Geotechnical Investigation

1.0 What is Geotechnical Investigation

• It is the exploration of earth crust material not very far below

the ground level to know the type and characteristics of the
bedding material on which engineering structures are built.
• It includes boring, sampling and testing the materials
encountered and reporting for all activities performed.

• The investigation work is performed for both on the onshore and

marine structures.

1.1 Scope and necessity of investigation

• The GI is necessary because we need the structure safe against

any loading or adverse conditions in its life. The ground is
explored for necessary improvement if required.
• Safe

1.2 Specification of investigation work

• Normally a specification is prepared by a consultant responsible
for design of structure or facilities to be provided for the
client. A specification should meet minimum requirement for the
design of the structure. It should not be exaggerated as well.

• The specification should include all details necessary for the

investigation work. The subcontractor responsible for the
investigation work must fulfil all the requirement set out in the
specification without an unreasonable delay.

1.3 Spacing and depth of boring

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• A very hard and fast rule is not available for SPACING of
boreholes. It is dictated by available fund and field conditions.

• DEPTH of boring is dependent on size and type of structures and

characteristics of the deposits. Borehole depth is recommended in
some engineering codes and design manuals. It is essential that a
boring must pass through unsuitable strata.

• The termination depth is defined in the specification. Normally

it must lie in a hard bed for an end bearing pile or in a
cohesive material when the frictional stress exceeds the F.S..

1.4 Personnel engaged in the work and their qualification

• All personels in the investigation work must be well trained and

capable of doing their work with confidence. A lack of knowledge
may lead to unbearable situations.

• A supervising engineer should be capable enough to foresee a

possible outcome of the investigation work being carried out.

1.5 Instrumentation and safety at site

• The contractor must provide adequate boring tools at the site.

Lack of enough tools may lead to unnecessary delay, collapse of
the borehole, misuse of manpower etc. A boring equipment
essentially consists of a steel tripod long enough to accommodate
drill rods, pulley, steel rope, Drill rods, pumping device for
circulation of mud water, driving hammer assembly, ….

• The foreman and the labourers must use PPE during work. Visitors
will use the PPE to approach to the working location. The working
area must be clean from any foreign substance spreaded over the
area. Additional safety should be provided with the boring
conducted at offshore areas.

1.6 Program of work

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The contractor will provide a schedule of work before onset of the
work. The schedule will include the laboratory work, expected date
completion of field work, lab work, submission date of field log and
final report.

1.7 How is wash boring work done in the field?

A wash boring equipment generally consists of a steel tripod, a

pumping device for circulation of mud, mechanical driving assembly,
drill rods, and some other small tools. The tripod is first placed.

1.8 Common types of boring in Bangladesh

Two types of drilling are common in Bangladesh.
a) Wash boring
b) Rotary drilling
Wash boring is very popular and cost effective. However, it has some
disadvantages as well. It is preferred method and widely used for its
simplicity.

Rotary drilling is superior to wash boring and costlier. It is more

reliable and preferred by engineers when more accuracy is demanded for
sampling and field tests.

1.9 Selection of the appropriate type of boring

The selection of type of boring depends on:

a) Cost of the structure to be built

b) Allocated time for exploration
c) Desired precision of sampling and testing
d) Provision of more field tests such as vane shear, seismicity,
electrical resistivity, pressuremeter tests, etc.
e) Ground condition
f) Field condition, accessibility etc.

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1.10 Importance and function of a qualified supervisor

A supervising engineering must be familiar with the program of working

at site so that he/she can guide the field team to avoid unwanted
situations. The engineer will be checking the field borelog time to
time and checking the field identification of soils in the strata. The
engineer shall oversee the laboratory work and advice wherever
necessary. A borelog shall include all information about the site and
events during the work. All reports, the field and the laboratory,
shall be checked by the engineer.

1.11 SPT

It is the most versatile and most preferred test recommended by

engineers. The reason of its versatility is that it is correlated with
other engineering parameters required for design. Moreover, a huge
number of publications are now a days available for estimating
potential earthquake induced parameters with correlated SPT N-values.
A stainless steel split spoon sampler having dimensions of OD= mm, ID=
mm, L= mm, of sharp is employed for the test. It is driven vertically
at known depth with a steel hammer of 140 lb (63.5±0.5kg) in weight
with a free falling height of 30 in (760±10 mm) by repeated drops. The
number of hammer drops for each 6in (150mm) is recorded and the number
of blows required for the last 12in(300mm) i.e. the number of blows
per feet is called the SPT- N value or the standard penetration
resistance.
The SPT N-values are corrected for:

a) Energy delivered to the drive rods

b) Energy losses due to length of rods
c) Effect of overburden pressure in sands
to obtain corrected N values.

