Kenya Women Holdings, Nakuru/Geotechnical Investigations Report

PROPOSED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR KENYA WOMEN

HOLDINGS, NAKURU

GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS

Technical Report

MAY 2011

GEOCON LIMITED
Engineering Solutions

Structural .Geotechnical . Water . Transportation . Construction

Office & Laboratories

No 95 Riverbank, Aoko Road, South B
P. O. Box 41736 00100
NAIROBI KENYA
Tel: 020 8072 367
Email: info@geocon.co.ke

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 Kenya Women Holdings, Nakuru/Geotechnical Investigations Report

GEOCON LIMITED
Engineering Solutions

Structural .Geotechnical .Water . Transportation . Construction

Office & Laboratories:

No. 95 Riverbank, Aoko Road South B PO Box 41736 – 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 208072367 Email: info@geocon.co.ke

Geotechnical Investigations Report – Technical Submission Form

M/S
Eng. Mwangi Githua
Tel: +254720764867
NAKURU

Dear Sir,

We the undersigned hereby submit our Technical Report on Geotechnical Investigations carried out
on Plot Number Block 4/133 Nakuru Municipality that has been proposed for construction of a
commercial building.

Our submission is in accordance with instructions received on 15th April 2011 and the subsequent
materials analyses undertaken in our Laboratory.

We do hope you find this useful for your process execution.

We remain,

Yours Sincerely,

Position Member Firm

Name of Firm Geo Con Limited
Full Address No. 95 River Bank, Aoko Road, South B
PO Box 41736 00100
NAIROBI KENYA
Full Name of Signatory Moses Wopicho Kiliswa
Capacity Title Managing Director

Signature

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Kenya Women Holdings, Nakuru/Geotechnical Investigations Report

Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 3

2.0 LOCATION ............................................................................................................................................... 3

2.1 The Site ................................................................................................................................................ 3

2.2 Geology................................................................................................................................................ 3

3.0 THE WORKS ............................................................................................................................................ 4

4.0 THE TRIAL PITS ..................................................................................................................................... 4
5.0 SAMPLING ............................................................................................................................................... 5
6.0 LABORATORY TESTS............................................................................................................................ 5

6.1 Atterberg Limits.................................................................................................................................... 5

6.2 Dry Density – Moisture Content Relationship ......................................................................................... 5

6.3 Shearbox Test ....................................................................................................................................... 5

7.0 INSITU TESTS ......................................................................................................................................... 6

7.1 Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) Test ................................................................................................ 6

8.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................ 6

APPENDIX 1 : PHOTOGRAPHIC PLATES

APPENDIX 2 : ATTERBERG LIMITS & PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION

APPENDIX 3 : MAXIMUM DRY DENSITY/OPTIMUM MOISTURE CONTENT

APPENDIX 4 : SHEAR BOX & ESTIMATED SAFE BEARING CAPACITY

APPENDIX 5 : DCP – BEARING CAPACITY CORRELATION

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Kenya Women Holdings, Nakuru/Geotechnical Investigations Report

KENYA WOMEN HOLDINGS

PROPOSED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, NAKURU

GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This report presents the findings of a geotechnical investigations exercise carried out on Plot
Number Block 4/133 Nakuru Municipality.

The purpose of the geotechnical investigation was to provide subsurface information necessary to
decide on the optimum foundation type for the proposed structures and provide information
necessary for design and construction purposes.

In this regard, a total of 3 No. trial pits were excavated at locations within the site and bulk samples
were recovered. Selected samples were subjected to the testing regime provided by the Client.

The investigation works were carried out by Eng. Mwangi Githua, laboratory testing and preparation
of the Technical Report were undertaken by Geo Con Limited.

Details of the onsite works, laboratory tests and analysis are given in the following sections of this
Report.

2.0 LOCATION

2.1 The Site

The site is located within Nakuru Town. The overview of the site has been captured in Photographic
plates attached in Appendix 1 of this report.

