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CHARACTERIZATION OF NEAR SURFACE SOIL OF AN ENGINEERING SITE USING SEISMIC REFRACTION METHOD: A NIGER DELTA CASE STUDY.

Authored By: O. Uchegbulam,, Izeze E. O.

Article Number: 1778245197

Received Date: April 16th 2026 Published Date: May 8th 2026

Copyright © 2020 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

Seismic refraction survey was utilized to describe soil structure on a construction site in Warri area due to its implications for engineering structures in a water saturated soil. The survey occupied two traverses, each covered a length of 96m. The layout consists of 24 geophones arranged at 4-meter intervals to provide good lateral resolution. The profiles revealed a 3-layered structure with compressional wave velocities (P-wave) and elastic constants that increased with depth. P-wave increased from 329.96m/s in the first layer to 874.3m/s in the third layer. Young’s modulus increased from 122MPa in the first layer to 857.32MPa in the third layer. Likewise, shear modulus recorded an increment of 45.23MPa in the first layer to 317.53MPa in the third layer. Bulk modulus increased from 150.75MPa in the first layer to 1058.42MPa in the third layer. Poisson’s ratio and density maintained 0.35 and 1800kg/m3 respectively in the three layers because near surface soil of the area is composed of lateritic soil with high percentage of sand. The implication is that foundations for superstructures should get to the second or third layer at depth ≥ 15m beneath the surface where earth materials are stiffer for structural stability.

Uchegbulam, O. & Izeze, E. O. (2026). Characterization of near-surface soil of an engineering site using seismic refraction method: A Niger Delta Case Study. Journal of Science, Technology, and Education (JSTE); www.nsukjste.com/. 10(22), 286-294.

O. Uchegbulam,
Department of Physics with Electronics, Western Delta University, Oghara, Nigeria.
Izeze E. O.
Department of Geology, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Nigeria.