Abstract
The Birrimian rocks are structurally complex and extensively weathered in most places. The transition from rock to soil in the formation is often rather imperceptible. With just the basic site investigation equipment available in the country, site investigation in the residuals of the Birrimian rocks could be challenging. The only way to avoid over-designing is patient and systematic analysis of investigation data based on full understanding of the geology of the material at every site. This paper analyzes the problems associated with the Birrimian residuals encountered during site investigation at over sixty sites within the Birrimian, highlights solutions prescribed, and shows how a judicious combination of rock and soil mechanics principles could lead to reasonable solution of site investigation problems in soils with predominant structural features.
Résumé
La structure des roches du Birrimien est complexe et elles sont en outre souvent très altérées. Le passage de la roche au sol est souvent pratiquement imperceptible. Avec les matériels de reconnaissance simples disponibles au Ghana, la reconnaissance de ces zones est un défi. La seule façon d'éviter de sur-dimensionner est d'étudier patiemment et systématiquement toutes les données disponibles, en se fondant sur une parfaite compréhension de la géologie de chacun des sites. L'article analyse les problèmes rencontrés sur 60 de ces sites, met en évidence les solutions retenues et montre comment on peut utiliser une judicieuse combinaison des principes de mécanique des roches et de mécanique des sols pour résoudre les problèmes posés par des sols dont les caractéristiques liées à la structure sont essentiels.
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References
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Ayetey, J.K. Site investigation problems in residual soils of some Birrimian rocks of Ghana. Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology 41, 27–37 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02590204
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02590204