Site Investigation for Civil Engineering Projects

By Ir. Neoh Cheng Aik E-Geo Consultant Sdn Bhd

SCOPE OF DISCUSSION
1. INTRODUCTION
General What is SI Role of SI in Geotechnical Design

2. 3.

WORK PROCEDURE FOR SI PLANNING SCOPE OF SI

What needs to be known SI Methods Criteria to determine depth core length Examples INTERPRETATION Field & reported borelogs Property correlations Groundwater Miscellaneous CONCLUSIONS

4.

5.

GENERAL
1. Geotechnical Engineering (3 major areas)
Geotechnical Engineering is a science, but its practice is an art SI & soil properties (Significance?)
Basic, index & chemical properties Engineering properties Typical properties of typical formations Planning of SI & methods

Soil Mechanics Principles Applications Design & Construction

2. Difference between geotechnical & structural design 3. Learning curve (easy to learn & slow to master) 4. Inadequate SI & poor interpretation main causes for failure? Examples? Liabilities?

WHAT IS SI?
Scientific exploration with predetermined objectives Know something first through desk studies & site visit about the site & project before we can determine the purpose of SI & identify the possible geotechnical problems Subsequently, we plan scope of SI to obtain the necessary parameters to verify, assess & quantify the geotechnical problems identified Prerequisites to qualify to plan SI?

WHAT NEEDS TO BE KNOWN?

What is known; what is not known; & what needs to be known? Circle of

KNOW ALL

? ?
What needs to be known

? ? ? ?
Circle of what is known What is not known about the site

Those who know NUT and know not that they know NUT will not know what Needs to be known.

EXTENT & SCOPE OF SI REQUIRED FOR A PROJECT DEPEND ON:

Experience & knowledge of designer about the anticipated geotechnical problems, the project brief & available SI facilities & methods Local geology & typical problems Historical use of the site: Why significant? Treacherous Grounds: uncontrolled fill, limestone formation, boulders & corestone abutment ground, etc. (significance?) Relevant information about the project, etc.

EXAMPLE 1:
A 4-Storey JKR Standard RC School Block in Klang District

Do you know the column loads & characters of RC framed structures? Do you know the site & layout conditions/constraints? Do you know the site geology & typical geotechnical problems? Do you know what parameters are required? Do you know what SI methods & tests to procure the required parameters

EXAMPLE 2:
A hill is to be cut to a depth of about 24m SCOPE OF SI? Answer 3 questions: what known; what unknown & what needs to be known? Influencing factors affecting FOS? Geological information of the hill? Weathering profile (discontinuities, relict joint, suitable minerals, shear strength & deformation, permeability) Groundwater conditions? Other critical information?

PLANNING SCOPE OF SI
How many BH or other SI methods; locations? Criteria of terminating BH? Field test: type, criteria & frequency? Sampling: type, criteria & frequency? Reference notes: for building & road projects Documentation: Drawings, BQ, Spec, etc. Examples

BASIC SCOPE OF SI WORKS

SI

DESK STUDIES & SITE VISIT

BORING

SAMPLING

FIELD TESTING

LAB. TESTING

PURPOSE & IMPORTANCE OF EACH ACTIVITY?

BORING

TYPES OF BORING:

Auger boring Percussion Wash boring Rotary boring Foam drilling Tools & equipments; flushing medium?

SPECIFICATIONS & STANDARDS

PURPOSE, APPLICATIONS & LIMITATIONS?

SAMPLING

DISTURBED SAMPLES WASH SPT BULK

UNDISTURBED SAMPLES THIN-WALL PISTON MAZIER BLOCK FROZEN

CONTINUOUS SAMPLES WATER SAMPLES ROCK SAMPLES

PURPOSE, APPLICATIONS & LIMITATIONS?

