Geotechnical Investigations

R. P. Singh
Asst. Professor/Track/IRICEN
rpsinghlucknow@gmail.com
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 Case History I: Leaning Tower of Pisa
(Ref: Burland et al. 2009)

tilt of 5.5 0 towards south

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Case History 2 : Southern Railway (in 2008)
(Ref: Jaykumar et al. 2012)
 Eranakulam and Mulanthuruthi section: Failure of
5m embankment and heaving at 15m to 20m away
from Toe

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Case History 3: Residential Complex at Jodhpur
(Ref:- Prof. V. S. Raju Consultancy report)
In this case only 10% area were required to be blasted where
open foundation is to be constructed. The investigating agency
recommended 1.5m foundation depth which could be reduced to
0.5m to 1m. Debris and boulders about 25000 m3

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 2. Soil Lab Testing 3. Design

Construction Site
1. Geotechnical Investigation

4. Quality Assurance 11
 Cost of Geotechnical Investigation

We pay for soil

investigation whether we
carry out or not.

In fact we eventually pay

more without a soil
“My design saved the cost of site investigation” investigation.

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Importance of Geotechnical Investigation
 No ready made solutions

 Each and every site/project is unique

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 Objective
 Determine site-specific ground conditions
relative to geotechnical design,
constructability or post-construction
performance
 Provide a basis for evaluation of foundation
design alternatives for the structure or
earthworks project
 Determine the design parameters
 Determine potential problems and Avoid
Surprises
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Constituents
 Physical Dimensions
◦ Strata
◦ Structure
 Soil Properties
◦ Compressibility
◦ Shear Strength
◦ Permeability
 Environmental Factors
◦ Ground water flow system and pressure
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 Field Reconnaissance
 Always visit site first. AVOID SURPRISES

 Database Information
◦ Maps
◦ Topographical
◦ Air photos
◦ Geological maps (bedrock and surfacial geology)
◦ Soil survey maps
 Water Well Logs
 Previous Reports
◦ Internal studies
◦ Old reports of site and previous consultant’s reports
◦ Local practice, foundation types for similar structures nearby
◦ Representative samples, nearby boreholes
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Field Observations
 Slope failures
 Evidence of seepage
 Check outcrops or open cuts
 Check surface materials
 Interview residents
 Problems with structures
 Shrinkage cracks
 Environmental contamination

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Components of Sub Surface Investigation
 Drilling
◦ Up to a structural marker
◦ Requires stratigraphic and structural control
 Logging
◦ Vertical profile of soils
◦ Downhole Geophysical logs
 Sampling
◦ Visual classification
◦ Laboratory testing
 Instrumentation
◦ Piezometers and/or standpipes
◦ Inclinometers
◦ In situ testing such as a standard penetration test (SPT), cone
penetrometer (CPT), pressure meter, packer tests

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Interpretation
 Stratigraphic Controls
◦ Geologic
◦ Textural separation within stratigraphic units
 Mapping Geological Structures
◦ Strike and dip
◦ Continuity of beds
◦ Shear zones
◦ Joints and faults
 Hydrogeology
◦ Groundwater flow system
◦ Piezometric conditions
 Assign material properties for design
◦ Requires representative samples
◦ What to do with unknown zones not sampled, or zones
within which there was poor sample recovery ??!!!
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Sampling
 Objectives
◦ Determine soil properties, Stratigraphic interpretation
 Properties
◦ Project specific – highways, railways, bridge foundation, dam,
etc.
 Constraints
◦ Cost
◦ Type of soil. Soft clays and loose saturated sands are very
difficult to sample. Recovery is often poor and sample
disturbance can be a large factor. Where do we need the
samples the most ?
 Sample Types
◦ Representative, Undisturbed, disturbed
 Block Samples
◦ Closest to truly undisturbed, Very expensive, Requires open
excavation Limited to cohesive materials 20
Tools and Technique
 Test Pits
◦ For shallow investigation (2-3 m)
◦ Undisturbed sample for laboratory investigation

