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Geotechnical Investigation

This document discusses soil exploration methods for civil engineering projects. It describes the objectives of site investigations which include site selection, foundation design, temporary works design, environmental impact studies, existing structure evaluation, and safety checks. The methods discussed are preliminary investigations using fact finding, reconnaissance and trial borings, and detailed investigations using accessible methods like trial pits and trenches or inaccessible methods using boreholes. Factors to consider for planning exploration programs like number, layout, and depth of boreholes are outlined.

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Tej Chaulagain
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69 views51 pages

Geotechnical Investigation

This document discusses soil exploration methods for civil engineering projects. It describes the objectives of site investigations which include site selection, foundation design, temporary works design, environmental impact studies, existing structure evaluation, and safety checks. The methods discussed are preliminary investigations using fact finding, reconnaissance and trial borings, and detailed investigations using accessible methods like trial pits and trenches or inaccessible methods using boreholes. Factors to consider for planning exploration programs like number, layout, and depth of boreholes are outlined.

Uploaded by

Tej Chaulagain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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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

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