2.2 Geology

Nakuru Municipality lies in an area forming part of the Great Rift Valley, on the slopes of the
Menengai Crater. The area has been known to be extremely active volcanically in the past, although,
it is said to be currently in a dormant stage.

The Rift floor is largely covered with sediments that accumulated in the lakes during the Gamblian
stage of the Pleistocene period. They contain a large proportion of volcanic ejectamenta, and a few

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Kenya Women Holdings, Nakuru/Geotechnical Investigations Report

light colored soft friable siliceous sedimentary rock-beds (diatomaceous), consisting of opal or
quartz that forms the siliceous walls of diatoms, a microscopic single-celled plant beds. Despite their
extensive distribution the Gamblian lakebeds are not thick and rarely exceed, approximately, 30
metres.

The steep slopes of the various ash and lava cones are of striking appearance. The cones vary greatly
according to the nature of the rocks of which they are built. The slope of the cones of the acidic rocks,
such as rhyolites and comendites, are unusually steep on account of the viscous nature of the lavas at
the time of their eruption. The rhyolites are glassy or cryptocrystalline rocks which may contain
porphyritic quartz and orthoclase, though some rhyolites show small spheres radiating quartz and
feldspar fibrous crystals formed by devitrification of glass, often situated along flow lines generally
known as spherulitic structures. The comendites are either aphyric or sparsely porphyritic, few
samples containing more than 5% phenocrysts. Phenocryst minerals are quartz-sanidine-
ferrohedenbergite-fayalite-titanomagnetite-ilmenite-riebeckite-arfvedsonite-aenigmatite-biotite-
zircon.

The geology of the area comprises volcanic rocks (lava flows and pyroclasts) of the Tertiary -
Quarternary age which has been affected by a series of faulting. The soils in this area are mainly of
volcanic origin and, due to its high porosity, permeability and loose structure, are highly susceptible
to erosion, land subsidence and fractures during or after heavy rains.

3.0 THE WORKS

As mentioned before, 3 No. trial pits were excavated by the Client. The trial pits were excavated
using picks and shovels, and the bulk samples were recovered at the encountered strata.

4.0 THE TRIAL PITS

Photographic plates of the ground conditions encountered in the trial pits have been provided in
Appendix 2 of this Report.

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Kenya Women Holdings, Nakuru/Geotechnical Investigations Report

5.0 SAMPLING

Disturbed bulk bag samples were taken from all the major strata encountered in each pit and put in
polythene bags then secured by double tying the mouth. A label was inserted between the two string
knots.

6.0 LABORATORY TESTS

Recovered bulk samples were transported to our Laboratories and subjected to testing in
accordance with the Client’s instructions.

The test methods and the results obtained are presented in the following section of this report.

6.1 Atterberg Limits

The Atterberg Limits were established using the Cone Penetrometer Test and following the
procedures outlined in BS 1377-2 : 1990.

The results of the above analyses are presented in Appendix 2 of this report.

6.2 Dry Density – Moisture Content Relationship

The soil samples recovered at selected locations were subjected to testing in accordance with
procedures described BS 1377-4: 1990. The objective of this test was to establish the maximum dry
density and optimum moisture content of the material at the investigation depths.

Sub-samples for testing were obtained by reduction of the bulk samples to representative fractions
sufficient for testing. Thereafter, the sub-samples were subjected to compaction in a standard mould
using a 2.5 kg rammer, at incremental moisture contents.

The results of the above analyses are presented in Appendix 3 of this report.

6.3 Shearbox Test

The Representative sub-samples from the investigation depths were subjected to testing following
procedures outlined in BS 1377-7: 1990 with the aim of establishing their cohesion properties.

The specimens were subjected to measurement of both the Normal (Compressive) Stress and the
Shear Stress, so as to provide relevant information for the determination of the corresponding
Cohesion and Angle of Shearing Resistance values. Using the criteria obtained and other parameters

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Kenya Women Holdings, Nakuru/Geotechnical Investigations Report

such as the insitu density at corresponding tested depths, the estimated safe bearing values have
been calculated for each of the varying conditions at the two depths.

