Research Article
S. B. Akpila
Abstract
Vehicular petrol tank (TAC) foundations founded on medium-dense, slightly silt SAND formation in Lekki area of Lagos State, Nigeria have been evaluated for bearing capacity and settlement. The study involved field boring of holes (BH), standard penetration tests, laboratory tests and analysis of soil samples on TAC-1 and TAC-2. The net allowable bearing capacity, qn(a), of both tanks increased with foundation depth, but in BH4, qn(a) of TAC-1 decreased with depth up to 3m, attaining a value of about 110 kN/m2; beyond which it increased with depth. Higher values were attained on TAC-2 but qn(a) decreased noticeably in BH4 from 5m depth. Higher immediate settlement generally occurred on TAC-2 in Harr’s approach but with Burland and Burbidge, TAC-1 showed higher immediate settlement. Total settlement was generally higher in TAC-1 than TAC-2 and the induced vertical stress distribution with depth at tank centers were lower than allowable bearing capacity.