Bore Hole Layout

The borehole should be made as close as possible to the proposed location of the foundation. This is particularly important where soil strata are erratic. Figure 1 shows typical layouts for multistory building, factory building and the site where the layout of the structure has not been decided. For extensive areas, it is possible to adopt a widely spaced grid of bore holes with some form of in-situ probes, such as dynamic or static cone penetration tests or wash boring.

Number of Boreholes
The more are numbers of boreholes sunk the more will be known of the site condition and greater economy is achieved in foundation design. However, the decision with regard to numbers of borehole to be sunk is a difficult task. This is tied up with the cost of investigation and cost of the project. For all but small structures at least two or preferably three boreholes should be sunk so that the true dip of the strata could be established. Even so false interpretation about soil stratification could still be persistent.

Spacing of Bore Holes

Table 1 presented below provides some guideline as to the minimum numbers and spacing of boreholes. Table 1 Guideline for minimum no. of Boreholes and Spacing S.N Types of job Types of soil in horizontal extent Uniform Average Spacing, m 1 2 1 or 2 storied structure Multi-storied structure 60 45 30 30 30 30 15 15 15 15 3 4 1-2 per foundation 1-2 per foundation Erratic Minimum no. of boring

3 Bridge piers, abutments 4 Transmission tower

5 6

Highway and airports Borrow pits

300 300-150

150 150-100

100 30-15