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and Characterization
Subsurface material properties cannot
be specified; they must be deduced
through exploration.
Objectives
Determine location and thickness of soil
and rock strata (subsurface soil profile)
Determine location of groundwater table
Recover samples for laboratory testing
Conduct lab and/or field testing
Identify special problems and concerns
Site Exploration;
General Strategy
Project Assessment
Literature Search
Field Reconnaissance
Subsurface Drilling and Sampling
Laboratory Testing of Soil Samples
Project Assessment
Type, location and approximate
dimensions of the proposed
development
Existing topography and any
proposed grading
Any previous developments
Literature Search
Geologic Maps (e.g. USGS, Bureau of
Economic Geology)
Soil Survey Reports (USDA Soil
Conservation Service)
Geotechnical Reports
Historic Groundwater Data
Remote Sensing
Conventional Aerial Photographs
Geologic features (landslides, faults),
topography, drainage patterns
Site history
Field Reconnaissance
Any previous developments, grading
etc.
Site topography, any signs of slope
instability (landslides, soil creep)
Site drainage conditions
Rock outcrops
Site access
Field Exploration
Site Boring Layout
Test Borings or Test Pits?
It depends on the type of materials,
and what you want to know.
III. Subsurface
Exploration/Sampling
Borehole Spacing
Site conditions/uniformity
type of structure (bridge, building,
landfill)
typically one borehole/2500 ft2
Also see Table 4.1 (p.108)
Borehole Depths
Magnitude of loading/soil conditions
Also see Table 4.3 (p.109)
How Deep?
Rotary Drilling
Bucket Auger
Percussion (or Cable Tool) Drilling
Auger Drilling
Auger Drilling
Hollow Stem Auger
Casing with outer spiral
Inner rod with plug/or pilot
assembly
For sampling, remove pilot
assembly and insert sampler
Typically 5ft sections, keyed,
box & pin connections
Maximum depth 60-150ft
Hollow-Stem Augers
Rotary Drilling
Bit at the end of drill rod
rotated and advanced
Soil/rock cuttings removed
by circulating drilling fluid
Common drilling fluid;
bentonite in water with
slurry density 68-72pcf
Air may be used as drilling
fluid
Soil Samplers
Standard
Split
Spoon
Sampler
Piston
Samplers
Minimizes sample
disturbance
caused by backpressure
Heavy-Wall
Samplers
Thicker walls
provide better
strength &
durability
However, it creates
more disturbance
Sampler pounded
into the ground
Groundwater Monitoring
Groundwater level
must be
determined during
geotechnical
investigation
Can be
accomplished by
leaving selected
soil borings open
In-situ Testing
When it is difficult to obtain
undisturbed samples
Cohesionless soils, Sensitive clays
In-situ Test Methods
SPT
SPT
E mC BCSC R N
0.60
2000 lb / ft
z
( N1 ) 60 N 60
100 kPa
z
(Customary)
(SI)
To determine
From Figure 4.11 (p.123)
To determine C
From AASHTO Chart