Papers by Author: Agapitus A. Amadi

Abstract: Barrier Systems Built with Fine Grained Soils Frequently Loose their Hydraulic Integrity due to Desiccation Cracking either during Construction or Shortly Thereafter. Moreover, Typical Specifications for the Construction of Compacted Soil Liners and Covers Require that the Soil Be Compacted Wet of Optimum Water Contents to Achieve the Lowest Possible Hydraulic Conductivity, a Condition that Results in High Desiccation Shrinkage Values. however, such Soils Can Be Treated with Fly Ash to Maintain Low and Tolerable Desiccation Shrinkage Strains. in this Study, Volumetric Shrinkage Strains of Representative Fine Grained Soil Containing 0 – 20% Fly Ash by Dry Weight of Soil Compacted with the British Standard Light (BSL), West African Standard (WAS) and British Standard Heavy, (BSH) Compaction Efforts at Moisture Contents Ranging from 10 – 20% Were Evaluated. Measurements Indicate that Volumetric Shrinkage Strain Decreased with Higher Fly Ash Content and that Fly Ash Effectively Reduced the Shrinkage of Untreated Soil Prepared Wet of Optimum from 4.4 – 7.7% to Values Well below the 4% Threshold. the Measured Shrinkage Strains Were Related to Water Content and Dry Unit Weight on the Dry Unit Weight – Moulding Water Content Curve in what Is Referred to as Acceptable Zone. Data Points within the Acceptable Zone Represent Test Results with Shrinkage Strain ≤ 4% which Ensures Compaction Efficiency. this Study Therefore Established that Fly Ash Application and Appropriate Regulation of the Moulding Water Content Are Feasible Means of Reducing the Risk of Barrier Soil Damage by Shrinkage Cracks while still Realizing Very Low Hydraulic Conductivity and Adequate Strength.

Abstract: Laboratory study on compacted tropical clay treated with up to 16% rice husk ash (RHA), an agro-industrial waste; to evaluate its hydraulic properties and hence its suitability in waste containment systems was carried out. Soil-RHA mixtures were compacted using standard Proctor, West African Standard and modified Proctor efforts at-2, 0, 2 and 4% of optimum moisture content (OMC). Compacted samples were permeated and the hydraulic behaviour of the material was examined considering the effects of moulding water content, water content relative to optimum, dry density and RHA contents. Results showed decreasing hydraulic conductivity with increasing moulding water content and compactive efforts; it also varied greatly between the dry and wet side of optimum decreasing towards the wet side. Hydraulic conductivity generally decreased with increased dry density for all effort. Hydraulic conductivity increased with rice husk ash treatment at the OMC; but were within recommended values of 1 x 10^-7 cm/s for up to 8% rice husk ash treatment irrespective of the compactive effort used. This shows the suitability of the material as a hydraulic barrier in waste containment systems for up to 8% rice husk ash treatment and beneficial reuse of this agro-industrial waste product.

Abstract: Accidental or deliberate operational discharges of organic chemicals or wastes containing organic chemicals induce geochemical reactions with resultant adverse effects on basic geotechnical properties of the soil. To utilize soil materials from such sites for engineering construction or as foundation soil, stabilization must be carried out. In this study, cement kiln dust (CKD) was applied to lateritic soil contaminated with three different types of commonly occurring organic chemicals namely benzene, ethanol and kerosene to evaluate the restoration and improvements in the engineering properties. Contamination was simulated in the laboratory by adding known quantities (2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%) of each of the chemicals separately to lateritic soil samples and allowed to air dry for 14 days before stabilizing with 10% CKD. Performance was evaluated on Atterberg limits, compaction characteristics, strength properties and hydraulic conductivity of the contaminated soil. Strength and hydraulic conductivity specimens were compacted with British Standard Light (BSL) compactive effort at predetermined optimum moisture content. Results showed that the simultaneous effects of the cementing and pozzolanic action of the CKD rejuvenated the geotechnical properties of the soil, in most cases comparable to the properties at the original pristine condition. Studies on durability and long term competent performance of the stabilized contaminated soil specimens is in progress.

Abstract: Lateritic soils are pedogenic surface deposits which occur in vast areas of tropical and subtropical regions of the world and find use as construction material in diverse civil engineering aspects. But, the predominance of kaolinitic 1:1 lattice clay mineral and coating of the clayey constituents with sesquioxides limits the ability of the soil from achieving very low hydraulic conductivity, (k) required for some geotechnical/geoenvironmental structures. The present study investigates the influence of low percent bentonite on the hydraulic conductivity of a residually derived lateritic soil. Accordingly, the test programme involved specimens of lateritic soil - bentonite mixtures containing 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% bentonite (by dry weight of soil) prepared at different compaction states (optimum, dry and wet of optimum content), compacted with British Standard Heavy, (BSH) compactive effort and permeated in compaction mould permeameter using falling head test method. Results indicate that reductions in hydraulic conductivity values ranged from 1 x 10^-9 to 6.79 x 10^-11 m/s (i.e. two orders of magnitude) as the percentage of bentonite increased from 0 to 10%. Soil mixtures with up to 5% bentonite content recorded the lowest k values at 2% wet of optimum moisture content, beyond which an increase in k followed. For soil mixtures containing 7.5 and 10% bentonite, a continuous decrease in k was observed. Furthermore, a non – linear relationship between log k and bentonite content was established. These results met or exceeded specification requirements for the aforementioned structures which therefore suggest that the potentials of lateritic soils as a geomaterial for the construction of hydraulic structures can be fully realized when treated with bentonite.