1.12 Sample disturbance and its remedy

Causes of sample disturbance:

a) Impact load on the sampler during sampling

b) Hard or dense stratum cannot be easily penetrated by the sampler

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c) Inappropriate sampler
d) Change in moisture content at the time of test
e) Disturbance caused during shifting of sample to the laboratory
f) Extrusion of sample by compressing at the laboratory
It is not possible to avoid all the reasons mentioned above. However,
it can be minimised by taking proper care and by choosing correct
sampler. Often it would cost extraordinarily to offset the allocated
budget.

1.13 Sample collection, preservation and transportation

Disturbed samples are immediately identified, labelled and placed in a

box before shifting to the laboratory.

Sampling tubes containing undisturbed soil samples are cleaned, waxed

at both ends to prevent any loss of moisture, marked and placed under
cushion in a cool place before shifting to the laboratory.

Samples should be shifted to the laboratory as quickly as possible and

care is taken during transportation to prevent any shock.

1.14 Soil identification in the field

Only a qualified personnel is allowed to identify the soil. This
identification is reported in the borelog. Supervising engineer is
responsible to check for correct field identification before borelog
is prepared.
The identification shall include:

a) Colour
b) Odour if noticed
c) Consistency(stiffness or hardness)
d) Secondary constituents as qualifying term for the main
composition
e) Main composition of the soil preferably in bold
f) Bedding plane (optional)

1.15 Procedure of soil identification in the field

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The upper part of the soil in the spoon is disregarded. Only the lower
part is considered to be representative and examined and tested.

A) Colour is recorded.
B) The structure of the soil can be mottled or homogeneous.
C) Recognize the principal constituent. If it is sand, check for
grittiness and recognize the size of sand whether it is fine,
medium or coarse.
D) If the principal constituent is fines then proceed to ascertain
whe

1.16 Borehole logging; requirement and standard procedures

Borehole logging is immediately made after completion of boring. Field
logging is expected by the engineer within two days after completion
of boring. The engineer carefully checks all information provided by
the drilling company. He will check field identification for all soil
samples. Necessary corrections and modifications are made after
checking.
The engineer has to follow the standard procedure set out in the
specification. No discrepancy is allowed and no confusion arises by
users of the log.

1.17 Shallow boring

Sometimes it is necessary to know the type of soil lying within few
metres below the ground surface. In this case shallow boring is
recommended. Assigned laboratory tests are due to use of the material.

1.18 Trial pit

Trial pits are investigated to determine suitability of the material

for use as construction material. Soil excavators are used for
collection of samples. Manual effort for sampling is also common.
Logging is sometimes made to know history of formation of the deposit.

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1.19 Recommended tests for shallow boring and pit samples

Normally soil classification and CBR tests are carried out for pit
samples.
Modification of soil by addition with other type of soil can be made
and studied.
Detailed tests on undisturbed soils are also made on borehole samples.

1.20 Borehole log and presentation

A borehole log should include all field activities include but not
limited to the following:

1) Name of client
2) Name of organization who performed boring
3) Date of boring
4) Rig operator
5) Discontinuation period and the reason of discontinuity
6) Location
7) XYZ coordinates of the borehole
8) Location of WT
9) SPT-N values and plotting in horizontal scale
10) SPT locations and field identification of the soil
11) Diagram of soil strata
12) Symbolic representation of soil types in strata
13) Some test results on physical properties in each stratum in
H-scale

1.21 Assigned laboratory tests

Normally tests to be performed are specified in the specification.

Usually the following tests are performed:
For disturbed soils-

a) NMC
b) PSD
c) ALs
d) SG
For undisturbed soils-
a) NMC, bulk density and specific gravity

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b) PSD, ALs
c) Unconfined compression
d) Triaxial compression
e) Consolidation
f) Direct Shear

In some cases mica analysis and chemical tests are performed on soil
and groundwater at borehole location.

1.22 Requirement of standard procedures in lab testing

A soil testing laboratory should be capable of performing necessary

tests by following standard test procedures. The laboratory should be
equipped with acceptable equipment and qualified technicians guided by
a geotechnical engineer.
The equipment and manpower should be considered separately for
selection of laboratory undertaking the tests.

1.23 Some aspects of lab work

A laboratory should be clean and tidy. It should contain sufficient

storage for accommodating field samples. It should not be hot and
enough ventilated.
Sufficient facilities for testing should be available. Working desks
should be available to accommodate testing instruments.
For chemical testing, a small room with extracting fan and adequate
desk and cupboard is required for testing. Only trained workers should
allowed to work.
All measuring devices should regularly checked for their reliability.

A display board showing samples and testing be maintained at correct

location and should always be updated.

