in the appendix of
this report.

2.3. Laboratory Tests

The laboratory tests commenced for this project are detailed below.
2.3.1. Sieve Analysis

Sieve analysis and Gradation for all the sample take to laboratory were done. Results are
attached at the appendix of this report as the other tests.
2.3.2. Atterberg Limit Tests

The atterberg limit tests for the selected test pits were done and results are attached at the
appendix of this report.
2.3.3. Unconfined Compression Strength Test (UCS Test)

The UCS test is commonly used for the shear strength determination of fine grained and
cohesive soils. From the sieve analysis and atterberg limit tests, most of the samples were fine
grained and cohesive soils. Accordingly, UCS was done for all samples. For the UCS results,
refer to the appendix of this report.
2.3.4. Direct Shear Strength Test

Direct shear strength test is recommended for granular soils where they are almost cohesion less.
From the sieve analysis and the atterberg tests it was seen that there is no any test pit that is
convenient for direct shear strength test.

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Geotechnical Investigation and Material Testing Center

3. Bearing Capacity at the Selected Points

The bearing capacity at the selected points is computed using the following formulation as per
Terzaghi. The following bearing capacities shows the capacity at a depth of two meter only. For
depths below 2m, the bearing capacity and the strength of the ground below 2m, at a normal
case, is expected to increase at least from the increase in overburden pressure.

The bearing capacity of the three test pits is attached in table 1.

Table 1: Bearing Capacity at the selected locations

GEFREM_Engineering Geotechnical Investigation and Material Testing Center

Sampling Date 17-Oct-2018 Represen. Station Owners Land Sample No Pit- 1,2 and 3
Test Date 18-Oct-2018 Material Source Owners Land Test No 1,2 and 3
Gast Solar
Owner Type of Material Sub Grade Material Tested by
Mechanics Gefrem Engineering
UCS TEST
Terzaghi Bearing Capacity Formula : σall={1.3CNc+γdNq+0.4γBNγ}x1/3
Test Pit Trial Pit C ϕ γsat Df =B Nc Nq Ny σall
[ID] No [kPa] [Degree] [kN/m3] [m] [-] [-] [-] [kPa]
1 122.69 0 14.80 2.00 5.41 1.00 0.00 290.95
1 2 116.72 0 14.80 2.00 5.41 1.00 0.00 276.96
1 105.23 0 15.10 2.00 5.41 1.00 0.00 250.22
2 2 111.3 0 15.10 2.00 5.41 1.00 0.00 264.45
1 117.31 0 15.70 2.00 5.41 1.00 0.00 278.94
3 2 117.34 0 15.70 2.00 5.41 1.00 0.00 279.01

The allowable bearing capacity for the design purpose can be considered to be 250.22 kPa.

4. Conclusions and Recommendations

4.1. Conclusions
The project area is located in the block soil zone, where it is mostly an expansive soil, of Mekelle
City, Semen Woreda. As a zonal classification, this area is located in an area where the bearing
capacity is low in the depth where a shallow foundation is located.
One can still refer to the computed bearing capacity and can be seen that it is about 250.22kPa.
However, with this bearing capacity, a shallow foundation for the store is convenient.

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Geotechnical Investigation and Material Testing Center

4.2. Recommendation
Considering the geotechnical investigation, and the zonal location of the project the following
points are worthy to recommend.
 As the project area is located in a fat black soil which swells and contracts seasonally,
any construction activity is better started and completed on a dry season
 While proportioning the size of the footings, the above bearing capacity should
considered in a due manner
 A shallow foundation for a store is enough here
 At a normal case the bearing capacity below 2m will obviously be greater than the values
at a shallower depth

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5. Appendix: Laboratory and Field Test Results

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