HKIE Geotechnical Division

Top-up Course for TCP T3 on GIFW and Building Works with Significant Geotechnical Content

Ground Investigation and Sampling Techniques

Kitty Chan
Associate, Arup

1
 Question

Site Investigation
= OR =/=
Ground Investigation?

2
 Ground Investigation (GI)
Objectives: Obtain reliable information to produce an economic and safe design
and to meet tender and construction requirements (extracted from Geoguide 2)

(a) Recovering soils and rocks for establishment of geological profiles, weathering
intensity
(b) Sampling - Block samples, Mazier samples, rock cores
(c) Field Testing - Standard Penetration Test (N Values)
- Permeability Tests (Falling, Rising or Constant Heads)
- Impression Packer Test
- Vane Shear Test
- Dynamic Probing Test
- Sand Replacement Test (in Trial Pits/Trenches)
(d) Field Installation - Piezometers (Water Pressure)
- Standpipes (Water Levels)
3 - Inclinometers (Slope Movements)
 Method of Explorations

4
 1. Trial Pits and Trenches
• Small hand-dug pits or wide trenches excavated
mechanically

• Allow the soil to be examined in-situ and undisturbed

block samples to be obtained

• Should always be supported to prevent collapse

• Water should never be allowed to accumulate inside the

pits/trenches

• Should be backfilled properly in compacted layers

5
 Sloping Ground

▼ Flat Ground

6
7
 A

Bottom

8
C
9
 Backfilling of Trial Pits

• Backfilled materials size not more than 200mm

• Each layers not more than 150mm during compaction
10
 Backfilling of Trial Pits (GS7.33(5))
Before excavation of trial pits
• 3 dynamic probing tests shall be carried out
• triangular pattern
• 800mm apart
After backfilling
• 3 dynamic probing tests shall be carried out
• 80% of the value of the pre-excavation set and
• 10 blows/100mm

11
 Dynamic Probing Test

12
 Compaction

13
 2. Slope Surface Stripping
• Many existing slopes are protected with a thin layer of
chunam (a lean soil cement mix) or shotcrete. Before the
surfaces can be logged, it is necessary to strip away this
protective layer.

• Stripping is normally 500 mm wide extending to the

maximum height of the slope and is located at areas with
different surface features such as boulders protruding
from the face, or where seepage can be seen.

• Light scaffolding and working platform is usually

necessary to enable stripping and logging to be carried
out.
14
 Slope Stripping

15
 Access Ladder
along Stripping

16
 Slope Stripping at Wall

17
 Slope Stripping - Log

18
 3. Rotary Drilling
• Drill bit or casing shoe is sunk to the bottom of the
borehole by rotary action.

• This is the most common method of subsurface

exploration used in Hong Kong.

• The drilling fluid, which is pumped down to the bit

through hollow drill rods, lubricates the bit and flushes
the debris up the borehole.

• The drilling fluid is commonly water, but air foam is

often used with advantage.

19
 Rotary Drilling Rig

20
 Method 1: Open Hole (or full hole) Drilling

• The drill bit cuts all the material within the diameter of the
borehole.

• Drill cuttings brought to the surface by the flushing medium

may provide an indication of the ground conditions being
encountered.

• It is useful for rapid advancement of a

borehole required for field
testing or instrument installation.

21 Bits for Rotary Open Hole Drilling

 Method 2: Core Drilling

• An annular bit fixed to the outer rotating tube of a core-

barrel cuts a core, which is then returned within the inner
stationary tube of the core-barrel and brought to the surface
for examination and testing.
Core-barrel
• Drill casing is normally used to support
unstable ground or to seal off open
fissures which cause a loss of drilling fluid.

• Cement-bentonite grout can be used to seal

open fissures or fault zones during backfilling.

