Ch--2.
Soil Exploration
Ch
“Unfortunately, soils are
made by nature and not by
man, and the products of
nature are always
complex.”
complex .”
Karl von Terzaghi, 1936
Site investigation:
the process of acquiring:
geological,
geotechnical,
other relevant info
which might affect the
- construction
- performance
- environment
of a civil engineering project
OBJECTIVES OF SITE
INVESTIGATION
(BS CP 2001)
Providing data for the
following works:
1. Site selection
selection
To consider the
geotechnical merits or
demerits of various sites
before the site is chosen
2. Foundation and
earthworks design
design
Solving geotechnical
problems to allow safe and
economical design.
3. Temporary works
design
design
Temporary construction
work (e.g. deep excavation for
foundation)
may impose greater stress
than the final structure
Braced cofferdam supporting a 35 foot deep excavation for a combined sewer
overflow structure in Augusta, Maine.
4. Study the effects of proposed
project on its environment
Ex: Excavation may cause
structural distress to neighboring
structures Must be subjected
to investigation.
Underpinning work for subway
construction below an existing
bridge in Korea
5. Investigation of existing
construction
constructio n
Obtaining data from
existing construction
for use in proposed works
or similar soil conditions.
6. Design of remedial
workss
work
(for structures which have failed/about to
fail)
Site investigation to obtain
parameters for design of
remedial measures.
7. Safety checks
checks
The safety of old, major
works (ex. earth dams) may
need to be re-
re-checked.
Site investigations: to
provide data to evaluate
their safety
2.1 Introduction
The sequence of field and laboratory studies
carried out for obtaining the necessary
information about the subsoil characteristics
including the position of water table, are
termed as soil exploration.
exploration.
2.2 Methods of Exploration
The subsoil explorations are carried out in
three stages:
A) Preliminary Investigation
B) Detailed Investigation
C) Investigation during Construction
A) Preliminary investigation
The purpose of this investigation is to
provide a rough idea on the soil condition
at a given site. It consists of :
Fact finding survey
It consist of following study.
Topography
Geology
Aerial photograph
Seismicity
Air photo of Hayward, California
Hydrological and Metrological Data
Building Codes
Reconnaissance
Trial Boring
B) Detailed Investigation
This investigation is done to provide the
detail information of subsoil in site required
for detail design and construction.
It consist of :
i) accessible investigation
ii) inaccessible investigation
i) Accessible Investigation
A direct inspection of soil and its
stratification in place and obtaining true
disturbed and undisturbed samples, by
digging of trial pits and trench.
trench.
ii) Inaccessible investigation
Not direct access to the subsoil , but
sample are obtained by making hole by
Boring.
2.3PLANNING of exploration
program
it consists of planning of
- no of borehole/ pit
- lay out of borehole( location
and spacing)
- Depth of BH
Purpose:
To determine the actual ground
conditions on the site
Planning Trial Pit and
Drilling
Purpose of Drilling and Trial Pit
1. Establish nature of strata
2. Establish vertical/lateral
variability of soil
3. Verify result of geophysics
surveys (if carried out)
4. Obtain samples for laboratory
testing
5. Facilitate in
in situ tests
6. Install instruments
(Ex. piezometers, extensometers).
Borehole Layout and Frequency
Partly determined by complexity
of ground condition
Complexity of the ground
should preferably known to
determine borehole layout and
frequency
a. Trial Pits
1. Only for shallow depths
2. Facilitates:
detailed engineering
description of soil
block samples to be taken.
b. Boreholes
Number of boreholes
a) isolated small structures
structures
1 borehole may be
sufficient.
b) compact project (buildings,
dams, bridges):
min. 4 boreholes (deep,
closely spaced)
c) extended projects
projects (large areas, ex.
railways, airports):
- Require shallower, more widely spaced
boreholes.
- Borehole depth determined by the
presence of ‘good’ ground.
v Borehole layout
1. Should provide:
provide:
a. soil profiles
b. samples
in the vicinity of the
proposed structures and
foundations
2. Should be positioned:
a. to check the soil layering
b. to define the extent of the
various materials on site.
If possible
possible:: aligned to allow cross-
cross-
sections to be drawn.
3. Structures on slopes:
slopes:
a. overall stability of structure
b. stability of slope
must be analyzed.
Deep borehole near the top
of the slope can be very
useful..
useful
Rough guide for depth of drilling
Foundations
Foundation s
Explore soil to to significant
stress
(up to where stress increase is = 10% of
foundation pressure)
Roads
Road s
2-4 m below the finished road
level.
Dams
Dam s
Earth dams:
dams: 1.5 times of
width of base of dam
Concrete dams:
dams: 1.5 to 2
times height of dam
Dams (cont’d)
Explore soil to depth of base of
the impermeable stratum