1.24 Cone penetration tests (CPT)

Cone penetration test is very common in Europe. It is sometimes used

in our country when the importance of the structure, existing location
and available fund justify its use.
It has certain advantages and limitations.

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1.25 Types of CPT

Types of CPT vary according to dimensions and use. Sizes of cones and
sleeves vary according to Manufaturers.
Some modification is done to the device to widen test facilities e.g.

Cone pressuremeter test (CPMT), seizmic cone penetration test (SCPT),

etc.

1.25 What is obtained in CPT

Normally available parameters are cone resistance (qc in MN/m2) and
frictional resistance of the sleeve(fs in kN/m2). These two results are
simultaneously obtained during punching the penetration rods followed
by cone and sleeve. From the relative values of these two sets of
results, soil profiling is made along with other correlations.

1.26 Interpretations of CPT

A lot variety of correlation systems for identification of soil
stratum and strength conditions from values of qc and fs are available.
Many software programs have been developed in this connection.
However, the engineers are to apply their own judgement to accept the
correlated values.

1.27 Correlations of SPT and CPT results

1. Correlation by Robertson and Campanela:
(Qc/Pa)/N60
The value is used for soil profiling.
2. Jefferies and Davies:
Ic = f(qc,fs)

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Ic = f((Qc/Pa)/N60 )
This Ic is used for soil profiling

1.28 Advantages and limitations of CPT

Advantages:
1) Less time is required
2) No expense and risk to transfer field samples to laboratory
3) CPT uses data-logger that ensures that root data is saved and
printed in specified format.
4) Engineers can gather data much faster and can take spot decision
for testing intermediate locations.
5) Pore pressure is measured and hence it tends to produce more
accurate presentation of actual conditions underground.
6) Not laboratory testing is required.
Disadvatages:
1) There is no way to view the solids existing in the strata.
2) There is no way but to redo when there is conflict in data.

2.0 Short descriptions of common lab testing

Lab tests performed on soil from borehole:
1) Natural Moisture.
It can be performed both on disturbed soil and undisturbed soil.
Test result is more reliable when performed on undisturbed soil.

2) Particle size Distribution

The test is done to assess the coarse fraction contained in the
specimen. It is done by using a 75mm test sieve. Silt and clay
size particles are assessed with the help of pipette or
hydrometer.

3) Atterberg Limits
It is reliable irrespective of the sample disturbance

4) Unconfined Compression
It is reliable when the sample is fine and saturated undisturbed
soil.

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5) Triaxial Compression
The test is performed for granular and undisturbed fine soils and
at different loading and drainage conditions. It is costlier than
unconfined compression test.

6) Direct shear Test:

This is also a recommended test on account of its simplicity.

7) Consolidation
The test is performed on soft fine soil to determine
consolidation parameters. It is a lengthy test to perform but
valuable parameters are obtained.

2.1 Tests for soil classification

The particle size distribution along with the Atterberg limits are
commonly called “soil classification tests.” These are the most
fundamental tests by which one can describe the soil.

2.2 Tests for compaction

Density of soil in situ is determined in a number of ways. It is

compared with some “standard” which corresponds to a laboratory
compaction test result. In laboratory a known energy in dynamic form
is applied to soil in a steel mould at a varying water content and at
different determinations. Dry density is computed at each
determination and is plotted against the moisture content. A curve is
obtained showing the dry density corresponding corresponding to the
moisture content. The shape of the curve(concave downward) is such
that there is a maximum density within the test range. This is the
laboratory standard density result. The moisture content corresponding
to the maximum density is known as “optimum moisture content”.

Instead of specifying density values, relative compaction in degrees

are specified in all project specifications. In such cases laboratory
compaction tests are performed on representative soils and the insitu
density results are expressed as relative compaction in percentage.

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2.3 Lab CBR test and its use

It is a strength test performed on disturbed soil. Soil at optimum

water content is prepared in the laboratory and compacted in CBR
moulds, normally 3 Nos, at three energy levels. The compacted soils in
the moulds are soaked under water for 4 days. After soaking those
soaked soils are tested for penetration at a specified penetration
rate for about 10mm. A load penetration curve is obtained. The load at
2.5mm and 5.0mm penetrations are noted for each compacted specimen.
CBR value is the percentage of the load corresponding to the standard
loads. Suppose P1 and P2 are the loads obtained at 2.5 and 5mm
penetrations for a particular specimen. Then the CBR values are:

i) P1*100/13.24
ii) P2*100/19.96
when the loads are expressed in kN. The higher value of CBR is chosen
as accepted CBR.

In AASHTO design “resilient modulus” test is recommended. Its value is

correlated with CBR. As soon as CBR value is known, resilient modulus
value is estimated and used in the design.

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