Using the above results, the density values and assumed foundation dimensions of 1.0m by 1.0m, the
estimated Bearing Capacity at the proposed founding depths were computed.

Attached in Appendix 4 of this report are the results obtained from computations of Estimated Safe
Ground Bearing capacity.

7.0 INSITU TESTS

7.1 Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) Test

The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) is an instrument designed to provide a measure of the in-
situ strength of fine-grained and granular subgrades, granular base and subbase materials, and
weakly cemented materials.

The test procedure entails an 8kg weight being raised to a height of 575 mm and then dropped
vertically, driving the cone into the soil or other material being tested.

Attached in Appendix 5 of this report are the results obtained from the insitu exercise at 3m to 4m
depths, and computations of Estimated Ground Bearing capacity.

8.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Soils encountered during the investigations showed slight variation in properties. Reference to the
photographic plates shows the site to comprise mainly of greyish brown and grey silty (volcanic)
SAND occurring at different levels. On the lower reaches of the trial pits, volcanic ash with pumice
gravel fractions was observed.

Based on the Unified Soil Classification System, the soils are generally described as Silty SAND with
gravel, and mostly non plastic.

Results of Proctor test undertaken on selected samples within the site show the material at the
sampling locations to have maximum dry densities in ranging between 1038 kg/m3 and 1270kg/m3
with corresponding optimum moisture contents in the range of 23.4% and 28.9%.

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Kenya Women Holdings, Nakuru/Geotechnical Investigations Report

Since no undisturbed samples were recovered, the samples from the selected locations were
remolded at 95%MDD and subjected to shear box test. The results obtained from the tests and
subsequent bearing capacity computations are presented below.

C Safe Bearing Capacity

Location Ø (°)
(kN/m2) (kN/m2)
TP A (3.1m) 2 27 167
TP B (1.9m) 2 29 174
TP C (1.8m) 4 25 126

A safety factor of 3.0 has been used in computation of the Bearing Capacities.

An insitu test conducted gave a conservative bearing capacity value in the order of 95kN/m2.

Since no undisturbed samples were recovered, assessment of anticipated settlements could not be
done. However, since most of the samples were not moist, rapid settlements are expected to occur
when the soil is under loading. Since the magnitude of anticipated settlements is not known, it is
recommended that the structure be erected without any connections between the major elements to
allow for most of the settlement to take place, prior to connecting these elements.

It may be noted that greater bearing values may be obtained by improving the soil properties.
Compacted non-volcanic soils with gravel of low plasticity of up to 0.5m in thickness may raise the
Design Bearing Values to around 150kN/m2, and consequently limit anticipated settlement.

Chemical assessment of the samples was not done therefore, as good practice it is recommended to
use a dense cement-rich concrete.

It is also recommended that the foundation excavations be kept free of water during the
construction times.

Finally this concludes the assignment as per by our Client’s Instructions. In case of any queries on
the data provided, please do not hesitate in seeking clarification.

For

Geo Con Limited.

22.05.2011

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Kenya Women Holdings, Nakuru/Geotechnical Investigations Report

APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1

PHOTOGRAPHICPLATES

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Kenya Women Holdings, Nakuru/Geotechnical Investigations Report

APPENDIX 2

ATTERBERG LIMITS

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Kenya Women Holdings, Nakuru/Geotechnical Investigations Report

APPENDIX 3

MAXIMUM DRY DENSITY/OPTIMUM MOISTURE CONTENT

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Kenya Women Holdings, Nakuru/Geotechnical Investigations Report

APPENDIX 4

SHEAR BOX TEST & ESTIMATED SAFE BEARING CAPACITY

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Kenya Women Holdings, Nakuru/Geotechnical Investigations Report

APPENDIX 5

DYNAMIC CONE PENETROMETER/BEARING CAPACITY CORRELATION

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DISCLAIMER

This Report presents exclusively the test results and analyses carried out on samples
recovered from the above mentioned site alone and it shall not be reproduced, in part
or in full, without the written approval of Geo Con Limited.

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