Investigation into the Possible Causes of Hydraulic Structure Collapse along Alkaleri – Gombe Road, Bauchi

Hydraulic structures are man-made waterworks that are built across, along, or beside a body of water that interacts with rainfall run-off to store and distribute water (e.g., bridges, roadside channels, and culverts). Among other things, the performance of a hydraulic structure depends on the strength and durability of its components as well as the nature of the soil beneath it. Because hydraulic structures cannot indefinitely withstand all natural forces and hazards, including time-related degradation of materials, they have a limited service life. Failure in hydraulic structures could be a natural or human error that leads to a progressive collapse, causing property damages and loss of lives. With the goal to determine the potential cause or causes of failure of the hydraulic structures along the Alkaleri-Gombe road, this study examined the following aspects: soil characteristics (index and strength properties) using well-known conventional laboratory methods; integrity evaluation of the hydraulic structures and their embankments using the non-destructive rebound hammer method; and hydrologic analysis of the locations. According to the AASHTO classification system, the soil samples range from A2-6 to A5, and according to USCS, they are equally classified as CL, CH, CH, and CH. The structures are strong enough to withstand loading, as demonstrated by the results of the in-situ rebound hammer tests. However, the hydrological analysis indicates that the geometry and the high runoff that was recently recorded between 2021 and 2024 were the main causes of the failure of the hydraulic structures that were installed at these locations. The subsequent reconstruction of these hydraulic structures should therefore take into account an upgrade or adequate geometry, with larger dimensions of the components. Additionally, meteorological stations should be established with proper recording and documentation of both hydrological and meteorological data in order to estimate the accurate design flood in various areas throughout the nation.