 Boring
◦ For general investigations
◦ Stratigraphy and sampling through field testing

 Geophysical Methods
◦ Non-destructive techniques

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Testing Plan
 Borings:
◦ No. of bore holes, spacing
 Ground Water Monitoring:
◦ measure the ground water level
 Soil sampling:
◦ sampler (split spoon sampler, Shelby tube),
◦ Specimen (undisturbed, disturbed)
 Laboratory Test
◦ Index properties, Consolidation, Shear strength properties,
Relative density, Permeability etc.
 Field Test
◦ in-situ dry density, Shear Strength, Plate Load Test

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Boring Methods
Use depends on
 Auger Boring
Nature of Soil
 Wash Boring Water Table depth
 Rotary Boring Sample Disturbance
 Percussion Boring Accuracy of soil exploration

Auger Boring for soils which can stay open without casing
or drilling mud.
It is not possible for sands below water table. Good for
railways projects where small depth of soil exploration is
needed.

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Auger Boring

Upto 6m depth
Suitable for clays

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 Wash Boring
Driving of Pipe casing and hammered
Water is forced in pipe casing
Suitable below W.T.
Suitable for all types of soil

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 Rotary Boring

Suitable for both types of soil

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 Percussion Boring
Bore hole is kept dry
For reducing friction pulversied
slurry may be used

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Ground Water Observation
 High Permeability Soils
◦ Bore hole/Observation wells
◦ (Observation time = 24 to 48 Hrs)

 Low Permeability Soils

◦ Casagrande Piezometer
◦ (when water level in bore hole does not get stabilize in
Piezometer is recommended)

Piezometers may be installed in bore hole for seasonal

variations in High permeability soils. Chemical analysis of
ground water may be performed if its constituents can be
damaging to foundation.

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Soil Sampling
 Disturbed Samples: Natural soil structure is modified or
destroyed during sampling
◦ Representative Samples:
 Natural water content and mineral constituents of
particular soil layer are preserved
 Good for soil identification and water content
◦ Non-representative Samples:
 Water content altered and soil layers mixed up
 Of no use.
 Undisturbed Samples: Soil structure and the other
mineral properties are preserved to an extent.

◦ Some disturbance is always there, e.g. due to stress release.

However it should be minimized in order to have suitable
sample for our analysis. 29
Type of Sampler
 Split Spoon Sampler

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Shelby Tubes (Thin Wall Sampler)
 Thin wall (1/16in) sampling tube Sampler pushed into
the ground hydraulically Sample extruded from tube and
“Undisturbed” soil sample is obtained

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Undisturbed Sample

D4

D3

D2

D1

1. Inside Clearance
2. Outside Clearance
3. Area Ratio
4. Recovery ratio

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Other Sampler
 Piston Sampler

 Rock Coring

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Sealing of Sample

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Borings: Number & Spacing
Some guidelines – IS:1892-1979
 For small projects
◦ On plane site – 4 or 5 borings sufficient
◦ On uneven site – add 1 or 2 more borings
 For large projects:
◦ 50-100 m spacing in grid pattern
 It is important to conduct borings as
close as possible to column locations and
strip footing locations.
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Depth of Exploration

1. Settlement
2. Stress

Square Strip
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Depth of Exploration: (IS 1892)
S.No Type of Foundation Depth of exploration
.
1 Isolated spread footing or 1.5 times width (B)
raft
2 Adjacent footing with clear 1.5 times the length (L) adjacent rows of
spacing less than twice the footings
width
3 Pile and well foundations 1.5 times width of the structure from the
bearing level (toe of pile or bottom of
well)
4 Road Cuts Equal to bottom with of cut
Fills (embankments) 2m below the ground or height of the fill
whichever is greater

5 Adjacent rows of footings As per Fig 1.6 37

 L>B
B A B
D = 1.5 B (for A > 4B)
D = 1.5 L (for A < 2B)

B A B A B L=W

W
D = 4.5 B (for A < 2B), D = 3 B (for A > 2B)
D = 1.5 B (for A > 4B) 38
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