• Rotary core drilling has the important

advantage over rotary open hole drilling of
22 providing a core sample while the hole is being advanced.
 Size of Core-barrels, Casing & Drill Rods

23
Extracted from Geoguide 2
 Water as Flushing Medium
Advantages

• Relatively handy
• Cool down and lubricate drilling bits
• Reduce ground and sample disturbances
• Uplifting drill debris or cuttings
• Clean drill bits

Disadvantages

• May have an adverse effect on both the stability of the

surrounding ground and on the samples obtained

24
=> Replacement of water by air foam may be required
 Typical Arrangement of Air Foam Mixing and Flushing System

25
 Air Foam Drilling

26
 Rotary Drilling Rigs

• Available in a wide range of weights and power ratings in

Hong Kong. Normally skid mounted.

• Can normally drill up to depths of 200 m

• Should be mounted on a stable platform such that enough

drilling force can be applied to the drill bit without
movement of the rig.

27
 Loose Soil

28
 Crowded Area

29
 Inclined drillhole

30
 Under the
flyover

31
 Open Area

32
 Scaffolding

33
 Working Platform – Steel Access

34
 Access to high point

35
 Unloading

36
 Planning of proper access

37
 Heavy components in parts

38
 Mobilise by labour

39
 Assemble of
drilling machine

40
 Mobilisation by helicopter

41
 Mobilisation in process

42
 Mobilisation by helicopter

43
 Marine Borehole - Regular Marine Craft

44
 Heave Compensation System -
45 To reduce influence of waves
46
 Jack-up Marine Craft

47
 Jack-up Marine Craft

48
 Floating Platform

49
 Floating Platform

50
 Assemble of Floating Platform

51
 Mobilisation to Floating Platform

52
 Drilling in Progress on Floating Platform

53
 Portable Drilling Equipment

• The portable drilling equipment is capable to drill down

to 15m in soil and rock with the installation of casing
• Able to retrieve soil and rock samples. It can facilitate
the retrieval of retractable triple-tube core samples
where necessary.
• Water or air-foam can be used as flushing medium

54
 Portable Drilling Equipment
Advantages
• It can be mobilized within 1-2 days
• It is portable and can be set up quickly without the need for
heavy scaffolding
• More holes can be sunk within the same budget and more
quickly than conventional drilling methods
• Minimize impact to the environment
• Able to house at least one piezometer of 25 mm in diameter
• Able to detect the nature of soil and rock profiles through
monitoring various drilling parameters such as penetration
rate and index of their permeability
55
 Portable Drilling Equipment

56
 4. Coreholes

• Hand-portable rotary core drills may often be useful for

coring through existing concrete or masonry retaining
walls.

• Horizontal coreholes enable the wall thickness and

backfill materials to be determined.

• Inclined coreholes enable the depth of wall base to be

determined

57
 Corehole Drilling

58
 Masonry Wall
6

59
 Horizontal Directional Coring

Possible Field Test:

• Water Inflow Measurement
• Water Absorption Test
• Discontinuity Survey

60
Radius of Curvature
 Horizontal Directional Coring

61
 Horizontal Directional Coring

62
 Things to Note as Site Supervisor
• Ground investigation contract is usually a remeasurement
contract. The actual quantity of works conducted on site
will affect the final contract sum. Proper site daily records
are therefore important to ensure that all works carried out
on site are recorded.

• Setting out of boreholes, trial pits and trial trenches are

usually tentative. The exact locations are usually agreed on
site with the site supervisor. In some situations, additional
trial pits or extension of trial trenches are required to locate
existing pile caps, footings or underground utilities.

63
 Things to Note as Site Supervisor
• Prior to mobilization of GI rig, an inspection pit (usually
0.5m x 0.5m x 2m) will be excavated to confirm no utility
or any unexpected structure. In some situations, additional
inspection pits are required to confirm the underground
conditions.

• Groundwater level is usually measured 3 times a day

during the course of the drilling works. Check if the
groundwater table for each borehole is measured prior to
the commencement of the site works (i.e. the records
usually written on coreboxes). Conduct random check
whereas appropriate.