COMMON SAMPLERS
TYPE OF SAMPLERS (Purposes?) 1. Open drive samplers Split-spoon for SPT Thin-wall sampler Thick wall sampler (50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 150mm)

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Thin-wall sampler with stationary piston

(50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 150mm)

Denison Sampler (double tube with thin-wall tube) Mazier Sampler (74mm) FOIL CONTINUOUS SAMPLERS BLOCK SAMPLING ROTARY ROCK CORE SAMPLERS

FIELD TESTING

SPT VANE SHEAR PACKER PERMEABILITY PRESSUREMETER

DUTCH CONE PIEZOCONE MACKINTOSH PROBE JKR PROBE

TEST PIT CBR PLATE BEARING FIELD DENSITY GEO PHYSICAL SURVEYS SPECIAL TESTS

SPEC. & STANDARD PURPOSE, APPLICATION & LIMITATION?

APPLICABILITY OF COMMON FIELD OR INSITU TESTS

FIELD TESTS Soil type 1. Penetrometer 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 2 3 4 5. JKR Probe SPT DS (CPT) Piezocone (CPTU) Flat Dilatometer Resistivity Probe X A B A B C B B B A C B A A A C C B B A X X X X X X X C C X X B X X X X X A B B C B B A C C X B B B B A A A A A X B B A B A A A A A B B B A B A A A A A A A A A B A A A A A B B B A X B C B B B X X B C B B B B B C A B B B X X C A C X X B B B X X C A C X X C B B X X X B X X X X B C Soil Profile Rock H.Rock S.Rock Gr Sand SOIL TYPE Silt Clay Peat SOIL PARAMETERS Cu Mv Cv K

Vane Shear PB Pressuremeter SB Pressuremeter Continuous Soil Sampling

Legends:A B C X

= = = =

suitable/useful moderate doubtful not suitable

Cu Mv Cv

= = = =

effective frictional angle undrained strength coef. of volume compressibility coef. of consolidation

coef. Of permeability

LABPRATORY TESTING

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Organic, SO3& Cl PH value, etc.

BASIC INDEX PROPERTIES

Colour, S.G., density, LL, PL, PI, SL, PSD, etc.

SHEAR STRENGTH
UU, CIU, CD Shear box Compressibility Compaction CBR

OTHER TESTS
1-D Oedometer Rowe cell Compaction Permeability Dispersibility Hydraulic cell

PURPOSE, APPLICATIONS & LIMITATIONS?

ROLE OF SI IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN

SI

SOIL PROPERTIES
INTERPRETATION JUDGEMENT

ENGINEERING PROPERTIES CHEMICAL PROPERTIES BASIC & INDEX PROPERTIES

GROUND CHARACTERISATION
MODELLING PREDICTION

MASS PROPERTIES TYPICAL & GENERALISED SUBSOIL PROFILE & PROPERTIES OF TYPICAL GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS; MANMADE FILL, etc. ENGINEERING GEOLOGY

DEFORMATION DISPLACEMENT STABILITY

CODES OF PRACTICE FOUNDATIONS, BS 8004 ANCHORS, BS 8081 EARTHWORKS, BS6031 REINFORCED FILLS, BS 8006 GEOGUIDES OF GEO HONG KONG GROUND IMPROVEMENT

GROUND BEHAVIOUR

SOIL & ROCK MECHANICS EFFECTIVE STRESS THEORY SEEPAGE THEORY STRESS DISTRIBUTION LATERAL PRESSURE BEARING CAPACITY COMPRESSIBILITY COMPACTION, etc.

ENGINEERING PERFORMANCE

INSTRUMENTATION FOR PORE WATER PRESSURE EARTH PRESSURE DISPLACEMENT (SURFACE & SUBSURFACE) INTERNAL STRESSES VIBRATION

GROUNDWATER MEASUREMENT
1. TYPES OF GROUNDWATER
Static WT/phreatic level/main WT Perched WT Artesian water

2.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR
Pile installation Deep excavation Slope stability Tunnelling, etc. METHODS
Observation well Simple Standpipe Casagrande standpipe Pneumatic piezometer Hydraulic piezometer, etc.

3.

4.

