Application of electrical resistivity tomography and geotechnical techniques for identification and characterization of collapsible soils in Bafoussam (Western, Cameroon)

Abstract Road failure catastrophes have increased in frequency in the West Cameroon area. The collapsed soil characteristics that contribute to these phenomena in Bafoussam have been investigated using the geophysical investigation combined with geotechnical tests. The result of electrical resistivi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Samuel Erick Meyomesse, Serge Parfait Koah Na Lebogo, Dieudonné Bisso, Philemon Zo′o Zame
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2023-11-01
Series:SN Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-023-05610-6
_version_ 1797414229352906752
author Samuel Erick Meyomesse
Serge Parfait Koah Na Lebogo
Dieudonné Bisso
Philemon Zo′o Zame
author_facet Samuel Erick Meyomesse
Serge Parfait Koah Na Lebogo
Dieudonné Bisso
Philemon Zo′o Zame
author_sort Samuel Erick Meyomesse
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Road failure catastrophes have increased in frequency in the West Cameroon area. The collapsed soil characteristics that contribute to these phenomena in Bafoussam have been investigated using the geophysical investigation combined with geotechnical tests. The result of electrical resistivity tomography shows water conditions and heterogeneity of road foundation materials: resistivity values higher than 200 Ωm indicate dry materials, values between 30 and 200 Ωm define wet materials, and values lower than 30 Ωm indicate the very wet or water-saturated materials. These water-saturated materials can therefore move, bounded by a sliding surface of high-resistivity materials. Geotechnical properties analysis shows that these materials are clayey-sensitive water (64% clay fraction; A-7-6), very plastic (liquid limit: 46–63% plasticity limit: 29–39%), compressible, with high porosity (e > 0.8), low shear strength, and high friction angle (24–37°). The quality of foundation materials associated with high slopes (> 40°) and heavy rainfall in wet seasons (July–October) means that seepage water is the main factor responsible for the mass movement observed on the road of Western Cameroon. The construction or rehabilitation of these roads should be carried out in compliance with the natural conditions of the project site. Article highlights - 2D Electrical Resistivity Tomography method is able to determine the nature, subsurface structure and water conditions of road foundation soils. - Geotechnical test can be used to define the physical and mechanical properties of road foundation soils. - These two techniques complement each other to understand the mass movement observed on two sections of road failures caused by seepage water.
first_indexed 2024-03-09T05:30:03Z
format Article
id doaj.art-3436011cb06b4e469690595725e48e60
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2523-3963
2523-3971
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-09T05:30:03Z
publishDate 2023-11-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series SN Applied Sciences
spelling doaj.art-3436011cb06b4e469690595725e48e602023-12-03T12:32:57ZengSpringerSN Applied Sciences2523-39632523-39712023-11-0151211310.1007/s42452-023-05610-6Application of electrical resistivity tomography and geotechnical techniques for identification and characterization of collapsible soils in Bafoussam (Western, Cameroon)Samuel Erick Meyomesse0Serge Parfait Koah Na Lebogo1Dieudonné Bisso2Philemon Zo′o Zame3Laboratory of Geosciences and Applications, University of Yaounde ILaboratory of Geosciences and Applications, University of Yaounde ILaboratory of Geosciences and Applications, University of Yaounde ILaboratory of Geosciences and Applications, University of Yaounde IAbstract Road failure catastrophes have increased in frequency in the West Cameroon area. The collapsed soil characteristics that contribute to these phenomena in Bafoussam have been investigated using the geophysical investigation combined with geotechnical tests. The result of electrical resistivity tomography shows water conditions and heterogeneity of road foundation materials: resistivity values higher than 200 Ωm indicate dry materials, values between 30 and 200 Ωm define wet materials, and values lower than 30 Ωm indicate the very wet or water-saturated materials. These water-saturated materials can therefore move, bounded by a sliding surface of high-resistivity materials. Geotechnical properties analysis shows that these materials are clayey-sensitive water (64% clay fraction; A-7-6), very plastic (liquid limit: 46–63% plasticity limit: 29–39%), compressible, with high porosity (e > 0.8), low shear strength, and high friction angle (24–37°). The quality of foundation materials associated with high slopes (> 40°) and heavy rainfall in wet seasons (July–October) means that seepage water is the main factor responsible for the mass movement observed on the road of Western Cameroon. The construction or rehabilitation of these roads should be carried out in compliance with the natural conditions of the project site. Article highlights - 2D Electrical Resistivity Tomography method is able to determine the nature, subsurface structure and water conditions of road foundation soils. - Geotechnical test can be used to define the physical and mechanical properties of road foundation soils. - These two techniques complement each other to understand the mass movement observed on two sections of road failures caused by seepage water.https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-023-05610-6Western CameroonRoad collapseFoundation soil propertiesElectrical resistivity imagingGeotechnical tests
spellingShingle Samuel Erick Meyomesse
Serge Parfait Koah Na Lebogo
Dieudonné Bisso
Philemon Zo′o Zame
Application of electrical resistivity tomography and geotechnical techniques for identification and characterization of collapsible soils in Bafoussam (Western, Cameroon)
SN Applied Sciences
Western Cameroon
Road collapse
Foundation soil properties
Electrical resistivity imaging
Geotechnical tests
title Application of electrical resistivity tomography and geotechnical techniques for identification and characterization of collapsible soils in Bafoussam (Western, Cameroon)
title_full Application of electrical resistivity tomography and geotechnical techniques for identification and characterization of collapsible soils in Bafoussam (Western, Cameroon)
title_fullStr Application of electrical resistivity tomography and geotechnical techniques for identification and characterization of collapsible soils in Bafoussam (Western, Cameroon)
title_full_unstemmed Application of electrical resistivity tomography and geotechnical techniques for identification and characterization of collapsible soils in Bafoussam (Western, Cameroon)
title_short Application of electrical resistivity tomography and geotechnical techniques for identification and characterization of collapsible soils in Bafoussam (Western, Cameroon)
title_sort application of electrical resistivity tomography and geotechnical techniques for identification and characterization of collapsible soils in bafoussam western cameroon
topic Western Cameroon
Road collapse
Foundation soil properties
Electrical resistivity imaging
Geotechnical tests
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-023-05610-6
work_keys_str_mv AT samuelerickmeyomesse applicationofelectricalresistivitytomographyandgeotechnicaltechniquesforidentificationandcharacterizationofcollapsiblesoilsinbafoussamwesterncameroon
AT sergeparfaitkoahnalebogo applicationofelectricalresistivitytomographyandgeotechnicaltechniquesforidentificationandcharacterizationofcollapsiblesoilsinbafoussamwesterncameroon
AT dieudonnebisso applicationofelectricalresistivitytomographyandgeotechnicaltechniquesforidentificationandcharacterizationofcollapsiblesoilsinbafoussamwesterncameroon
AT philemonzoozame applicationofelectricalresistivitytomographyandgeotechnicaltechniquesforidentificationandcharacterizationofcollapsiblesoilsinbafoussamwesterncameroon