64
 Things to Note as Site Supervisor
• The mobilization cost for GI rig using scaffolding is
usually high. The arrangement of the scaffolding and the
method of measurement according to the Contract shall be
agreed with the Contractor prior to erection in order to
minimize future disputes.

65
 Sampling the Ground

66
 1. Sample Quality

Section 19.2 Geoguide 2

In some case, whatever sampling

methods are used, it will only be
possible to obtain samples with
some degree of disturbance (i.e.
class 2 at best) The results of any
strength or compressibility tests
carried out should be treated with
caution.

Samples classes 3, 4 and 5 are

commonly regarded as ‘disturbed
samples’

67
 Sample Quality Class
68
 Undisturbed Sampling (Class 1 & 2)

(i) Preserve soil texture - identification & classification

(ii) Preserve soil structure - relict joints, kaolin veins etc.

(iii) Preserve soil engineering properties - shear strength,

stiffness, density, compressibility, permeability, etc.

69
 Disturbed Samples (Class 3 or poorer)

• Can be taken by boring tools or excavation by hand or

equipment.

• Can be obtained to great depth but their quality are usually

Class 3 or poorer

70
 2. Undisturbed Block Sample
• Cut by hand in trial pits, caissons or other excavations.

• Suitable for sampling fill, colluvium, saprolites with least

disturbance.

• Can be also used to obtain specially oriented samples (e.g.

sample with a slip plane)

• Normally 300 x 300 x 300 mm obtained at shallow depth

• Usually Class 1 samples.

71
 1

2 3

5 6

72
 Block Sample in trial pit
Class 1 sample

73
 Block Sample in trial pit
Class 1 sample

74 Polyurethane Foam
 3. Drive Sampling

• Recovered by forcing a cylindrical sampler into the ground

by dynamic means using a drop weight or sliding hammer,
or by continuous static thrust using a hydraulic jack or
pulley block and tackle.

• Should cause as little remoulding and disturbance as

possible on being forced into the ground.

• The commonly used drive sampling in Hong Kong are

open-tube sampler, thin-walled sampler, SPT liner sampler
and piston sampler.

75
 3.1 Open Tube Sampler

• It is normally 50 mm, 76 mm and 100 mm in diameter

and 450 mm in length.

• It is a robust sampler but the driving action either by

dynamic or static means introduces some disturbance.

• Suitable to sample fine and coarse soil but unsuitable

to sample very coarse soil.

• Can be used to considerable depth

• The highest quality samples obtained is Class 2.

76
 Open Tube Sampler / U-sampler

77
Core Catcher attached to U Sampler
 3.2 Piston Sampling

• It is a thin wall sampler where a piston inside a barrel

remains stationary when the barrel is driven down by static
thrust.

• The sample size are 76 mm, 100 mm and up to 250 mm.

• Suitable to sample very soft to firm soils to considerable

depth.

• The highest quality samples obtained is Class 1.

79
 Thin-walled Stationary Piston Sampler

80
 Piston Sampler

81
 Piston Sampler

Driving sample tube Taking Piston sampler

82
down by static thrust out of drillhole
 Piston Sampler -
Storage

83
 Piston Sampler - Labelling

84
 3.3 SPT Liner Sampler

• It is used in the standard penetration test (SPT).

• It takes 35 mm diameter samplers to recover small

samples which prevent the use of larger diameter open
tube sampler.

• It gives Class 3 or Class 4 samples (disturbed samples).

85
 SPT Liner Sampler

86
 SPT Liner Sampler

87
 SPT Liner Sampler

88
 4. Rotary Sampling
• Most common sampling method in Hong Kong.

• The method is to sample a cylindrical column of soil into a

core barrel by removing the surrounding soil using the
rotary action of the drill bit.

