SOIL EXPLORATION

Prof. E.Saibaba Reddy

B.Tech, M.E.(Hons) Roorkee, Ph.D (Nottingham, UK)
Post Doc,(Halifax Canada), Post Doc (Birmingham UK)
&
Eadala Rakesh Reddy
B.Tech (JNTUH), M.Tech (VSSUT-Gold Medal),
(Ph.D)- Andhra University-DST-Inspire Fellow
Chief Consultant –EE Engineering Construction Services
COMMON STAGES IN INVESTIGATION

 Desk Study
 Site Reconnaissance
 Field Investigation- a) Preliminary b) Detailed
 Laboratory Testing
 Report Writing
 Follow up Investigations during design & construction’
 Appraisal of performance
 SOIL INVESTIGATION
 Determination of surface and subsurface soil conditions and
features in an area of proposed construction that may
influence the design and construction and address expected
post construction problems.

 SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION:
 Simple visual examination of soil at the surface or from
shallow test pits.

 Detailed study of soil and groundwater to a reasonable

depth (influence zone) by sampling from bore holes, shafts
and audits and in-situ and laboratory tests.
 PURPOSE OF EXPLORATION
 To determine the general suitability of the site.

 To find the nature of each stratum and engineering properties of the soil and
rock, which may affect the design and mode of construction of the proposed
structure and foundation.

 To find out the sources of construction material (backfilling, sub grade for
roads).

 To ensure the safety of surrounding existing structures.

 To locate the ground water level and possible corrosive effect of soil and
water on foundation material.

 To predict the settlements.

 Selection of suitable construction technique.

 Selection of type and depth of foundation.

 PLANNING OF EXPLORATION
 Exploration program involves location and depth of borings, test pits
or other methods to be used, and methods of sampling and tests to
be carried out to determine the stratification and engineering
properties of the soils underlying the site. The principal properties of
interest will be the shear strength, deformation and hydraulic
characteristics of soil.

 The planning of a subsurface exploration program includes the

following steps:
 Gather all available information
 Reconnaissance
 Preliminary Exploration
 Detailed Exploration
PLANNING OF EXPLORATION
 GATHER ALL AVAILABLE
INFORMATION
 Assemble all information on dimensions, column spacing,
type and use of structure, basement requirements, and any
special architectural considerations of the proposed building.

 For bridges the Geotechnical Engineer should have access to

type and span lengths as well as pier loadings. This
information will indicate any settlement limitations, and can
be used to estimate foundation loads.
 RECONNAISSANCE
 This step includes visual inspection carried out at site without
drilling bore holes to reveal surface and subsurface
information. This includes:

 Collection of information about adjacent sites and structures.

 Ground water levels that can be determined by checking

nearby levels.

 Type of vegetation.

 The general topography of the site, the possible exsistence of

drainage trenches.

 Soil stratification from deep cuts.

RECONNAISSANCE
SOIL STRATIFICATION
 PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION
 In this step few borings are made to establish in a general
manner:
 To know the stratification, types of soil to be expected, and
possibly the location of the groundwater table.

 If the initial borings indicate the upper soil is loose or highly

compressible, one or more borings should be taken to rock,
or hard strata.

 A feasibility exploration program should include collection of

enough site data and sample recovery to approximately
determine the properties of soil, foundation design and
identify the construction procedures.

 To find the thickness and composition of each soil layer.

 DETAILED EXPLORATION
 Here we make a detailed planning for soil exploration in the form of
trial pits or borings, their spacing and depth. Accordingly, the soil
exploration is carried out.

 The details of the soils encountered, the type of field tests adopted
and the type of sampling done, presence of water table if met with
are recorded in the form of bore logs.

 The soil samples are properly labeled and sent to laboratory for
evaluation of their physical and engineering properties.

 The report is prepared with clear description of the soils at the site,
methods of exploration, soil profile, test methods and results and
the location of the ground water. This should include information
and/or explanations of any unusual soil water bearing stratum and
soil and ground water condition that may be troublesome during
construction.
 DEPTH OF EXPLORATION
 Generally soil exploration should be advanced to a depth up
to which the increase in pressure due to structural loading
will have no damaging effect (such as settlement & shear
failure) on the structure. In other words, the depth at which
soil does not contribute settlement of foundation. This depth
is termed as significant depth.

Significant
Depth
FACTORS AFFECTING SIGNIFICANT
DEPTH
 Type of Structure

 Weight of Structure

 Dimension of Structure

 Disposition of the loaded area

 Soil profile and layer properties

THUMB RULES TO DECIDE THE DEPTH
OF SOIL EXPLORATION
THUMB RULES TO DECIDE THE DEPTH
OF SOIL EXPLORATION

B – Width of Foundation

L – Length of Foundation
METHODS OF SOIL EXPLORATION
 SOIL INVESTIGATION - TRIAL PITS
 They are excavated at site for inspection of strata so as to
provide necessary working space. According to IS
4453:1967, a clear working space at the bottom of the pit
should be 1.2 m x 1.2 m.

 Shallow pits (up to 3m) do not require lateral support. For

depth greater than 3m and GWT arises then lateral support
in the form of sheeting and bracing is required.

Trial Pit Excavated

TRIAL PIT WITH BRACING & SHEETS
 TRENCHES
 They can be defined as long shallow pits. They are
continuous over a considerable length and provide
exposure along a line. On slopes trenches are more
suitable than pits.
TRENCH DUG PROVIDED WITH
ANCHORS
TRIAL PITS – DIRECT METHOD
 DRIFTS AND SHAFTS
 Drifts: They are the horizontal tunnels made in the hill
sides to determine the nature and structure of the
geological strata. According to IS 4453-1980 a drift
should be 1.5 m wide and 2 m height in hard rock. In
soft arched roof can be provided.

