GEOTECHNICAL EVALUATION OF SOIL AT EL-ALAMEIN NEW CITY, NORTHERN COAST, EGYPT

Abstract

A geotechnical investigation was carried out aton the soil ofEl-Alamein New City, northern coast. The tests include both in-situ and laboratorial tests. The achieved results reveal that the soil profiledisplaysdifferent layers; these are the topmost fill layer, the sandstone layer, the upper limestone layer, the clayey layer,the middle gypsiferous limestone layer and finally the lower limestone layer. Generally, the fill layer is fine- to medium-grained sand. The sand layerhas relative density very loose, loose to medium(SPT: 1-20 blows/ft).The upper limestone layer is moderately-weak, and has strongunconfined compressive strength (qu:91,326kg/cm2) and very poor quality (R.Q.D: 0-12%). A very poor kaolinite layer has high swelling potential (PI: 16-54%)and high water content (31- 44%).The middle gypsiferous limestone layer (7.5 12m thick) hasa weak unconfined compressive strength (qu: 37-50 kg/cm2) which is poor to very poor quality (R.Q.D: 15-35%).The lower limestone layer has moderately strong unconfined compressive strength (qu: 114 kg/cm2) and very poor quality (R.Q.D: 0-10%).Several kaolinite to illite lenses are encountered within this layer which have very high swelling potential.