• Drilling fluid is pumped down to the drill rod to lubricate,

cool down the drill bit and flushes the drill debris up the
borehole.

89
 Rotary Sampling (Cont’d)
• The drillhole is normally protected from collapse by
casing in sampling soil.

• The flushing media is commonly water, but it can also be

air, air foam or drilling mud.

• The core barrel can be single-tube, double-tube or triple

tube.

90
 4.1 Single-tube Barrels

• Seldom used as the core-barrel rotates directly against the

core

• Core recovery usually unsatisfactory.

• Commonly used in hand portable rotary core drills for

coring through concrete and masonry walls horizontally
to enable wall thickness and backfill materials to be
determined (disturbed samples).

91
 Single-tube Barrels

92
 4.2 Double-tube core-barrels

• The inner barrel does not rotate against the core, which
improves the core quality comparing with singe-tube core-
barrels. However, it does not protect the core from drilling
fluid.

• Normally used for good quality moderately weathered to

fresh rock

• Unsuitable for soil sampling except in coring large boulders.

93
 Double-tube core-barrels

94
 Sample Retrieval

95
 Sample from Double-tube Core-barrels

96
 4.3 Triple-tube Core Barrel

• Contain a detachable liners within the inner barrel to

protect the core from drilling fluid and damages during
extrusion

• Suitable for sampling saprolites, dense or stiff soils.

• Two types of triple tube core barrel for soil sampling: -

(a) The non-retractable triple-tube (such as

HMLC) collects up to 100 mm samples.

(b) the Mazier core-barrel collects 74 mm samples.

97
 Triple-tube Core Barrel (Cont’d)

• High quality Class 1 Samples can be obtained from

colluvium using large diameter triple-tube core barrels in
conjunction with air foam or air as flushing medium.

• Samples of Class 1 to 2 can also be obtained using the

Mazier sampler in conjunction with air foam or water as
flushing medium.

• Unsuitable to sample loose sand and soft clay.

98
 Non-retractable Triple-tube Rock Core Barrel (HMLC)

99
 Triple-tube Core Barrel

Split Inner
Tube
Aluminum Foil

Drill Bit
100
 Retractable triple-tube core barrel (Mazier)

101
 Retractable triple-tube core barrel (Mazier)

102
 Retractable triple-tube core barrel (Mazier)

103
 Mazier – Sealing

104
 Mazier

105
 Mazier - Split sample

106
 Sizes of Barrels &
Minimum Mass of
Samples for Laboratory
Testing

Rock Barrel
107
 5. Sampling Sequence

Mazier
SPT

Mazier
SPT
SOIL
Mazier
SPT

T2-101 ROCK
108
 6. Termination Criteria for Rotary Drilling

• Depends on the objective/purpose of the borehole.

• For typical projects with pile foundation resting in soil, the
borehole usually terminates at 3 numbers of consecutive SPT
N-value at or greater than 200 or 5m into Grade IV or III
materials, whichever is deeper.
• For typical projects with pile foundation resting in rock, the
borehole usually terminates at 5m into III or better materials
with not less than 85% total core recovery (TCR).
• If the borehole is served as pre-drills for future foundation
works, the termination requirement may be different.
Sometimes, super deep boreholes are sunk to confirm the
geological condition at great depth.

109
 Geoguide 3 Fracture Logging Terms

110
 Code of Practice for Foundations 2017
Buildings Department

111
112
 Inferior than the designated grade

113
 Borehole Termination Criteria

114
 Borehole Termination Criteria

CEDD Term
Contracts

1. 5m
penetration
into Grade III
or better rock
87%
15.00- with
15.91
2. TCR over 85%
(water flush)
/core run

100%
15.91-
20.00

Termination depth at 20.00m bgl

115
 Borehole Termination Criteria
First Encountered
Rockhead
90%
11.64
OK -
12.64 Buildings
100%
Department
OK
12.64
-
13.64
TCR of core
run >92%
78%
FAIL 13.64
-
14.64
Five 1m-segments
86%
each of them has
OK
14.64
-
15.64
TCR of designated
100%
grade over 85%
15.64 (Designated grade in Grade III for
OK - easy comparison)
16.64

100%
16.64
OK -
17.64

100%
17.64
OK -
18.64

100%
18.64
OK -
19.64

Termination depth at 19.64m bgl ???

