5351REP2011

20th Dec 2011

GEOTECHNICAL SITE INVESTIGATION FOR THE PROPOSED VILLA OF MR SAEED ATIK SAEED AL HUMAIRI & MUZA MATAR KHALIFA PLOT NO-61, SECTOR: SE-42 KHAILFA CITY (A) ABU DHABI

Consultant: Al Hiwar Engineering Consultants Abu Dhabi -UAE

Preface

This report is directed towards the evaluation of the Geotechnical situation of the proposed site. Our evaluations are based upon findings of field investigations and lab testing. Site investigations are carried out on 17th Dec 2011 upon the request of our client Messers.
MR SAEED ATIK SAEED AL HUMAIRI & MUZA MATAR KHALIFA..

Data of engineering interest, which are gathered during our course of investigation, are completely considered in developing our recommendations.

Eng. Fayez Shadid

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Abstract
During the period from 17th Dec 2011 to 18th Dec 2011, three boreholes were drilled to a depth of 25 meters each. Drilling revealed the presence of cohesionless soil underlain by bedrock. Water table is met from (1.5-1.7) meter below the present ground level (0.00) assumed center of the asphalt pavement level. Water level may be
subjected to tidal and seasonal variations or by induced artificial effects.)

According to information supplied by our client and in the light of our findings, deep foundation system is proposed. End bearing bored piles are suggested to support the projected Villa and to be erected at depth of 11.5 meters below the present ground level (0.00) assumed center of the asphalt pavement level. With allowable pile bearing capacity of 1.21*10 KN & pile diameter of 500mm. Total sulfate contents are considerably high in soils along pile perimeter. Therefore, Salt resistant Portland cement is recommended in pile construction.

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Contents
* * * 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Preface Abstract Contents Introduction Scope of investigation Borehole Drilling In situ Testing General Geology Subsurface Materials Laboratory Tests Type and Depth of Foundation Pile Bearing Capacity Settlement Findings Recommendations Precautionary Measures

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Appendices
Borehole log sheets Test result tables Grain size distribution curves Calculation sheets Borehole correlation cross section Borehole location map Legend to boring logs Key to subsurface material tests Abbreviations & Notations

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Introduction Purpose of the investigations conducted at the request of our client is to determine the values of the geotechnical parameters needed for the design of a safe and economic foundation for his projected villa. We commenced work on the 17th Dec 2011. Work was completed on the 18th Dec 2011. Our trained drillers and technicians under the supervision of our qualified engineers carried out Works. The projected villa is proposed to be constructed at Plot No 61. Sector SE42, Khalifa City A- Abu Dhabi. Scope of Investigation Investigations were performed in situ and in the laboratory. These are consisting of: Borehole drillings and sampling at various levels of the boreholes carried out according to BS 5930, section 4, 18 & 19. Survey of geotechnical features. Standard penetration tests were performed according to BS 1377 test 19 and BS 5930, section 4 (21.2). Unconfined compression tests were done according to BS 1377 test 20. Grain size analysis was conducted according to BS 1377 test 7. Chemical Analysis was conducted according to BS 1377 test 8. Bulk densities were determined according to BS 812 part 2.

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Borehole Drilling Drilling operations include three boreholes were drilled at the site at the locations shown on the enclosed location map. They were numbered BH1 through BH3 inclusive. Drilling depths are 25 meters each below the present ground level (0.00) assumed center of the asphalt pavement level.. Drilling equipment used was Boyles rotary drilling rig utilizing water flush method. Drilling in overburden is performed by the means of non-coring bits and casing of HX size.

Continuous coring utilizing T-86 size double tube core barrels carries out drilling in bedrock. Tube samplers obtained disturbed samples. Samples were packed in plastic bags labeled and brought to the laboratory. Extracted core samples are also labeled and placed in wooden boxes and delivered to the laboratory. Lithologic descriptions of subsurface sediments are presented in the attached borehole log sheets: Borehole 1-3 Sheets 1&2

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In Situ Testing Standard penetration tests using the standard penetration test (SPT) equipment were carried out. Penetration tests were advanced by the use of the split spoon sampler, due to the nature of the encountered formation. The SPT apparatus is in accordance with British Standard 1377 test 19 (5.4.2.4), and utilizing automatically dropping weight of 65.0 kg. With free fall distance of 760 mm. SPT results are shown at the attached borehole log sheets, and tabulated in the attached table 1. General Geology United Arab Emirates lie within the Arabian platform that is characterized by thick sediments continued from the early Cambrian to recent age. Structural developments of The Arabian Platform had influenced the sedimentary pattern in the UAE. Sedimentation conditions had been changed considerably after the tectonic events (Hersenien Movement) that formed mountains at the end of the carboniferous epoch. Sedimentary rocks were altered from detrital deposits to calcareous deposits that had been deposited in shallow marine water and continued to Holocene age. Sandy sediments mainly cover UAE.

