Integrated Geophysical Characterization of Injibara University Campus Building Site, Injibara, Amhara, North Western Ethiopia

Mulualem, Abraham (2017) Integrated Geophysical Characterization of Injibara University Campus Building Site, Injibara, Amhara, North Western Ethiopia. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

Integrated geophysical investigations, specifically electrical resistivity, seismic refraction and magnetic methods were conducted for engineering characterization of the foundations conditions of the Injibara University buildings construction site located in Injibara town of Amhara Regional State, NW Ethiopia. The principal objective of this research is to study the suitability of the foundation Earth materials underlying the site, where Injibara University is established. The geophysical survey included thirteen resistivity sounding points, seven refraction seismic spreads and 153 point magnetic data. Qualitative and quantitative interpretation of the data have provided valuable geotechnical information using pseudo-depth and geo-electric section, sliced-stacked map, seismic velocity models and magnetic anomaly maps incorporated with available geologic information from the study area. Interpretation of the geophysical data revealed that the surface geology of the area is composed of three layers. The top soil consisted of clay, silt and sand mixtures having 1-4 m thickness range is mapped over the whole area. The second layer of low resistive layer is interpreted as highly weathered and fractured vesicular basalt. The depth extent of this layer varies from about 10m on the NW end and SE parts and to about 27m around the central part. The third layer occurred in the depth range of 10-27m is characterized by relatively high resistivity and average high p-wave velocity (2550 m/s) and it is the response of the moderately weathered and fractured basaltic bed rock, which is deeper near to the center of the profiles and gets shallower towards NW end and southeastern portions. Besides, analyses of collected data have suggested the possible locations of minor structural discontinuities (may be local fractures). The geophysical results with summary shows that the bed rock is found at shallow depth in the northwestern end and southeastern part of the study area, whereas in the near central part of the survey area the bed rock is found at a relatively high depth. Setting the building foundation is more recommended in the southeastern part of the construction site, but in the near central and northwestern part much attention should be taken in designing the foundation of the building site in order to avoid any geo-hazard consequences.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Q Science > QE Geology
Divisions: Africana
Depositing User: Selom Ghislain
Date Deposited: 18 Jun 2018 09:44
Last Modified: 18 Jun 2018 09:44
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/4371

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