116
 Borehole Termination Criteria

Buildings
Department
Tentative Rockhead

100%

OK
14.11
-
15.11
Five 1m-segments
100%
each of them has
OK
15.11
-
16.11
TCR of designated
grade over 85%
100%
16.11 (Designated grade in Grade III for
OK - easy comparison)
17.11

100%
17.11
OK -
18.11

100%
18.11
OK -
19.11
Termination depth at 19.11m bgl ???

117
 Rockhead Levels of Adjacent Boreholes

Soil

<5m >5m

Bedrock

118
 Potential Corestone ?

Soil

Corestone
>5m Corestone
<5m

Corestone

Bedrock

119
 6. Vibrocoring

• Obtain continuous vertical profiles of sediment samples.

• Coring runs in sediments limited to a maximum length of 6m

• Obtain Vibrocore sub-samples in accordance with ETWB

TCW No. 34/2002 for chemical & biological testing.

• Store sub-samples below 4C before environmental testing

120
 Vibrocore Barrel

121
 Piston of Vibrocore Sampler

122
Collection of Vibrocore Sample
Collection of Vibrocore Samples
 Vibrocore Sub-samples and Storage

125
 7. Grab Sampling

• Surface sampling of sediments

• Grab samples placed in waterproof plastic bags and stored

below 4C before delivery

• Grab samples & sub-samples delivered to laboratory within 24

hours.

126
 Grab Sampler

127
 Grab Sampler

128
 Operation of Grab Sampler

GPS to track
sample location
 Things to Note as Site Supervisor
• Check the conditions of the equipment (i.e. damage of SPT
driving shoe, which may affect the blow counts)

• Sometimes, the sample recovery is low or even zero at

Mazier samplers or open tube samplers. Site supervisor shall
inform the Contractor if the 2nd attempt to retrieve the
sample is required or U sampler with catcher shall be used.
Bear in mind after the 2nd attempt, the spacing of the SPT
may be affected.

130
 Things to Note as Site Supervisor
• Triple tube barrels for rock provide higher sample quality
as well as total core recovery (TCR) but costly. If the TCR
of the double tube barrels are undesirable, the site
supervisor may have to judge if triple tube barrel shall be
used.

• Inspect the sample core recovery and the rock core

recovery. Check if the sample recovery is suitable for the
corresponding laboratory test.

• Select intact rock sample for point load tests or Unconfined

Compressive Strength (UCS) tests.

131
 Things to Note as Site Supervisor
• Prior to termination of the borehole, the following checks
are required: -

– Dip the depth of the borehole and take photo record;

– Check if the depth of the borehole is consistent with
the depth of rock cores in the coreboxes;
– Check if the termination criteria such as the rock
grade, total core recovery as well as the depth of rock
have fulfilled the drawing’s requirement; and
– Take photo of the coreboxes and the overall setup

132
 Field Testing

133
 Field Testing
• In situ tests may be classified in a number of ways: by
cost, ease of use, method of interpretation, soil types in
which they may be used and parameters which can be
determined.

134
 Categories of Field Testing

• Wholly empirical interpretation - No fundamental

analysis is possible. Stress path, strain levels, drainage
conditions and rate of loading are either uncontrolled or
inappropriate. (e.g. SPT)

• Semi-analytical interpretation - Some relationships

between parameters and measurements may be developed.
In reality, the interpretation is semi-empirical either because
both stress paths and strain levels vary widely within the
mass of ground under test, or drainage is uncontrolled, or
inappropriate shearing rates are used. (e.g. vane shear test).