 Shafts: Large size vertical holes made in geological

formation are called shafts. Shafts are done usually for
depth greater than 4 m.
 For Circular Diameter = 2.4 m (min)
 For Rectangular Width = 2.4 m
DRIFT & SHAFT
DRIFT (HORIZONTAL EXPLORATION)
SHAFT (VERTICAL EXPLORATION)
BORING OR DRILLING
AUGER BORING
AUGERS
HAND AUGER
HAND AUGER (MECHANIZED)
MECHANICAL AUGERS
MECHANICAL AUGERS
DISADVANTAGES OF AUGER BORING
WASH BORING
WASH BORING
WASH BORING
WASH BORING UNDER PROGRESS
DISADVANTAGES OF WASH BORING
 Highly disturbed samples

 Finer particles (clay, loam etc.) wont settle, and heavier particles not
brought up

 Exact strata identification not possible due to mixing of soil particles

 Slow in c. grained and stiff soils

 Not effective in hard soils, rocks , boulders

 Can be used in most type of soil but the progress is slow in coarse gravel
strata

 Some indications about strata from slurry colour and drill penetration
resistance

 It is only used for advancing the borehole to enable tube samples to be

taken or field test to be carried at the hole bottom.
ROTARY DRILLING
ROTARY DRILLING
PERCUSSION DRILLING
PERCUSSION
DRILLING
CORE DRILLING
CORE DRILLING
ROCK SAMPLES OBTAINED AT SITE
SAMPLING TOOLS AND SAMPLERS
FEATURES MEASURING DEGREE OF
DISTURBANCE
DESIGN FEATURES AFFECTING
DEGREE OF DISTURBANCE
DESIGN FEATURES AFFECTING
DEGREE OF DISTURBANCE
DESIGN FEATURES AFFECTING
DEGREE OF DISTURBANCE
HOW SOIL IS DISTURBED ??
SAMPLING
SAMPLERS
OPEN TUBE SAMPLER/SHELBY TUBES
(IS:2132-1986)
OPEN TUBE SAMPLER/SHELBY TUBES
(IS:2132-1986)
SPLIT SPOON SAMPLER
SPLIT SPOON SAMPLER (IS 9640-
1980)
PISTON SAMPLER
PISTON SAMPLER
HAND CARVED SAMPLES
SCRAPER BUCKET SAMPLER
H A N D L I N G , PR ESERVATION A N D
T RA N S P O RTAT I O N OF S AMPLES
H A N D L I N G , PR ESERVATION A N D
T RA N S P O RTAT I O N OF S AMPLES
H A N D L I N G , PR ESERVATION A N D
T RA N S P O RTAT I O N OF S AMPLES
ROCK CORE RECOVERY
ROCK CORE RECOVERY
STANDARD PENETRATION TEST
(IS 2131-1986)
STANDARD PENETRATION TEST
(IS 2131-1986)
STANDARD PENETRATION TEST
CORRECTION TO N VALUE
DILATANCY CORRECTION
OVER BURDEN CORRECTION
SPT CORRELATIONS FOR
COHESIONLESS SOILS
SPT CORRELATIONS FOR CLAYS
STATIC CONE PENETRATION TEST
STATIC CONE PENETRATION TEST
STATIC CONE PENETRATION TEST
STATIC CONE PENETRATION TEST
POINT CONE RESISTANCE VS. SPT
CORRELATION
CONE USED FOR SCPT
TYPICAL TEST SET UP OF DCPT
 PLATE LOAD TEST AND STANDARD
REFERANCE (IS:1888-1982)
i) Plate Load Test is a field test for determining the
ultimate bearing capacity of soil and the likely
settlement under a given load.
ii) Circular or square bearing plates of mild steel not
less than 25mm in thickness and varying in size
from 300 - 750mm.
iii) The subgrade modulus is defined as the load intensity ‘p’
applied on the standard plate per unit deflection i.e.
k=p/d, value of d=1.25mm. The test load is gradually
increased till the plate starts to sink at a rapid rate.
iv) The ultimate bearing capacity of soil is divided by
suitable factor of safety (which varies from 2 to 3) to
arrive at the value of safe bearing capacity of soil.
APPARATUS
TEST SETUP
TEST SETUP AT SITE
TEST SETUP
LOAD SETTLEMENT CURVE
USES OF PLATE LOAD TEST
GEOPHYSICAL METHODS
METHODS
ELECTRICAL METHODS
ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY METHOD
ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY METHOD
ELECTRICAL PROFILING
APPLICATIONS OF ELECTRICAL
PROFILING
ELECTRICAL SOUNDING
ELECTRICAL SOUNDING
APPLICATION OF RESISTIVITY
SOUNDINGS
APPLICATION OF ELECTRICAL
RESISTIVITY STUDIES
ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY
INSTRUMENTS
ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY
MEASUREMENTS
ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY METHOD-
PROS AND CONS
SEISMIC METHODS
SEISMIC METHODS
PROCEDURE
GEOPHONE
ASSUMPTIONS
SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION OF
REFRACTION METHOD
PROCEDURE – SEISMIC METHOD
PROCEDURE – SEISMIC METHOD
REFRACTION VS. REFLECTION
SEISMIC REFLECTION
SEISMIC REFRACTION
APPLICATIONS
ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
ROLE OF GEOPHYSICAL METHODS IN
SOLVING GEOTECHNICAL PROBLEMS
SUBSOIL INVESTIGATION REPORT
CONTENTS OF A SUBSOIL
INVESTIGATION REPORT
SUBSOIL EXPLORATION REPORT –
GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATIONS