Reliability Assessment of Bearing Capacity of Cement–Iron Ore Tailing Blend Black Cotton Soil for Strip Foundations

A reliability estimate of bearing capacity values of cement–iron ore tailing treated black cotton soil was evaluated using a predictive model developed from laboratory results for specimens compacted at British Standard light, West African standard and British Standard heavy energy levels. Laboratory based geotechnical properties of the treated black cotton soil were incorporated into FORTRAN-based first-order reliability program to determine the reliability index values for the following parameters: cement content, C, Iron ore tailing content, IOT, cohesion, CO, friction angle, FA, percentage fine, PF, plasticity index, PI and unit weight, UW. Although cohesion, friction angle, plasticity index and unit weight were greatly influenced by the coefficient of variation, cement content C, IOT content IOT and percentage fine PF did not significantly affect the reliability index values. F-distribution test at 95% level of significance shows that compactive effort had significant effect on the outcome of the reliability index values. However, since reliability index (β) value of 1.0, which is considered adequate for serviceability limit state design, was not met, none of the compactive efforts could be used to model the behaviour of bearing capacity of cement–IOT treated black cotton soil. Hence, a more potent admixture should be used for improving the bearing capacity of strip foundation.