• Analytical interpretation - Stress paths are controlled

although strain levels and drainage are not (e.g.
135
pressuremeter test)
 1. Penetration Testing
Divided into two broad groups: -
(a) Dynamic penetrometers. They consist of tubes
or solid points driven by repeated blows of a drop
weight (e.g. GCO Probe test, SPT)
(b) Static penetrometers. They are more complex,
being pushed hydraulically into the soil (e.g. CPT)

136
 Method 1: Dynamic Probing Test (GCO Probe Test)

• A hand probe.

• Blow counts for each 100 mm penetration are recorded and

plotted.

• For investigation of an existing slope, a large number of probe

tests are carried out initially to obtain a general indication of
the subsurface profile. This information is then used to
supplement findings from trial pits and drillholes.

• Can also be used for indicating the state of compaction of

buried fill and the thickness of fill layers. Some prior
calibrations are required.
137
 Dynamic Probing Test

138
 Dynamic Probing Test

139
 Dynamic Probing Test

140
 Dynamic Probing Test

141
 Dynamic Probing Test Results

142
 Method 2: Standard Penetration Test (SPT)

• Drive a standard 'split spoon' sampler using repeated

blows of a 63.5 kg (140 lb.) hammer falling through a drop
height of 762 mm (30 in.)

• The hammer is operated at the top of the borehole, and is

connected to the split spoon by rods. The split spoon is
lowered to the bottom of the hole, and is then driven a distance
of 450 mm (18 in.).

• The blows are counted, normally for each 75 mm (3 in.) of

penetration. At the end of driving, the split spoon is pulled
from the base of the hole, and the sample is preserved in an
airtight container.
143
 Standard Penetration Test (SPT)(Cont’d)

• The penetration resistance (N) is the number of blows

required to drive the split spoon for the last 300 mm (1 ft) of
penetration. The penetration resistance during the first 150
mm (6 in.) of penetration is ignored, because the soil is
considered to have been disturbed by the action of boring the
hole.

• This test is commonly used to give a rough measure of the

density of granular soils.

144
 Standard Penetration Test

145
 Standard Penetration Test
Driving Shoe

Split Barrel
Top 150mm
ignored

Liner Sample

146
 Standard Penetration Test

147
 SPT N value
Seating Test Drive Summary Remarks
Drive
17,25 25,27,22,23 N=97 Full penetration.

17,25 38,162/50 mm 200/125 mm Test terminated in increment

4.

17,25 35,27,138/30 mm 200/180 mm Test terminated in increment

5.

27,23/35 mm 25,27,22,23 N=97 Test drive commences after

completion of 50 blows in
the seating drive.

50/20 mm 35,27,138/30 mm 200/180 mm Test drive commences after

completion of 50 blows in
the seating drive : test
terminated in increment 3.

148
 Method 3: Cone Penetration Test (CPT)

• Comprise a 60° cone, 10cm2 in area, mounted on a

sleeved rod.

• The cone is used to measure penetration resistance as it is

pushed into the soil at a steady rate while the sleeve
measures the skin friction. Pore water pressure is also
measured.

• The cone resistance can be used to calculate bearing

capacity and density but the results are badly affected if
the penetrometer impinges on particles on particles larger
than the cone. Therefore, the equipment is unsuitable for
the weathered rocks of Hong Kong but is highly suitable
149
for marine sediments.
 Cone Penetration Test (CPT)

150
 Seabed CPT

151
 Cone Penetration Test (CPT)

152
 Cone Penetration Test (CPT)

153
 Cone Penetration Test (CPT)

154
 2. Strength and Compressibility Testing
Method 1: Vane Shear Test

• It is used to measure the undrained shear strength of soft to

firm clays and silts.

• Erratic results are obtained if the soil contains gravel or any

other large particles. In Hong Kong the use of the vane should
be limited to the marine sediments.

