a l Cou rs e I I

Profession

fou nd at io n
engin ee ri ng CEG 402

Presented by: Engr. Darwin E. Manalo

 contents
1 Subsurface Exploration (Purpose & Plannin
g)

Significant Depth and Factors Affecting

2
3 Thumb rule to decide depth of exploration
.

Methods of explorations
4
 contents
5 Boring Methods

Types of Samples 6
7 Factors Affecting Sample Disturbance

4
 Investigation of
what is the ground
subsurface conditions at site
for the economical
exploration design of the
??? substructure
elements.
 purpose of exploration
To determine the general suitability of the site.
To find the nature of each stratum and engineering properties of the
soil rock, which may affect the design and mode of construction of
proposed structure and foundation.
To find out sources of construction materials.
To ensure the safety of surrounding existing structure.
To locate the ground water level and possible corrosive effect of soil
and water on foundation material.
To predict the settlement.
Selection of suitable construction technique.
Selection of type and depth of foundation.
planning of exploration
Exploration program involves location and depth of borings,
test pits or other methods to be used, and materials of
sampling and tests to be carried out to determine the
stratifiaction and engineering properties of the soils
underlying the site. The principle of properties of interest will
be the shear strength, deformation and hydraulic
characteristics of soil.
The program should be planned so that the maximum amount
of information can be obtained at minimum cost.
Steps in planning subsurface
exploration

1. Gather all available information.

2. Reconnaissance
3. Preliminary Exploration
4. Detailed Exploration
 Steps in planning subsurface
exploration
Gather all available information
Assemble all information on dimensions, columns spacing,
type and use of structure, basement requirements, and any
special architectural considerations of the proposed
building. For bridges the soil engineer should have access
to type and span lengths as well as pier loadings. This
information will indicate any settlement limitations, and
can be used to estimate foundation loads.
 Steps in planning subsurface
exploration
Reconnaissance
This step incldes visual inspection carried out at site
without drilling bore holes to reveal surface and
subsurface information. This includes:
1. Collection of information about adjacent sites and structures.
2. Types of vegetation.
3. Ground water levels that can be determined by checking nearby
wells.
4. Soil stratification from deep cuts.
 Steps in planning subsurface
exploration
Preliminary Exploration
In this steps a few borings are made to established in a
general manner.
1. To know the stratification, types of soil to be expected, and possibly the location
of the groundwater table.
2. If the initial borings indicate the upper soil is loose of highly compressible, one or
more borings should be taken to rock, or hard strata.
3. A feasibility exploration program should include collection of enough site data and
sample recovery to approximately determine the properties of soil, foundation
design and identify the construction procedures.
4. To find the thickness and composition of each soil layer.
Steps in planning subsurface
exploration
Detailed Exploration
Here we make a detailed planning for soil exploration in
the form of trial pits or borings, theirs spacing and
depth. Accordingly the soil exploration is carried out.
The details of the soil encountered, the types of filed
tests adopted and the type of sampling done, presence
of water table if met with are recoreded in the form
of bore log.
Steps in planning subsurface
exploration
Detailed Exploration
The soil samples are properly labeled and sent to laboratory
for evaluation of their physical and engineering properties.
The report is prepared with clear description of the soil at
the site, methods of exploration, soil profile, test methods
and results, and the location of the groundwater. This should
include the information and/or explanations of any unusual
soil water bearing stratum and soil and groundwater
condition that may be troublesome during construction.
 depth of exploration
Generally soil exploration should be advanced
to a depth up to which the increase in
pressure due to structural loadings will have
no damaging effect (such as settlement and
sher failure) on the structure. In other words,
the depth at which soil does not contribute
settlement of foundation. This depth is termed
as significant depth.
 various factors affecting
significant depth are as follow
1. Types of structure
2. Weight of structure
3. Dimension of structure
4. Diposition of the loaded area
5. Soil profile and layer properties
the following 3 thumb rules can be
used to know the significant depth
It can be that depth where net increase in vertical
pressure becomes less than 10% of the initial
overburden pressure.
The maximum depth reached by the pressure bulb or
isobar diagram drawn with an intensity of pressure
varying from 1/5th or 1/10th of the surface loading
intensity.
It may be equal to one and half to two times the width
or smaller lateral dimension of the loaded area.
thumb rules to decide depth of soil
exploration
thumb rules to decide depth of soil
exploration
methods of exploration
1. Open excavation (Trial pits or
test pits)
2. Boring Methods
3. Geophysical Methods
 methods of exploration
Open Excavation
Trial pits are applicable to all types of soils, which
provides visual inspection of soil in their natural
condition in either disturbed or undisturbed state.
Here depth of investigation is limited to 3m to 3.5 m
There are 2 ways:
1. Pits or trenches
2. Drifts and Shafts
 methods of exploration
Boring Methods
Exploratory bore holes are excavated in relatively soft soil
close to ground. The location, spacing and depth depends on
type, size and weight of the structure. Bore holes are
generally located at:
a. The building corners
b. The center of the site
c. The place at which heavily loaded columns are proposed
d. At least one boring should be taken to a deeper
stratum.
 methods of exploration
Boring Methods
When the depth of excavation is large,
vertical boring methods are adopted.
Samples are extracted from bore holes and
tested in laboratory. GWT is located and
insitu test are carried using bore holes.
methods of exploration
Borehole Spacing Guidelines
 methods of exploration
Boring Methods
1. Auger Boring
2. Wash Boring
3. Percussion Boring
4. Core Boring or Rotary Drilling
 methods of exploration
Auger Boring
Augers are used to in cohesive and other soft
soils above water table level.
Augers are either mechanical and manually
operated.
Hand augers are used for upto depth of 6 meters.
Mechanically operated augers are used for
greater depth and they can also be used in
gravelly soils.
 methods of exploration
Auger Boring
Two types of auger:
Spiral or Helical auger
Post-Hole auger