CASE HISTORIES

LEGEND: RAIN
RUN OFF

MEASURED WT STREAM PERCED WT AQUICLUDE ARTESIAN WATER FREE WATER SURFACE

INFILTRATION

PERCOLATION

UNCONFINED AQUIFIER (FREE WATER)

ACQUICLUDE

AQUIFIER

ACQUICLUDE

13 10 1 15 8 9 3 2 4 15 6

6 5

Instrumentation 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 13 15 Inclinometer casings Stress gauges Electrical piezometers Casagrande piezometers In-place inclinometers Load cells Flow meters Surface clinometers Borehole ex tensometers Wire crackmeters Rain gauges Total pressure cells

Application Monitoring of earth lateral movements in sliding areas Monitor ing strain and stress development in the stressed member of piles Monitoring of soil pore pressure and control of over pressure Measurement of water table level Monitoring of landslide areas and stability of natural slopes Measurement of anchor tensioning or loading at the head of tie-back Drainage flow control Monitoring of rock mass inclination movements and block tilting Monitoring of retaining wall stability Monitoring cracks and movements in rock masses Monitoring of rain falls Measurements of soil stress and pressure on ground or retaining w alls or piles

15

APPLICATION OF GEOTECHNICAL INSTRUMENTATION

SPT
1. SPEC. & STD. (BS, ASTM)
Equipment set Hammer, drop, rod Split spoon sampler Records & procedure

2.

APPLICATIONS & LIMITATIONS

Soil types Correlations Shortfalls

3.

SPACING/INTERVALS OF TESTING
Type of investigation & purposes Criteria & procedure

4.

CASE HISTORIES

COMMON MALPRACTICE IN SPT/SI

* SPT taken without adequate & proper cleaning by clean water * SPT taken constantly at 1.5m intervals; not at change of soil strata * SPT hammer weight not within 63.5+_ 0.5 kg; hammer not fully made of steel; drop height less than 76+_ 2 cm after repair/retread. * Drilling in sandy soils without quality bentonite * Use casing and not proper drilling rods to advance boreholes * Samples from SPT split sampler not sealed in container with proper labels & storage * Use blunt SPT drive shoe * Mark SPT penetration on rod without ruler or chalk * Soil description & record of SPT blow counts on palm/shirt/casing & not proper paper *Drive rod for SPT not straight or inadequate stiffness; for depth>20m, BWNW rods shall be used * Untrained supervisor or foreigner supervisor who cannot communicate well

ROCK CORING
1.
2. 3. 4. 5.

PURPOSE & APPLICATIONS:

Identification, description & correlations CORE BARREL: single, double & triple CORE BITS: tungsten, surface/impregnated diamond CORE RECOVERY RATIO, RR = (Total core obtained)/(length of run) RQD = (summation of rock core > 100mm)/(length of run) RQD < 25% RQD = 25 50% RQD = 50 75% RQD = 75 100% VERY POOR FAIR GOOD EXCELLENT Weak Moderately Weak Moderately Strong Strong Very Strong

6.

ROCK DESCRIPTION: STRENGTH & WEATHERING GRADE UCS < 5 N/mm2 UCS = 5 12.5 N/mm2 UCS = 12.5 50 N/mm2 UCS = 50 100 N/mm2 UCS = > 100 N/mm2

ZONES

1. Implication of Location of WT & slope stability 2. Usual location of groundwater 3. Discontinuities & relict joints 4. What relevant soil/rock properties (tests) are necessary for slope stability analysis?

A&B VI

V IV III II

Weathered granite showing well defined relict jointing

Weathered volcanic rock showing well defined relict jointing

Granite showing intense weathering along joints

Volcanic rock with staining along joints: Zone D

Completely decomposed seam (Grade V) in slightly decomposed volcanic rock (Grade II)

Moderately decomposed seam (Grade III) in slightly decomposed volcanic rock (Grade II)

Moderately decomposed granite rock (Grade III), 4.65 to 5.55 m Highly decomposed granite rock (Grade IV), 5.55 to 10.71 m

Moderately decomposed granite rock (Grade III), 21.48 to 22.00 m Slightly decomposed granite rock (Grade II), 22.00 to 24.48 m

SOIL IDENTIFICATION & DESCRIPTION

Purpose & significance Field & lab. techniques BS5930 description of soil Consistency or relative density, fabric if distinguishable, colour, subsidiary, grading, principal soil type & more detailed comments e.g. very stiff dark grey silty CLAY with traces of sand e.g. sandy silty CLAY e.g. silty sandy CLAY (Wrong!)