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The exposed rocks are limited to certain areas at Alain, Jabal Dhannah, Das, Delma, Arzanah, Zirkoh, Jabal Alqamar Aljanubi, Jabal Alqamar Alshamali, Khor fakan Alfujairah and Ras Alkhaimah. Sandy sediments form chains of hills and dunes separated by flat gravely areas. Evaporate flats (Sabkha) are widely spread at coastal plains. In general most of rocks in UAE are sedimentary rocks except some exposed igneous rock intrusions and metamorphic rocks at Jabal Hafeet and at north east of the northern emirates. Our site in particular lies within an area of calcareous sand of marine origin, calcareous rocks with coastal gravel, platform gravel, detritus, terrestrial silty clayey sand and evaporates, underlain by intercalated layers of anhydrite, shale, marl and calcareous rocks which may be related to the early Miocene or younger. Fossil rich calcareous rocks deposited in shallow marine water underlie the most predominant superficial sediments. These fossiliferous calcarenites may be related to Oligocene age. 6. Subsurface Materials Borehole drilling revealed that subsurface strata are mainly composed of Sandstone & MudStone and Gypsum, overlain by an overburden of recent marine deposits consists of loose to dense silty sand. Ground water level is encountered at depth from (1.5-1.7) meter below the present ground level (0.00) assumed center of the asphalt pavement level The attached correlated cross section reflects the subsurface deposition pattern of the site. Laboratory Tests Laboratory tests were restricted to mechanical, physical and chemical properties of sub soil useful in safe foundation design. Tests carried out in our laboratory are: Unconfined compression tests were carried out on core samples extracted from bedrock to determine their compressive strength, which is necessary to certain, the allowable bearing capacity of the subsurface strata. Results of the above mentioned tests are tabulated in the attached table 3.

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 Chemical Analysis of subsurface soil and ground water in order to determine the pH-Value, Sulfate and Chloride contents. This is helpful in choosing the type of cement suitable for concrete mix design to protect foundations from unfavorable chemical reactions. Analysis results are presented in table 2, attached to this report. Core sample bulk densities are determined and fixed in table 3 of the unconfined compression test results. Grain size analysis results are presented in curves attached to this report. 8. Type & Depth of Foundation Due to the considerably heavy load of the proposed structure, the most adequate bearing strata is at depth of 11.5 meters below the present ground level (0.00) assumed center of the asphalt pavement level. Therefore pile foundations are the most suitable. Pile Load Capacity Calculations of bored piles bearing loads are presented in the attached calculation sheets. Formulas used in calculations assume that pile load capacity is derived from both point resistance and from the bond between concrete and rock along surface perimeter of the socket in addition to skin friction of the cohesionless soil along the pile shaft surface. Final pressure on rock is determined from the analysis of the core samples extracted from the foundation bearing strata. Allowable bearing pressure as a function of pile diameter for rock strata with favorable characteristics is calculated in the calculation sheets attached to this report. 10. Settlement Settlement analysis of piles setting on rock is difficult and frequently unreliable because of discontinuities inherent in bedrock stratification. In general settlements in sound rocks are minimal and many times it is negligible due to their high elasticity modules. An attempt to calculate maximum total immediate settlement is presented in the attached calculation sheet 3. Calculations based upon the assumption that the bearing strata are behaving as an elastic body.
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Findings Drilling proved that water table is encountered from (1.51.7) meter below the present ground level (0.00) assumed center of the asphalt pavement level. Overburden deposits are composed of cohesionless soil with thickness of (10.5) meters. Cohesionless soil deposits are not adequate to bear the proposed load. Bedrock strata that exist at 11.5 meter deep below the present ground level (0.00) assumed center of the asphalt pavement level. form an adequate bearing foundation. Chemical tests proved that site materials are within class 2 of the British Building Research Establishment Recommendations The followings are recommended in the light of our findings: Piles are of cast in place board piles. Piles are to be erected at depth of 11.5 meters below the present ground level (0.00) assumed center of the asphalt pavement level Pile socket length in bedrock is 1.0 meter. The boundary wall foundation & the connected one story buildings (Guard & Electric rooms) are to be erected as strip shallow foundation at depth of 1.0 m below the present ground level (0.00) assumed center of the asphalt pavement level with allowable bearing capacity of not more than 0.5 kg/cm Or simply attached to adjacent piles Values of the allowable safe pile load in KN versus pile diameter in meters are shown in tables and curves at the attached calculation sheets. Sulfate resisting Portland cement (SRPC) should be used in pile concrete. Pile load tests should be carried out to ensure the abovementioned parameters.

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General Precautionary Measures The following precautionary measures should be considered during bored pile construction. Inspection of the bottom of each pile shaft to eliminate the presence of debris between the bottom of the concrete shaft and rock surface. Borehole bottom should be properly cleaned to prevent occurrence of large settlement during bearing capacity mobilization, due to the compression of the remain mud in the bottom of the socket. Controlling ground water flow during pile shaft boring to avoid loss of ground and potential long term undermining of floor areas. Ready mix concrete discharge pipe should not be pulled out of the concrete during placing, so that some of the concrete flows through water. These form a layer or a pocket of sand and gravel and a concentration of cement or laitance at cut-off level. The temporary liner should not be withdrawn too fast causing soil to intrude in the concrete section (necking). The temporary liner should not be allowed to become stuck and to be withdrawn after partial set of concrete has taken place, causing cracking of the shaft.