Site Investigations

Samantha Manawadu
 DEFINITION OF SITE INVESTIGATION

• Site Investigation (SI) is the exploration or

discovery of the ground conditions to enable
engineers to make informed design decisions.
 

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 Objectives of Site Investigations

A site investigation is an essential pre requisite to the

construction of buildings. The extent of site investigation
depends on the type of structure and the geological
features of the site.
The main objectives of a site investigation are,

• To obtain information on ground conditions to enable

an adequate and economic design of foundations to
be made

• To foresee difficulties due to ground and other local

conditions
 Objectives of Site Investigations

 The British Standard Code of Practice BS 5930:1991

gives a list of the objects of site investigation as follows:

 
1. To assess the general suitability of the site and
environs for the proposed works

2. To enable an adequate and economic design to be

prepared, including the design of temporary works
 Objectives of Site Investigations

3. To plan the best method of construction

4. To determine the changes that may arise in

the ground and environmental conditions,
either naturally or as a result of the works, and
the effect of such changes on the works, and the
environment in general
 Scope of site investigation
The scope of the investigation depends upon the
magnitude of the proposed work & the nature of the
site.

 Obtaining plans of the site, plans of the structural

arrangements & expected column or wall loads, if
available

 Obtaining general information on Geology & surface

drainage, buried services, access to site etc.
 Scope of site investigation
 Determination of the sequence & extent of soil
strata

 Carrying out the necessary field tests and laboratory

tests to determine soil characteristics required for
designs of foundations

 Investigation of ground water conditions

 Carrying out necessary chemical tests on

groundwater or soil to ensure that foundations are
not attacked by harmful constituents
Stages of site investigation

1. Preliminary work

2. Site Reconnaissance

3. Detailed site investigation

Stages of site investigation
 Preliminary work

 Collect and study information relating to the site prior

to commencing its exploration such as Geological
Maps, Contour Maps, Site Plans etc.

 Obtain information of buried services in the locality,

types of structures to be designed, initial layout
diagrams, approximate value of foundation load to be
transferred to the ground etc.
 Site Reconnaissance

Following the preliminary work, further information

can be gained through site reconnaissance; this
involves a visit to the site for inspection. Information
can also be obtained by talking to local inhabitants
during the visit.
 Site Reconnaissance
Information obtained may include,

 Topography of the area

 Type of soil
 Ground water level
 Access of the site
 Availability of water
 Existence of any service lines which pass
through the site
 Site Reconnaissance
Some special observations which are very useful
during a site reconnaissance are,

a) In hilly terrain

i. Check for the presence of boulders which may have

been rolled down from higher elevations
ii. Check existing drainage patterns
iii. Check whether the slopes are stable
iv. Look for unusual humps which may be soil masses
that have been moved by previous landslides
 Site Reconnaissance
b) In some of the very dry zones of the Dry Zone

Check for the presence of expansive soil. Such soils are very
hard during dry weather, but on wetting they swell &
expand casing buildings to crack. The existence of such soils
could be identified by examining other structures during
site reconnaissance.
 Site Reconnaissance
c) In highly built-up areas

Adjacent buildings very close to the site should be noted so

that subsequently the foundation details of these
structures could be obtained. This is necessary to ensure
that the proposed new construction will not cause damage
to the existing buildings.
 Site Reconnaissance

d) In sites where re-building is proposed after the

demolition of existing buildings It is necessary to locate
any septic tanks, drainage lines etc. which are in the site.
 Detailed site investigation
The detailed site investigation is undertaken to obtain
information on

 Sequence and extent of soil strata

 Relevant soil parameters necessary for foundation design
 Information on the susceptibility of the foundations
against attacks by chemical agents in soil & ground water
 Groundwater details

Detailed site investigation is possible by a field investigation

consisting of trial pits and/or borings, with field and
laboratory tests where necessary.
 Detailed site investigation
Trial Pits
The method of exploring by trial pits consists of excavating
trial pits at the site and thereby exposing the subsoil
surface thoroughly, enabling undisturbed samples to be
taken. This method can be used for soil exploration up to
small depth (up to about 3m) and above ground water
table.
 Detailed site investigation

Borings
The method of boring consists of making a hole in the
ground and removal of soil and/or rock. There are several
methods of borings possible such as auger boring,
percussion boring, wash boring, rotary boring,
displacement boring etc
Engineering interpretation of site investigation
data
Site investigation data are used in making decisions
regarding various aspects of construction including the
following.
 For Design
a) Type of foundation

b) For shallow foundations

i. Depth of foundation
ii. Allowable bearing capacity
iii. Estimated settlement of structure
Engineering interpretation of site investigation
data
c) For pile foundation

i. Type of pile
ii. Approximate length of pile
iii. Estimate of safe working loads, or data from
which they could be assessed

d) For basements

i. Earth & water pressures on basement walls

ii. Comment on the possibility of flotation
 Engineering interpretation of site investigation
data
e) For retaining walls

i. Earth & water pressures

ii. Passive & frictional resistance
iii. Foundation bearing capacity

f) For slopes

i. Shear strength & assessment of risk of failure

ii. Comment on surface drainage & protection
measures
Engineering interpretation of site investigation
data

g) Safety of neighbouring structures

h) For concrete foundations, possibility of chemical

attack from aggressive soils & groundwater
Engineering interpretation of site investigation
data
 For construction

a) Open excavation – method and sequence of excavation,

what support is needed, how to avoid boiling & bottom
heave

b) Ground water: likely flow, head & quantity of flow

c) Piles: method of driving or construction suited to the

ground profile, environment and neighbouring buildings
Engineering interpretation of site investigation
data
 Soils

Soils are sub-divided into 4 basic types.

1. Very coarse soils

2. Coarse soils

3. Fine soils

4. Organic soils
 Engineering
interpretation of site
investigation data
Engineering interpretation of site investigation
data
Soils have to be further described by other properties such
as compactness/strength, structure, colour etc.

a) Very coarse soils & coarse soils

i. Particle shape – angular, sub-angular, sub-
rounded, rounded, flat or elongated
ii. Texture – rough, smooth or polished
iii. Gradation – well graded, poorly graded or gap
graded
iv. Compactness – this depends on the packing of
the voids, and described as very loose, loose,
medium, dense or very dense
Engineering interpretation of site investigation
data
b) Fine soils
i. Plasticity – Non plastic, Low plasticity or High
plasticity
ii. Consistency – very soft, soft, firm, stiff, very stiff
iii. Structure – fissured, intact, homogeneous,
stratified, weathered

c) Organic soils
i. Consistency – firm, spongy, plastic
ii. Structure (for peats) – fibrous, amorphous
Engineering interpretation of site investigation
data
 Field tests for soils
Engineering interpretation of site investigation
data
 Laboratory tests for soil
Engineering interpretation of site investigation
data