SOIL CLASSIFICATION
BSCS, USCS, AASHTO Based on grading & index properties Coarse grained soil = PSD; fine grained soil = plasticity; How & what properties are influenced by moisture? Purposes & application? Design guides based on soil classification

SI RESULTS INTERPRETATIONS
Scope of factual report: JKR Spec. Scope of interpretation report Field & reported borelog Check borelogs & summary of lab. Test results Discrepancies/compliance with Std/Spec Interpretations: Atterberg limits, compaction test, etc. Typical geological formations; typical geotechnical problems to various types of foundations, etc.

PROJECT: CLIENT: CONS ULTANT:

Subsurface Investigation and Testing for Proposed West Port (Phase II) Pulau Lumut, Post Klang Lembaga Pelabuhan Klang S epakat Setia Perunding PL ATTERBERG LIMITS MC 40 20 S PT N 60 30 LL LOCATION: P ulau Lumut, Port Klang

JOB NO: TYPE OF BORING: REDUCED LEV EL: W ATER LEV EL: TRIAXIAL TEST C (kPa)

PE/SI/21/93 Rotary

BOREHOLE:

B6

Seabed Level (ACD) - 14.50m Depth of water 16.70m a.s.l.# (19/12/92) CONS OLIDATION TEST PC CC eO CHEMICAL TEST

DATE DRILLED: 17/12/92 - 19/12/92

ORGANIC CONTENT (%)

SULP HATE CONTENT (%)

GRAV EL (%)

SYMBOL

SAND (%)

CLAY (%)

SILT (%)

DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL

20 10

80 40

50

() (kPa) 15 0.425 1.472

UP 1/ D1 R=80/80cm 1

Very Soft Grey fine sandy silty CLAY with traces of shell fragment and thin layers of organic matter

50

24

26

CHS

P 1/ D2 Very Soft (Rods Weight) Grey silty CLAY with trace of fine sand, R=30/45cm shell fragment and organic matter UP 2/ D3 R=66/80cm P 2/ D4 (Rods Weight) R=35/45cm UP 3/ D5 R=80/80cm Very Soft becoming soft Grey silty CLAY with lenses of fine sand and organic matter; with occassional shell fragment between 5.0m - 9.0m 0 6 45 49 CE 1.565 2.12 19.31 160 1.089 1.470 Very Soft Grey very clayey fine S AND with some shell fragment and trace of organic matter 0 11 54 35 CI 1.557 27.39 23 0

P 3/ D6 (Hammer Weight) R=37/45cm UP 4/ D7 R=65/80cm P 4/ D8 (Hammer Weight) R=29/45cm UP 5/ D9 R=78/80cm

CI

1.492

31.03

31

45

50

CE

1.568

83.28

180 0.778 1.494

10

P5/D10 (Hammer Weight) R=25/45cm S OILS SYMBOL C=CORING CR=CORE RECOVERY V=V ANE SHEAR TEST P=S TANDARD PENETRATION TEST N=NO. OF BLOW PER 30cm UP=UNDISTURBED SAMP LE D=DISTURBED SAMP LE VANE SHEAR: UNDIS TURB ED REMOULDED REMARKS: 1. 2. R -- Denotes Recovery # -- above seabed level ENGINEERING BORELOG

PH VALUE

DEPTH (m)

CHLORIDE CONTENT (%)

TESTING SAMPLING CORING

(%) 100

UNCONFINED COMPRESSION S TRENGTH (kPa)

SOIL CLASSIFICATION

BULK DENS ITY (Mg/m 3 )

