APPLICATION OF SEISMIC REFRACTION TOMOGRAPHY TO PROFFER SOLUTION TO BUILDING COLLAPSE IN AMAWBIA AND ITS ENVIRONS, SOUTH EAST, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Geophysical method of seismic refraction tomography to evaluate the allowable bearing pressure of Amawbia and its environs, South East, Nigeria with the aim to proffer solution to building collapse was used in this study. A 24- channel seismograph with its accessories were used to acquire data. A total of four profiles were conducted within the area. The interpretation of data was done in order to determine the velocities of the various layers using a software called Reflex w. The interpretation of data revealed that in all the areas investigated, three seismic velocities layers were delineated. The first layer has velocity that ranged between 536 m/sand 854 m/s, the second layer has P-wave velocity ranged between 699 m/s and 1398 m/s while the P-wave velocity of the last layer ranged between 944 m/s and 2214 m/s. The velocities obtained from the interpretation of the data were used to determine the allowable bearing pressure. The allowable bearing pressure of the first layer ranged between 136 N/m2 and 156 N/m2, the second layer ranged between 190 N/m2 and 286 N/m2 while the allowable bearing pressure of the last layer ranged between 275 N/m2 and 442 N/m2 respectively. Finally, the results revealed that high rise buildings in this area is recommended to be founded in the second layer.