09/02/2023

Site Investigation The Importance of Site Investigation

Site investigation is a process of site exploration • To study the general suitability of the site for an engineering
consisting of boring, sampling and testing so as project.
to obtain geotechnical information for a safe, • To enable a safe, practical and economic design to be prepared.
practical and economical geotechnical evaluation
• To determine the possible difficulties that may be encountered by a
and design. Generally it is an exploration or specific construction method for any particular civil project.
discovery of the ground conditions especially on
• To study the suitability of construction material (soil or rock).
untouched site.

Elements of Site Investigation

• Desk study to collect all the relevant data and
information, Procedure of Engineering in site
• Reconnaissance of site works
• Planning program after reviewing the above
Selection
• Ground or soil exploration includes boring,
sampling and testing,
• Laboratory testing (also field if necessary)
• Preparation and documentation of SI report
• Engineering design stages
• Review during construction and monitoring.

1
 09/02/2023

Surface Exploration Surface Exploration

1. Interpretation of 2. Aerial photographs and geological Maps
Topographic maps a. Airphoto:
1. shape, size, pattern, shadow, tone
– Land surface-relief
2. Provides both regional and local site features
and position
3. Geological information bedding, fault, fold etc.
– Man-made
features
– Position of gullies,
ridges, hills,
mountains, plains
– Scale

Procedure of Engineering in site Procedure of Engineering in site

Selection Selection
B. Geological Maps
3. Engineering
1. Geological structures
geological map
2. Structural line-draw
x-section line - Terrain evaluation
- Geological hazard
3. Structural attitude of
strata - Degree of weathering
4. Thickness of each - Geomorphological
formation units, fan, hills
- Construction material
survey

2
 09/02/2023

Sub-Surface exploration Sub-surface exploration

4. Geophysics 5. Bore hole drilling
Provides depth of rock It is direct method or subsurface exploration. Deep
thickness, fault, fold etc.
drilling are performed either by cable tool
Methods:
method or by one of several rotary methods.
1. Gravity: Measures the
desnsity of materials Different types of drilling techniques:
2. Magnetic: Magnetic a. Cable Tool Method
susceptibility and natural
remanant magnetism b. Rotaty Method
3. Electrical Method: Electrical c. Test Pit
resistivity d. Trench
4. Seismic Method: Elastic
properties of material- seismic e. Auger boring
waves

Bore hole drilling Bore hole drilling

• Rotaty Method
• Cable Tool Method • 45 cm in diameter can
be constructed
The cable (manila rope • Operates continuously
or wire line) pulls the with a hollow rotating
string of tools up and bit through which
down as brought about mixture of clay and
water or drilling mud is
by a spring pole or a forced.
walking beam at the • Material loosened by
surface. the bit is carried
Drilling holes of 8 to 60 upward in the hole by
cm in diameter the rising mud.
• Drilling mud consists of
Bits are manufractured a suspension of water,
in lengths or 1 to 3 m bentonite, clay and
and weight up to 1500 various organice
kg. additives.

3
 09/02/2023

Bore hole drilling Bore hole drilling

• Test Pit • Trench
• It is exploratory pit • It is a long narrow
shallow excavation
or hole excavated in the ground for
for determining the visual inspection
nature and fitness and sampling.
of the ground for • It provides a
engineering works. continuous profile
of soil strata, an
• 1m X 1m to 2m X excellent view of
3m usually dug by overburden bed
rock contact,
hand labour to structural features
explore sil strata. and defects in
bedrock and obtain
in situ soil samples.

Bore hole drilling

Site selection of Road
• Auger Boring
• This method consists of
driving a hand or power
operted helical steel auger
5 to 15 cm into the ground
and withdrawing if full of
soil material.
• It is very common
inexpensive method to
obtail samples of
overburden especially of
cohesive soils and borrow
material above water table.