PARTICLE SIZE DIS TRIBUTION

SP ECIFIC GRAVITY

SIGNIFICANCE OF ATTERBERG LIMITS

Plasticity

Shrinkage limit WS

Plastic limit WP

Liquid limit WL

Moisture, MC

WL & WP = f(amount & type of clay) PI = f(clay content) High PI = high clay content PI < 30% = sandy/silty soils Soils of high PI cant be stabilized unless MC is dissipated, very slow due to low K

IC

WL - WN = WL - WP

CONSISTENCY HARD V. STIFF STIFF FIRM SOFT V. SOFT

CU (kN/m 2 )
VS VA

> 200 100 - 200 75 - 100 40 - 75 20 - 40 < 20

WS

1.0 I C 0.75 0.5 0.25

0 W S WP WN WL

WP

COMPACTION TESTS Purposes & applications Interpretation & appreciation

2.2 2.3 2.2 Saturation line

Air content
10% 5% 0%

Air content
10% 5% 0%

2.1 2.0

GW

Dry density (Mg/m 3 )

Dry density (Mg/m 3 )

2.1 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.6 0 2 4 6 8

4.5 kg rammer

1.9 SW 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.4 ML

2.5 kg rammer

CL CH

10 12 14 16 18 20 22

10

15

20

25

30

Water content (%)

Water content (%)

Dry density

Soil A Soil B

Z .A.V.

Soil C

Moisture content

Soaked CBR

Soil A

Soil B

Soil C

Moisture content

OTHER INTERPRETATIONS SG = 2.6 2.7, usually Soils with SG < 2.6, soil type? Soils with SG > 2.7, soil type? PI < 30%, soil type? Activity, A = PI/(% of clay) Kaolinite, A = 0.3 0.5 Illite, A = 0.9 Montmorillonite, A > 1.5 Soils with high A can absorb more water; more swelling & shrinkage problems; applications?

TYPICAL GEOLOGICAL FORMATION & TYPICAL PROPERTIES 1. Residual soils of granite: % of sand/gravel is high WL < 60 %, PI < 30% generally Density = 18 20 kN/m3 , NMC = 10 30% C = 0 20 kPa, = 30 42 Weathering profile & boulder problems dmax = 15 20 kN/m3, OMC = 10 18% (Std. Comp.). Relict joints are preferred water path; have lower shear strength; Significance? How to identify? Common Geo Problems to piling, deep excavation, slopes? Important properties sought in SI?

2. Residual Soil of Meta Sedimentary Rocks: Generally WL < 80 %, PI < 40% Density = 16 22 kN/m3 C = 0 25 kPa, = 25 38 dmax = 15 19 kN/m3, OMC = 12 24% (Std. Comp.) Relict discontinuities/beddings/foliations are preferred water path; have lower shear strength; significance? How to identify? Common Geo Problems to piling, deep excavation, slopes? Important properties sought in SI?

3. Soft Alluvial Clay: Generally WL = 40 140% PI = 20 90%, NMC = 40 130% Sensitivity = 2.5 8, OCR = 1 4 (<5m bgl) Cu/Po = 0.25 0.45 (av 0.33), Cu = 8 20 kPa Cc = 0.8 3.0 & Cr = 0.05 0.1, CR = 0.2 0.5 Cv = 0.2 20m2/yr, Ch/Cv = 1 5 Cvfield/Cvlab = 1 100 Muar Flat Trail Embankment Research Findings? Significance & correlations? Common problems for building & road projects?

CONCLUSION
SI is part of Geotechnical Design. Why? Scope & definition of Proper SI: properly planned, supervised, monitored, directed & reported Important to understand & to identify possible geo problems of the ground to the project before planning scope of SI Important to learn typical subsoil profiles for various typical geological formations/grounds, their typical properties and their usual problems to various types of construction SI soil properties Mass properties & ground characterization Behaviour prediction Performance Scope of SI planned by different engineers tends to be varied. Why?

The End
Thank you for your attention