SPECIFICATIONS

SECTION 3.0 : LABORATORY WORKS

3.1

General
The contractor shall, when required by the Employer, carry out soil tests specified in this section at
a laboratory accepted in writing by the Employer.
The laboratory work shall be completed within the works programme specified for this ground
investigation.
Where early completion is required in respect of a portion of the field works, the laboratory testing
relevant to that portion shall be completed within the partial completion period specified.

3.2

Work on Public Holiday

No testing shall be carried out on Public Holiday without the permission in writing by the
Employer.

3.3

Contractor's Supervision
Laboratory testing shall be carried out under the continuous supervision of a competent Engineer
or Senior Technician who is experienced in soil testing procedures.

3.4

Staff Definitions
For laboratory testing the following definitions shall apply :
Engineer - an Engineer with a degree from an acceptable University or an equivalent qualification
in civil engineering, engineering geology, geology or materials engineering, with 4 years post
qualification experience.
Senior Technician - a person with at least 10 years' experiences gained in a soil testing laboratory
and fully familiar with triaxial testing procedures.

3.5

Access to Laboratory
The Employer shall have the right of access to the Contractor's laboratory while laboratory testing
is being carried out in connection with the contract.

3.6

Results, Samples And Original Sample Containers Property Of The Employer

The results of the tests shall become the property of the Employer and shall not be divulged by the
Contractor except to the Employer. Samples and the original sample containers are the property of
the Employer.

3.7

Schedule Of Laboratory Testing

The Employer will decide the laboratory test required and will provide the Contractor with one or
more Schedules of Laboratory tests. The Employer will prepare the Testing schedules once he has
received the relevant preliminary records. The Contractor shall inform the Employer within 7
working days from the receipt of the testing schedules if the sample is not adequate for all the tests
specified.

3.8

Units to be used
The units used shall be in S.I. The measured accuracy required shall follow that in the testing
standards.

3.9

Testing Standards

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The relevant testing standards and the additional testing requirements for all the tests shall be as
specified in Clause 1.27 of Section 1 of the specification.
3.10

Presentation Of Test Results

The test results shall be presented in tabular and/or graphical form as appropriate and on forms
acceptable to the Employer.
One preliminary copy of the results of each test completes with test data and photographs shall be
submitted to the Employer within two days of completing of the test. The records shall be legible
and intelligible and shall be stamped PRELIMINARY.

3.11

Retention Of Samples
When laboratory tests are carried out on only part of a soil sample, the remainder of the soil in the
sampler or container shall be resealed with wax as soon as possible and retained. Soil on which
laboratory tests have been carried out, including that wasted during the preparation of test
specimens, shall be retained in airtight containers until the presentation of the Final Report.

3.12

Testing Standards and Additional Testing Requirements

All the laboratory tests specified shall be carried out in accordable to the relevant standards with
additional testing requirements as described in Table 3.1.
Table 3.1
ITEM
1

Testing Standards and Additional Testing Requirements

Test (with Standards and Additional Testing

Requirement)
GENERAL

Additional information
to be submitted

- to be submitted for all tests.

- the definitions and all requirements in BS
1377 : Part 1 : 1990 where appropriate shall
apply together with the following tests.

- testing standard and method used.

- note on any unavoidable variation from
standard procedure with reasons.
- contract title and reference number.
- Exploratory Hole Number and Sample
Number
- date of testing.
- depth of sample.
- description of sample including fabric and
structures
- comment on any unusual test results.

CLASSIFICATION TESTS
2

Moisture content
- BS 1377 : Part 2 : 1990 clause 3.2

- natural moisture content of the sample.

Liquid limit, plastic limit and plastic index

- BS 1377 : Part 2 : 1990 clause 4.3, 4.5, 5.3
and 5.4.
- Liquid limit to be carried out in natural state
or of a sample of soil from which material
retained on a 425 um has been removed by
manual selection or by wet sieving as
specified in clause 4.2.4 of BS 1377 : Part 2 :
1990.

Linear shrinkage
- BS 1377 : Part 2 : 1990 clause 6.5

- natural moisture content of sample.

Bulk Density
- BS 1377 : Part 2 : 1990 clause 7.2

- in kN/m3 to nearest one decimal place

- to indicate on natural state or wet sieving

and method of testing (clause) used.