Samples recovered from soil brought up by augers are

badly disturbed and are useful for identification
purposes only.
 methods of exploration
Hand operated post hole
Hand operated helical auger
auger
methods of exploration
Mechanical Operated Auger
 methods of exploration
Wash Boring
Wash boring is commonly used for
exploration below the ground water
table for which auger boring is not
suitable.
Suitable for soft to stiff clayey soils and
fine sands except gravel and boulders.
methods of exploration
Wash Boring
 methods of exploration
Percussion Boring
Suitable for hard soil or soft rock where
auger boring and wash boring cannot be
employed.
This method is suitable for
bouldary/gravelly strata and weathered
rock and cannot be used in loose sand and is
slow in plastic clay.
methods of exploration
Percussion Boring
 methods of exploration
Core Boring or Rotary Drilling
Core boring or rotary drilling is useful incase of
highly resistance strata and also to access the
quality of rocks from cracks, fissures, and joints.
This method is used for drilling large bores in
unconsolidated strata.
Ths is the fastest method and has been used for
wells of 45 cm in diameter and a depth over 163 m.
methods of exploration
Core Boring or Rotary Drilling
 methods of exploration
Geophysical Methods
Geophysical method are used when the depth of
exploration is very large, and also when the
speed of investigation is of primary importance.
The major methods of geophysical investigations
are: gravitational methods, magnetic methods,
seismic refraction method, and electrical
resistivity method.
 methods of exploration
Seismic Refraction Method
Seismic refraction is a geophysical principle governed by Snell's
Law of refraction. The seismic refraction method utilizes the
refraction of seismic waves by rock or soil layers to
characterize the subsurface geologic conditions and geologic
structure.
Seismic refraction is exploited in engineering geology,
geotechnical engineering and exploration geophysics. Seismic
refraction traverses (seismic lines) are performed using an
array of seismographs or geophones and an energy source.
methods of exploration
Seismic Refraction Method
methods of exploration
Seismic Refraction Method
 methods of exploration
Electrical Resistivity Method
The electrical resistivity is resistance of the
material to the passage of electrical current.
The test is conducted by driving four metal spikes to
serve as electrodes into the ground along a straight
line at equal distance. A direct voltage is imposed
between the two outer electrodes and the potential
drop is measured between the inner electrodes.
methods of exploration
Electrical Resistivity Method
 methods of exploration
Types of Soil Sample
Non-Representative Sample
Representative Soil Sample
a. Disturb Sample
b. Undisturbed Sample
 methods of exploration
Non Representative Sample
Non-Representative soil samples are those
in which neither the in-situ soil structure,
moisture content nor the soil particles are
preserved. They cannot be used for any
tests as the soil particles either gets mixed
up or some particles may be lost
 methods of exploration
Representative Sample
Representative soil sample is a small amount of
soil taken from a defined land area and used to
assume the properties of that entire area. But
in reality this sample is not the true
representation of the entire area because soil
is an highly heterogeneous mixture —having
diverse properties.
 methods of exploration
Disturbed Sample
Disturbed soil samples are those in which the
insitu soil structure and moisture content are
lost. They are representative and can be used
for grain size analysis, liquid and plastic limit,
specific gravity, compaction test, moisture
content, and soil classification test performed
in the lab.
methods of exploration
Disturbed Sample
 methods of exploration
Undisturbed Sample
Undisturbed soil samples are those in which
the insitu soil structure and moisture content
are preserved. They are representative and
also intact. These are used for consolidation,
permeability or shear strength test. This
sample are obtained by Shelby tube (thin wall),
piston sampler etc...
methods of exploration
Undisturbed Sample
l a t er a l
ea r t h
p re s s u re
 lateral earth pressure
It is the process that the soil exerts in the
horizontal direction.
It is important beacuase it affects the
consolidation behavior and strength of the
soil and because it is considered in the design
of geotechnical engineering structures such
as retaining wall, basements, tunnels, deep
foundations and braced excavations.
 lateral earth pressure
1. Active Soil Pressure
For a retaining wall shown below, determine the force
per unit length of the wall for Rankine's active state.
Also find the location of the resultant.