Prediction of Swelling Kinetics of Expansive Soils of Rufisque (Senegal, West Africa)

The disorders caused by the swelling of the soil on the structures have been observed for several years in the city of Rufisque. This article presents the results of the study of swelling kinetics of expansive soils in Rufisque and their prediction based on the hyperbolic rule. The odometer is used as an instrument for measuring swelling and the tests are carried out on some intact samples at their sampling water content. The present study shows that in Rufisque the most swelling layer is marl. The results show two phases of development. The first phase is very fast and represents 77% of the final deformation and the second one is slower. The prediction of the issue by the hyperbolic rule shows that it underestimates the first phase but gives a good prediction of the second phase of the swelling rate. There is a good correlation between the final swelling rates. However, the model gives a bad approximation of the half-swelling time.

Soil Subgrade’s Characterization and Classification of Thies (Senegal, West Africa) on a Radius of 2.5 Kilometers along Five Roads

This article explains the results of a study conducted on the characterizations of subgrade soils in the region of Thies. The road platforms are mainly composed of a background soil, which is generally overlapped by a surface layer that plays two roles. Firstly, it protects the soil structure, ensures the leveling, and facilitates the movement of vehicles. Secondly, it brings harmony in the mechanistic characteristics of the materials that compose the soil while improving the long-term life force. The methodology consisted in taking samples of subgrade soil along the roads all over the region of Thies in a 5 km diameter span. The identification tests allowed the Thies-Tivaoune, Thies-Khombole and Thies-Noto axes are characterized by tight sands, poorly graded size. While Thies Pout-axis is characteristic of severe solid particle size and spread well graded and serious to spread and well graded particle size. Finally the Thies-Montrolland axis is characterized by severe to very tight particle size and graduated to spread and serious and well graded particle size. The specific gravity values found Proctor test shows the presence of sand, sandy laterite and laterite. In the target area, polished soils of the A-3 type according to the AASHTO classification system are the most represented with 60%, followed by the A-2-6 type 25%, and the A-2-4 type with 9%, which are typical of gravel, clay, and silty sands. Soils of the A-1-b type (2%) typical of roc fragments, sands and clay are also represented. Polished sands of the A-3 type have a better efficiency on road infrastructures than other types of soil listed above. Finally, we’ve also noted the presence of soils of the A-2-7 and A-4 types with the low percentage of 2%. Subgrade soils of class S4 are the most represented with 58%, followed by those of class S5 with 42%. Samples of the Thies-Montrolland road have a claylike plasticity (CL or CH group), while those of the Thies-Pout road belong to the ML or OL and CL or OL groups with a tendency mostly directed to the CL or OL group. All these results confirm the very nature of soils on the two roads and put the light on the presence of lateritic materials with certain plasticity.

Cartography of Landslide Susceptibility around the Dias Horst and Thies Cliff-Senegal

The aim of this work is to map the susceptibility of sites to landslides. To assess the susceptibility of the zone, GIS techniques were used. Susceptibility factors are selected and split into two groups: active and passive factors. Passive factors regroup all the intrinsic conditions existing on the field at all times. The active factors or triggering factors are present sporadically and are added to the passive factors to trigger a landslide. With the weighted overlay method using ArcGIS?, four scenarios have been developed. A first scenario where only passive factors are combined and three scenarios for which we have for each scenario the passive factors combined with an active factor. With these different scenarios, five levels of susceptibility are obtained in the zone. These levels range from very low to very high susceptibility. For the different scenarios, the results show that the zone consists mainly of very low to low susceptibility with at least 61% of the area, followed by moderate susceptibility (23.54% to 38.24%) and last land with high susceptibility to very high with less than 1% of the surface. Fields with high to very high susceptibility are located on the slopes of the hills. Among the active factors, only the rainfall significantly modifies the percentage of land susceptible to landslide but remains in the field of moderate susceptibility. The predicted susceptibilities are closer to the observed landslides around the Thies Cliff than to the Dias Horst.

Investigating the Depth and the Geometry of the Quarzitic Panafrican Basement Using Near-Surface 3D Seismic Refraction Tomography: Case Study of the Locality of Bakel (Senegal)

Seismic refraction investigations have been carried out in Bakel, Eastern Senegal. The purpose was to map geometrical relationship between the existing rock types and the Panafrican quarzitic basement, which is valuable information for the project of the Bakel fluviatile port construction. Four seismic refraction profiles were acquired. The obtained data have been processed by inversion. The obtained four seismic P-wave velocity profiles have been integrated to obtain a 3D model. By comparing the outcropping geological formations with the observed seismic data at the surface, it was possible to identify the lithology corresponding to each measured range of seismic velocity for the alluvium, the weathered bed rock, and the fresh rock. The results showed that the depth of the fresh rock of the basement varies from 0 to 18 meters above the sea level, with a deepening toward the Senegal River and toward the Northern part of the studied area. The presence of alluviums and their thickness are linked to the existence of bays and gulfs. The results of this study give valuable information for the river bed dredging cost assessment prior to the port construction phase.