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Page 3 of 10

Table 3.1 (Contd)

Testing Standards and Additional Testing Requirements

ITEM

Test (with Standards and Additional Testing

Requirement)

Particle Density
- BS 1377 : Part 2 : 1990
clause 8.2 and 8.3.
- for soils consisting of particles finer than 2
mm, clause 8.3 of BS 1377 : Part 2 : 1990 is
to be used.
- for highly organic soils and soils
containing soluble salts, kerosene or
white spirit may replace water.

Participle size distribution

- for cohesionless and coarse grain soils, BS
1377 : Part 2 : 1990 clause 9.2.
- for coarse sand to clay size (about 2 m), BS
1377 : Part 2 : 1990 clause 9.4 or 9.5.

Additional information
to be submitted
- method of testing (clause) used.

- result shall be clearly plotted as measured

data points, joined by fine straight lines.
- method of testing (clause) used.

CHEMICAL TEST
8

Determination of organic matter content.

- BS 13777 : Part 3 : 1990 clause 3.

- where applicable the organic matter shall be

identified and the degree of humification
based on von Post scale to be indicated.

Mass loss on ignition

- BS 1377 : Part 3 : 1990 clause 4.

- as in item 8.

10

Total Sulphate Content of Soil

- BS 1377 : Part 3 : 1990 clause 5.5
- when total sulphate content exceeds 0.3 % of
the dry weight of soil, a 2 : 1 water, soil
extract must be prepared and the sulphate
content redetermined in accordance to item
11.

11

Sulphate content of ground water and aqueous

soil extracts
- BS 1377 : Part 3 : 1990 clause 5.5.
- preparation of 2 : 1 water : soil extract shall
follow BS 1377 : Part 3 : 1990 clause 5.3 or
5.4.

12

pH value
- BS 1377 : part 3 : 1990 clause 9.

13

Chloride Content of Soil

- BS 1377 : part 3 : 1990 clause 7.2 or 7.3.

Page 4 of 10

Table 3.1 (Contd)

Testing Standards and Additional Testing Requirements

ITEM

Test (with Standards and Additional Testing

Requirement)

Additional information
to be submitted

14

Chloride Content of groundwater

Manual of Soil Laboratory Testing K.H.
Head, Vol 1 : 1980.

15

Carbonate Content
- BS 1377 : Part 3 : 1990 clause 6.3 or 6.4
where relevant.

COMPACTION-RELATED TESTS
16

Dry Density/Moisture Content Relationship

(2.5 kg rammer)
- BS 1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 3.3 for sample
passing a 20 mm test sieve or
- BS 1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 3.4 for soil
with some coarse gravel size particle or
- BS 1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 3.7.
- at least 2 measured points either side of
optimum
- fresh sample to be used for each moisture
content

- zero, three and five air voids line based on

measured particle density.
- sample description.
- natural moisture content and Atterberg
limit.

17

Dry Density/Moisture Content Relationship

(4.5 kg rammer)
- BS 1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 3.5 for sample
passing a 20 mm test sieve or
- BS 1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 3.6 soil with
some coarse gravel size particle or
- BS 1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 3.7.
- at least 2 measured points either side of
optimum.
- fresh sample to be used for each moisture
content.

- As in Item 16.

18

Determination of maximum density of sands

- BS 1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 4.2.

19

Determination of maximum density of

gravely soils
- BS 1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 4.3

20

Determination of minimum density of sand

- BS 1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 4.4

21

Determination of minimum density of gravely

soils
- BS 1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 4.5

- tabulation of moisture content, wet density

and dry density.

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Table 3.1 (Contd)

Testing Standards and Additional Testing Requirements

ITEM

Test (with Standards and Additional Testing

Requirement)

Additional information
to be submitted

22

Moisture Condition Value (MCV) of soil at its

natural moisture content
- BS 1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 5.4

- A graph showing the change in

penetration of the rammer, plotted against
log. of the number of blows for each
specimen.

23

MCV/moisture content relationship

- BS 1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 5.5

- MCV determined from the graph reported

to the nearest 0.1 units.
- moisture content of each specimen.
- plot of MCV against moisture content.

24

California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

- BS 1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 7

- CBR value to nearest whole number-top

and bottom.
- mass of surcharge used
- moisture content for top, centre and
bottom of sample after soaking.
- if soak, time of soaking and swelling
recorded.
- dry density after compaction.
- undrained shear strength of sample after
CBR testing in accordance with clause 8 or
9 of BS 1377 : part 7 : 1990 when
specified.

25

CBR/dry/density/moisture content relationship

- BS 1377 : part 4 : 1990 clause 7 with BS
1377 : Part 4 : 1990 clause 3.3 or 3.4 or 3.5
or 3.6 or 3.7 whichever is specified or
appropriate.
- compaction will be in CBR mould.
- at least 2 measured points either side of
optimum.
- fresh sample to be used for each moisture
content.