4
 09/02/2023

Road Road
1. Preliminary study:
– Interpretation of Topographic maps
– Interpretation of Aerial maps
1. Topography: Topography of the landform of a
region is single most important factor that
– Geological mapping
controls the selection of alignment of a road.
2. Detailed study: 2. Lithology:
– Surface exploration – Composition, texture, structure and origin of
– Sub-surface exploration rocks and sediments.
– Ground may be divided broadly
• Consolidated
• Massive hard rock
• Unconsolidated

Road Road
3. Geological Structure: 1. Preparation of base field maps along the
-Stability can be analysized by using stereonet. alternative routes.
4. Weathering: 2. Data collection for the state of nture types
- Degree and extent of weathering and extent of danger
5. Groundwater condition: 3. Subjective judgement in the field
(Interpretation of collected data)
-Either local seepage or water of line of spring
can present.

5
 09/02/2023

Dam-site selection
Classification of Dam
• Classifications based on type and materials of
construction
• Types Materials of Construction

• A. Gravity Concrete

• B. Arch Concrete

• C. Buttress Concrete, also timber & steel

Bartlett Dam, Colorado • D. Embankment Earth or rock

Gravity Dam
• Gravity dams are dams which resist the horizontal
Arch Dam
thrust of the water entirely by their own weight.
• Arch dams includes:
• They use their weight to hold back the water in the
reservoir. • *series of horizontal arches
• Can be made of earth or rock fill or concrete. • *series of vertical cantilevers

Salmon Creek
Dam, Alaska

Tygart Dam,
West Virginia

6
 09/02/2023

Buttress Dam Embankment

•
•
sloping membrane that transmits the water load to a series of
buttresses @ right angles to axis of dam
• Generally have some sort of water proof insides
(called the core), which is covered with earth or
• -Increased formwork & reinforced steel compared w/gravity dam rock fill. Water will seep in through the earth or
• -Less massive than gravity dam (requires 1/3 to 1/2 as much concrete)
rock fill, but should not seep into the core. The
water will seep into the core material and should
• -Use on weaker foundation stop at the seepage line.

Daniel-Johnson
Dam, Quebec Wolf Creek Dam, Nashville

Site selection Site selection

1. Topography: Narrow part of valley with steep 2. Lithology:
rocky slope - Rock foundation (Hard Rock)
- Limestone can create problem by making caverns
-The weaker rocks are vulnerable to deformation and
differential movements.
-Phyllites and slates exhibit large variation in strength
- if there is no discontinuities, dolerites, basalts,
amphibolites, granulites, gneisses, quartzite, sandstone
and massive dolomite have sufficient high bearing
Glen Canyon Dam on the strength, and make very good foundation rocks.
Colorado River in Page,
Arizona.
Hover dam

7
 09/02/2023

Site selection Site selection

3. Geological Structures 4. Free from slope stability problems
- Dam axis should be perpendicular to the 5. Earthquakes
geological structures. 6. Groundwater condition (Acidic water is sensitive
- Steep dipping towards the upstream bedding is to carbonate formations)
favourable. 7. Construction material should be near
-Dipping upstream of anticline limb is good 8. Permeability of the rock
-Less jointed 9. Fresh rock condition
-Dam founded on fault zone is very unfavourable. 10. Hidden channels (cave)
11. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Reservoirs Site Selection

1. Topography: Broad natural valley ended with narrow
gorge where a barrier could be placed.
2. Groundwater condition: The amount of leakage of
water from the reservoir is controlled by the depth of
water table.
3. Permeability: The rocks which are highly fissured,
intensely jointed, faulted or have solution channels,
cause serious leakage from the reservoir.
4. Silting of Reservoir: The amount of silt produced and
supplied depends mainly upon the lithologic
character and topography of the catchments area.
5. Lithology: The rocks exposed in the reservoir rim
must be resistant to solution, erosion and free of
voids to leake the water.

8
 09/02/2023

Bridge Bridge
1. Geological Investigation:
– Abutment and piers must be in strong rock
– Poorly cemented, thinly bedded and soft sedimentary rocks
should be avoided
– Presence of harder rocks over weaker layers, rock
heterogeneity, zones of weathering are not suitable for bridge
foundation
2. Geological structure:
– Stable from plane, wedge and toppling failure
– Fault zone should be avoided
3. Types of river channel:
– River should be straight
– Mender river can damage the abutment

Favourable Condition for Bridge

1. Minimum bank cutting
2. Competent bed
3. Narrow span
4. Strike should be across the river
5. Less jointed
6. Filling should not be clay
7. Less geological structures
8. Water drainage should be studied