• The vane shear test basically consists of pushing a four-bladed

(cruciform) vane, mounted on a solid rod, into the soil and
rotating it from the surface. In the field they may be carried
out either from ground level, or from the base of a borehole.

155
 Vane Shear Test

156
 Vane Shear Test

157
 Vane Shear Test

158
 Method 2: Pressuremeter

• The Menard pressuremeter can be used to obtain strength

and deformation characteristics of soils and rocks.

• The equipment consists of a probe which, when placed in a

borehole, can be inflated.

• The volume changes of the probe (i.e. the expansion) is

limited to the radial plane and can be measured by means
of a surface volume meter to which the probe is connected.

159
 Pressuremeter Test

• A pressure versus volume change graph can be plotted,

and this can be converted into a stress-strain curve. From
the test results, a limit pressure, which reflects the
ultimate bearing capacity, is determined.

• A deformation modulus may also be determined, from

which a rapid estimation of settlement may be made.

160
 Pressuremeter Test

161
 Pressuremeter Test

162
 3. Discontinuity Survey
Method 1: Acoustic Borehole Televiewer
• A geophysical tool for borehole logging
• Produce a full 3600 image of the borehole
• Fracture investigation
• Thin bed evaluation
• Water-filled or light mud-filled drillholes
• Does not work in air-filled drillholes

163
 Acoustic Borehole Televiewer

164
 Acoustic Borehole Televiewer

165
166
 Method 2: Optical Borehole Televiewer
• A new geophysical tool for borehole logging
• Produce a full 3600 image of the borehole
• Fracture investigation
• Thin bed evaluation
• Borehole’s orientation and inclination
• Direct viewing of relationship between lithology and
fracture
• In air-filled and clear water-filled holes, not suitable for
drillholes containing mud or cloudy fluids.
https://mountsopris.com/ql40-obi-2g-optical-televiewer/
167
 Optical Borehole Televiewer

168
 Optical Borehole Televiewer

169
 Optical Borehole Televiewer

Source:
https://mountsopris.com/items/ql40-obi-
2g-optical-televiewer

170
 Optical Borehole Televiewer

Source: https://mountsopris.com/items/ql40-obi-2g-optical-
televiewer

171
 4. Permeability Tests
Method 1: Variable Head (Rising and Falling
Head) Tests
• Where the groundwater level exists above the base of the
borehole, the water level in the borehole or piezometer
tube may either be reduced or increased during the test.
Water level measurements are then taken at suitable time
intervals until the water level returns to equilibrium.
• Hvorslev’s method is used to interpret this type of test,
based on the time lag required for water pressures to
equalize.
• Mainly used for less permeable soils such as silts and
clays
172
 Rising and Falling Head Tests

173
 Rising and
Falling
Head Tests –
Field
Record

174
 Method 2: Constant Head Tests

• Clean water is fed into the standpipe piezometers

at a constant rate until a constant water level is
established. The constant rate of inflow to
maintain a constant head is recorded.
• Used for permeable soils such as reconstituted or
disturbed granular soils

175
 Constant Head Tests

176
 Constant Head Tests

177
 Method 3: Packer or Lugeon Test (Usually for Rock)

• Can be carried out at the base of a drillhole using a single

inflatable packer to seal off the test section after the hole is
complete.

• Testing can also be carried out at a any depths using a double

packer to seal the top and bottom of the testing section

178
 Packer Test

ROCK ROCK

179
 Packer Test

180
 5. In-situ Density Test in Trial Pits/Trenches -
Sand Replacement Test (SRT)
• Sand replacement test shall be carried out in fill material. It is
not required for superficial or in-situ soils.

• Not suitable for soils containing a high proportion of very

course gravel or large particles.

• Sand replacement test only provides the in-situ density of the

fill. In order to determine the degree of compaction, Proctor
test is required in the laboratory to confirm the maximum dry
density.

