Applications Of

Geology In
Engineering
Construction
Dayarathne G.R.I.S
S/09/213

Introduction
There are three major rock types that cover
the earth crust.
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
These are different from each other by there
origin texture composition and mineralogy.

Geology Of Sri Lanka

Most part of the Sri Lanka consists of precambrian metamorphic rocks.

North and North West costal plains are covered
by horizontal Miocene limestone deposits and
Pleistocene to recent deposits.
Sri Lankan metamorphic terrain is divided into
four complexes.
Highland complex(HC)
Vijayan complex(VC)
Wanni complex(WC)
Kadugannawa complex(KC)

Fig:01:-Geological map of SL

Introduction To Geo Engineering

(Pvt) Ltd

Introduction To Geo Engineering

(Pvt) Ltd

Geo technical activities in Sri Lanka got a higher demand

after the past war period followed by the rapid acceleration
in the construction industry. As a result, drilling and other
related activities are undertaken by a large number of state
and private drilling and consulting companies functioning in
the field of Geotechnical Engineering.
Geo Engineering Consultants (Pvt) Ltd is one of the
diversely skilled geo technical consultant company. which is
young and active geo technical service provider operating
throughout the Sri Lanka and many experienced and hard
working professional geo technical consultants working
with the company to ensure quality and reliability of their
service.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVESTIGATION

Main objectives of this detailed geological and geotechnical

investigation was to find out additional information and
parameters regarding soil profile, rock mass quality and bed rock
structure, or geological regime of the site required prior to the
design and construction of the proposed structures and can be
elaborated further as follows,
1. To study the Geological background and sub soil material with a view to
understand the subsurface conditions to identify, assess and determine
the engineering geological aspects of the subsurface
2. To determine and performance necessary field and laboratory tests to
classify soil and rock, and evaluate their various characteristics to enable
safe and economic design of the proposed structures.
3. To provide recommendations based on the field and laboratory test results,
which can be used for foundation design work to come out with safe and
most economical foundation type and foundation level.

Geo Engineering Investigations

Performed by geotechnical engineers or engineering geologists.

Obtain information on the physical properties of soil and rock
around site.
Design earthworks and foundations for proposed structures .
Include surface exploration and subsurface exploration of a site.
Projects typically include dams, pumping and power plants
,highways, railways, bridges, aqueducts, tunnels and levees.
Subsurface exploration usually involves.
Drilling .
Seismicity studies.
Grouting estimates .
Soil sampling.
Laboratory tests of the soil samples retrieved.

Field test
Drilling in sand and clays to hard strata.
Drilling in weathered and hard rock.
Conducting standard penetration test (SPT).
Collecting U.D. sample.
Laboratory test.
Seive analysis.
Aternberg limit.
Moisture content.
Dry density and wet density.
Hydrometer test.
Proctor compaction test

FIELD TEST
Standard Penetration Test

Figure 1: SPT Test equipments.

Test Procedure
The test uses a thick-walled sample tube, with an outside
diameter of 50 mm and an inside diameter of 35 mm, and a
length of around 650 mm.
This is driven into the ground at the bottom of a borehole by
blows from a slide hammer with a weight of 63.5 kg (140 lb)
falling through a distance of 760 mm.
The sample tube is driven 150 mm into the ground and then the
number of blows needed for the tube to penetrate each 150 mm
(6 in) up to a depth of 450 mm (18 in) is recorded.
The sum of the number of blows required for the second and third
6 in. of penetration is termed the "standard penetration
resistance" or the "N-value".
In cases where 50 blows are insufficient to advance it through a
150 mm (6 in) interval the penetration after 50 blows is recorded.
The blow count provides an indication of the density of the
ground, and it is used in many empirical geotechnical
engineering formulae

BOREHOLES

Borehole locations were given by the client.

Drilling of boreholes with 76mm diameter in overburden
(NX) was done by rotary
boring and samples were collected in overburden for
visual classification and for detailed laboratory tests.
As a result 54mm core samples were yielded.
After checking by a representatives of the client,
termination of boreholes were decided by him.
All core boxes were submitted to the Client after
completion and inspection by the Client.
Piezometers were installed in selected boreholes to
different drilled depths as requested by the Client.
Done with either tungsten carbide or diamond core bits .
Use a double or triple tube core barrel when sampling
weathered or fractured rock.

Fig03; Drilling Equipments with cross

section

CORE BOXES

Fig04;Images of boreholes.

Field Experiences

Figure 05: Ruwanpura Expressway Drill site of Horana .

Figure 06: Ruwanpura Expressway Drill site of Ingiriya.

Figure 10: Box sample site of Ruwanpura Highway project Ingiriya.

Soil Nailing

Soil nailing is an earth retention technique using grouted

tension-resisting steel elements (nails) that can be design
for permanent or temporary support.
The walls are generally constructed from the top down.
Typically, 3 to 6 feet of soil is excavated from the top of the
planned excavation. Near-horizontal holes are drilled into
the exposed face at typically 3 to 6 foot centers
Tension-resisting steel bars are inserted into the holes and
grouted. A drainage system is installed on the exposed
face, followed by the application of reinforced shotcrete
facing.

Fig 11; Soil Nailing site during construction

Fig 12; Soil Nailing site during construction

Suggestions

Experienced Gathered through Industrial placement, as a

engineering geologist and trainee site manager some
problems were noticed that needs the attention of
authorities.
Communication between high and low level management is
at very poor stage. it is recommended that at least have a
one meeting for a month and give opportunities to middle
and low level management to express their ideas with
higher authorities.
As a geologist I noticed that there are lot of petrological
data available to update geological maps. Unfortunately
that is not happening yet.

REFERENCES

Cooray,P.G.,1994.The Precambrian of Sri Lanka:A historical

review.Precam.Res,66:3-18
Das, B. M. (2006). Principles of geotechnical engineering.
Stamford,CT: Thomson Learning College.
Sowers, 1979. Introductory Soil Mechanics and
Foundations: Geotechnical Engineering, 4th Ed., Macmillan,
New York. (as referenced in Coduto, 1999. Geotechnical
Engineering: Principals and Practices. Prentice Hall. New
Jersey.)

Thank

You