- as in item 16 and item 24.

26

COMPRESSIBILITY, PERMEABILITY
AND DURABILITY TESTS
One dimensional consolidation (standard)

- initial and final moisture content, void and

degree of saturation.

- BS 13777 : Part 5 : 1990 clause 3

- 7 loading and 2 unloading stages 24 hours
per loading stage.
- graph of settlement against both square-root
time and
logarithm time to assess
consolidation characteristic.

- initial dimension.
- measured particle density.
- tabulation of void ratio (e) compression
index (Cc ) and reconsolidation pressure
(Pc) in kN/m2 , coefficient of consolidation
(Cv) in m2/yr, and coefficient of volume
compressibility (Mv) in m2/MN for each
loading stage.
- graph of coefficient of consolidation (Cv) in
m2/yr against logarithm of mean
consolidation pressure.
- reconsolidation pressure (Pc)

Page 6 of 10

Table 3.1 (Contd)

ITEM

Testing Standards and Additional Testing Requirements

Test (with Standards and Additional Testing

Requirement)

Additional information
to be submitted
- coefficient of secondary compression for
each load increment.
- plastic and liquid limit of specimen as
described in clause 4.3 and 5.3 of BS
1377 : Part 2 : 1990.

27

One-dimensional consolidation (rapid loading)

- Head, Vo. 2 : 1982
- loading stages to be specified.
- graph of settlement against both square-root
time and logarithm time shall be used to
assess consolidation characteristic.

- as in item 26 where applicable.

28

One-dimensional
consolidation
increment)
- Head, Vol 2 : 1982.
- loading pressure to be specified.

- initial and final moisture content, void ratio

and degree of saturation.
- initial dimensions.
- measured particle density.
- liquid and plastic limit of specimen.
- graph of settlement and swelling against
logarithm of time.
- coefficient of secondary compression.

29

Swelling and collapse characteristic

- BS 1377 : Part 5 : 1990 clause 4.

30

Dispersibility
- BS 1377 : Part 5 : 1990 clause 6.

(single

- as in item 26 where appropriate.

- indicate change in void ratio or height due
to saturation on the plot of void ratio or
compression against log pressure.

STRENGTH TESTING
i) Direct Shear Test
31

Laboratory vane test

- for soft to firm cohensive soil
BS 1377 : Part 7 : 1990 clause 3

- calibration data and graph of vane.

- size of vane used.
- shear strength in kN/m2

32

Standard drained shear box test

- on a set of 3 specimens of cohesionless soil.

- dimension of test specimen.

- condition of specimen undisturbed or
recompacted and method of preparation.
- initial bulk density, moisture content, dry
density.
- rate of displacement.
- plot of vertical measurement and shear
stress against strain.
- shear stress (kPa) as ordinates against
horizontal displacement (in mm).
- Coulomb envelope for peak and residual
strength as applicable.

- BS 1377 : Part 7 : 1990 clause 4

(clauses 4.5.5 and 4.6.4 expected).
- angle of shear resistance.

Page 7 of 10

Table 3.1 (Contd)

Testing Standards and Additional Testing Requirements

ITEM

Test (with Standards and Additional Testing

Requirement)

33

Drained strength and Residual strength Shear

box test.
- on a set of 3 specimens of cohesive soil.
- peak and residual strength.
- BS 1377 : part 7 : 1990 clause 4
(clause 4.5.4 and 4.6.3 expected).

Additional information
to be submitted
- as in item 32 where appropriate.

ii) Compression Test (Total Stress)

34

Unconfined compression test

- BS 1377 : part 7 : 1990 clause 7

35

Undrained Triaxial compression without the

measurement of pore water pressure
- BS 11277 : Part 7 : 1990 clause 8
- carried out on either a set of 3 x 38 mm, 50
mm or 70 mm diameter test specimens,
whichever is specified.

- All specimens must be saturated.

- The average shear strength kN/m2.
- Mohr circle stress diagrams.
- stress-strain curves of each specimen.
- type of failure of each specimen (plastic,
brittle or compound).
- rate of strain, percent per minute (based on
the rate of drive of the machine ignoring
the stiffness of the measuring system).
- moisture of specimens.

36

Undrained Triaxial compression without the

measurement of pore water pressure
(Multistage test on a single specimen)
- BS 1377 : Part 7 : 1990 clause 9.