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182
 Sand Replacement Test (SRT)
in Trial Pit

183
 6. Point Load Test
• Verify the strength of intact rock.

• Presence of relict joint will result in joint failure during the

point load test instead of material failure.

184
 Point Load Test

185
 Things to Note as Site Supervisor
• Supervise all field tests on site to ensure they are properly
carried out. Note any abnormality during the tests.

• Check the calibration certificates and its validity of the

testing equipment.

• Determine the testing depth and method for permeability tests.

Inform the Contractor prior to the test for timely arrangement.

• Determine the testing arrangement and depth for Packer or

Lugeon Test. The test is usually carried out at highly fracture
rock zone. Inform the Contractor prior to the test for timely
arrangement.

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 Things to Note as Site Supervisor
• Carry out random check on SPT blow counts.

• Specify Proctor Test to find the degree of compaction of the

existing fill.

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 Field Instrumentation

188
 Groundwater Monitoring
1. Standpipes
• To measure groundwater levels.

• A standpipe consists of rigid PVC

tubing.

• The tube is capped at its lower end, and

perforated/slotted for its full length
apart from the upper 0.5 m with 3 mm
diameter/width holes for a minimum of
5% of its surface area.

189
 Groundwater Monitoring
2. Piezometers
• To measure pore pressure.

• Consist of a cavity separated from the

soil or rock by a porous element (the tip)
and a device for measuring the water
pressure in the cavity.

• The choice of piezometer type depends on the predicted

water pressures, access for reading, service life and
response time required. Hong Kong soils are normally
sufficiently permeable that response time need not be
considered when selecting piezometers.
190
 Groundwater Monitoring

191
 Standpipe
Water Level

Piezometer
Water Level

The effect of flow on piezometer level

192
 Confined
Aquifer

Perched
Water Table

193
The effect of flow on piezometer level
 Installation of Piezometer

194
 Installation of Bentonite
Pellet

195
Piezometer Buckets / Halcrow Buckets
Halcrow Buckets
Automatic Groundwater Monitoring Device
(AGMD)

• Measure groundwater
• It comprises pressure sensor, temperature sensor, datalogger and battery
Advantages of Automatic Groundwater
Monitoring Device

• Provide a continuous profile of groundwater pressure

• Provide a wide range of monitoring intervals

• Can download groundwater data rapidly from logger

to computer equipment

• No need to extract the sensor from the borehole

when downloading data
 Inclinometer
• Can be used to assess movements both of and behind
retaining structures, and sometimes pre-failure
movements of fills and cut slopes.

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 Inclinometer

201
 Inclinometer

Source: https://www.geodata.com/en/produkte/inclinometers/
202
 Things to Note as Site Supervisor
• Specify the installation depth of standpipe & piezometers.
For standpipe, normally terminated at 5 to 10m below the
measured groundwater table.

• For piezometer, it depends on the design purpose. It can be

placed in marine clay deposit to check the pore water
pressure. It can be installed inside a confined aquifer. It can
be installed close to the toe of future pile wall for
excavation. It can also be installed to 1 to 2m above
bedrock.

• Specify if Halcrow Buckets are required. Usually spaced at

0.5m at 3 to 5m above the measured groundwater table.

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 Special Requirements in
Scheduled Area

204
 Scheduled Areas
• Special Requirements given in Practice Notes for
Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers and
Registered Geotechnical Engineers

https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/resources/codes-and-references/practice-notes-and-circular-
205 letters/index_pnap.html
 Buildings Ordinance - Schedule 5: Scheduled
Areas
1. Mid-Levels Area

2. North-Western Part of the New Territories

3(a). The Railway Protection Areas along the Mass Transit

Railway Lines

3(b). The Railway Protection Areas along the Railway Lines of

the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation

4. Ma On Shan Area

5. The Sewage Tunnel Protection Areas

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Code of Practice for Site Supervision -
Quality Supervision
 Thank you

208