The use of Geoeletric Methods for Post-foundation Assessments of Distressed Buildings in Ebute-meta, Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State

Abstract

Geophysical and geotechnical investigations were combined to investigate the immediate causes of the distresses and foundation failures of buildings in Ebute-Meta area of Lagos, south-west Nigeria. Six (6) traverses were mapped in the study area across which six (6) 2D Wenner ERI, and fourteen (14) VES geophysical data were acquired. One (1) boring and five (5) CPT geotechnical data were also acquired. 2D ERI results reveal that resistivity values vary from 4.62 – 293 Ωm across the study area. Three resistivity structures were identified which denoted peat/clay, sandy clay, clayey sand and sand. The resistivity of the peat/clay varies from 4.62 – 27.9 Ωm with thickness varying from 12 - 25 m. The sandy clay varies in resistivity and thickness values from 26 – 86 Ωm and 8 – 29 m respectively. The clayey sand from 84.4 – 182 Ωm and 10 -15 m, and sand, having resistivity and thickness values of 293 Ωm and 3 – 5 m. The VES reveals similar results to the 2D ERI, delineating six geoelectric layers which are the topsoil, peat, clay, sandy clay, clayey sand and sand at maximum depth of 35.8 m. The borehole (BH) reveals a maximum boring depth of 45 m with eight zones comprising dark grey sandy clay, firm to stiff silty clay, soft, dark organic silty peaty clay, grey silty sand, dark grey silty sandy clay, dark grey organic peaty clay, grey silty sandy clay and medium dense to dense grey sand with occasional gravels. The CPT, which penetrated a maximum depth 15.8 m reveal that the cone resistance values vary progressively from 0 – 162 kg/cm2indicating very soft clay to soft clay near-surface and medium dense to dense geologic material at deeper depth. The peat/clay delineated by the 2D ERI and VES at 5 – 25 m depth with resistivity value varying from 4.62 -17 Ωm in the study area, and also revealed in the BH at 5.75 – 27.75 m depth as soft, dark organic silty peaty clay, having cone resistance values varying from 0 – 20 kg/cm2 is laterally extensive and incompetent to support engineering foundation.