AN INVESTIGATION OF SOIL BEARING CAPACITY FOR BUILDINGS: A CASE STUDY OF CHURCH AREA, BADARIYA, BIRNIN KEBBI, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT This study investigates the soil bearing capacity for building foundations in the Church Area, Badariya, Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria, with the aim of providing essential geotechnical information to aid structural foundation design. Soil samples were collected from selected construction sites and analyzed to determine their physical and mechanical properties, including grain size distribution, Atterberg limits, cohesion, angle of internal friction, and unit weight. The results revealed that the percentage clay and silt contents ranged from 10.20% to 17.58%, indicating that the soil can be classified as silty sand. The Liquid Limit values ranged between 18% and 19%, while the Plastic Limit ranged from 15% to 18%, signifying that the soil exhibits low to medium plasticity and moderate cohesiveness. At a depth of 1.0 m, the cohesion (c) varied between 10 and 14 kN/m², and the angle of internal friction (ϕ) ranged from 14° to 15°. The unit weight (γ) of the soil was found to be between 16.72 and 17.18 kN/m³. Computed safe bearing capacities were within the range of 66.49 to 72.13 kN/m², suggesting that the subsoil condition can adequately support moderate structural loads. It is recommended that foundation designs in the study area consider appropriate safety factors and depth to minimize settlement risks. Further studies should also be conducted at deeper layers and under varying seasonal conditions to enhance the reliability of design parameters. The study concludes that the soil in the Church Area of Badariya possesses adequate strength and bearing capacity to support light to medium structures, making it suitable for residential and commercial buildings with proper design precautions.