- as in item 35.

iii) Compression Test (Effective Stress)

37

Consolidated Undrained Triaxial Compression

with Pore Water Pressure Measurement
- BS 1377 : Part 8 : 1990 clause 3, 4, 5, 6 and
7.
- carried out on either a set of 3 x 38 mm, 50
mm or 70 mm diameter test specimens
whichever is specified.
- consolidation stage to be continued until 98%
is reached.
- rate of shearing to be calculated base on t100
from pore water pressure dissipation.

38

Consolidated Drained Triaxial compression

with measurement of volume change.
- BS 1377 : Part 8 : 1990 clause 3, 4, 5, 6 and
8.
- carried out on either a set of 3 x 38 mm, 50
mm or 70 mm diameter test specimens
whichever is specified.
- consolidation stage to be continued until
98% is reached.

- stress and excess pore water pressure

against strain (%) plot.
- cell pressure against pore water pressure
plot.
- volume change against square root time
plot.
- Mohr circle of effective stressand total
stress on a single plot.
- stress path for effective stress S/t on a
single plot with same vertical and
horizontal scale.
- value of total and effective shear strength
and angle of internal friction.
- as in time 37.

Page 8 of 10

Table 3.1 (Contd)

ITEM

Testing Standards and Additional Testing Requirements

Test (with Standards and Additional Testing

Requirement)

Additional information
to be submitted

- rate of shearing to be calculated base on t100

from pore water pressure dissipation.
39

Pore Water Extraction and Salinity Test

- ASTM : Designation D4542-85

- sample description
- salinity in g/litre

40

Clay Mineralogy by X-ray Diffraction

- Zussman, J., Chpt. 6 in Physical Methods in
determination Mineralogy, 1967.

- sample description.
- Percentage of mineral type Kaolinite
Montmorillonite, Illite, Vermiculite and
intrastratified Montmorillonite Illite.
- X-ray diffactograms.

ROCK AND AGGREGATE TESTING

41

Natural Water Content of rock core specimens

- Rock characterization Testing and
Monitoring , Editor : ET Brown, Part 2,
International Society for Rock Mechanics
Suggested Methods, 1981.

- method of testing.

42

Dry Density of Rock Core Specimens

- same as in item 41.

- methods of testing.

43

Point Load of Rock Core Specimens

- Suggested Method for Determining Point
Load Strength , International Journal of
Rock Mechanics, Mining Sciemce and
Geomechanics Abstract Vol. 22, No. 2, page
51-60 (1985).

- methods of testing.

44

Uniaxial Compressive Strength with or

without deformation modulus of rock core
specimens.
- same as in item 41.

- specimen dimension.
- specimen density.
- rate of loading (KN/min).
- Compressive strength KN/m2 or NN/mm2 value of Youngs Modulus and Poissons
Ratio is specified.
- stress and poissons ratio against strain
plot.

45

Direct Tensile Strength of Rock

Specimens
- ASTM : Designation : D 2936-84.

Core

46

Splitting Tensile Strength of Rock Core

Specimens
- ASTM : Designation : D3967 - 86.

47

Minimum Index Density and Calculation of

Relative Density
- ASTM : Designation : D 4254-83

Page 9 of 10

Table 3.1 (Contd)

ITEM

Testing Standards and Additional Testing Requirements

Test (with Standards and Additional Testing

Requirement)

Additional information
to be submitted

48

Petrographical Examination ISRM.

49

Slake Durability
- ASTM : Designation D 4644-87

50

Determination of Participle
Densities and Water Absorption of Aggregate
- BS 812 : Part 107 : 1990.

- method of testing.

51

Determination of Bulk Densities, Voids and

Bulking of Aggregates
- BS 812 : Part 109 : 1990.

- method of testing.

52

Determination of Moisture
Aggregates
- BS 812 : Part 103 : 1990.

53

Determination of Aggregate grading

- BS 812 : Part 103 : 1990

- method of testing.

54

Determination of Particle Shape

(Flakiness index)
- BS 812 : Part 105 : 1990

- method of testing.

55

Determination of Aggregate
Crushing Value (ACV)
- BS 812 : Part 110 : 1990

- method of testing.

56

Ten Percent fines value

- BS 812 : Part 111 : 1990

- method of testing.

57

Los Angeles abrasion value

- ASTM : Designation : C131

- method of testing.

58

Determination of polished stone value

- BS 812 : Part 114 : 1990

- method of testing.

59

Determination of Soundness
- BS 812 : Part 121 : 1990

- method of testing.

Content

of

- method of testing.

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