Soil Exploration Part II

T.E. Civil 2009-2010 G.E.- I

Topics Covered

Introduction Methods of investigation Methods of boring Soil samplers and sampling Location and number of pits and borings Penetrometer tests Borehole logs Geophysical methods

Methods of Sampling
Samples

Disturbed
(The structure of the soil is disturbed to a considerable degree)

Undisturbed
(The true in-situ structure and water content is retained as closely as possible)

Remoulded Wash

Representative

Block

Drive

Methods of Sampling

Disturbed samples used for determining index properties (ex. gsd, consistency, etc.) Undisturbed samples used for determining engineering properties (ex. Density, water content, shear strength parameters, etc.) Wash samples obtained from wash boring water or mud. Representative sample retains all constituents of the soil, but is disturbed from natural state and structure. (ex. Split spoon sampler) Block samples are carved out form sides or bottoms of excavations, sealed in a box and taken to lab. Open drive samplers consist of thin walled tubes which are driven or pushed into the soil at the bottom of the hole. (ex. Shelby Tube sampler)

Undisturbed Samples

Methods of Sampling

Thin-wall open-tube samplers (Shelby Tube Samplers) are used for soils that are particularly sensitive to sampling disturbance. They are suitable for fine soils up to a firm consistency, and free from large particles. Shelby Tubes are available in carbon steel and in stainless steel. Usual diameters are 3" or 4" OD.

Shelby Tube

Split spoon sampler IS:9640-1980

Sketch of split spoon sampler

Methods of Sampling

Requirements to minimize. disturbance to samples

Area ratio = (D2w-D2e) x 100% D2e Area ratio should be as low as possible. (<10%). It represents the amount of soil displaced. Inside clearance = (Ds-De) x 100% ratio De

Methods of Sampling

The inside clearance allows elastic expansion of the sample and minimizes frictional drag on the sample. The inside clearance should be between 0.5% to 3%. The outside clearance = (Dw-Dt) x 100% ratio Dt Outside clearance is necessary to reduce the driving force and resistance to withdrawal. The outside clearance should be between 0% and 2%. Diameter of samples should not be less than 38mm. (Generally between 50-150mm). Piston sampler (Osterberg sampler) not covered. Please refer to any book.

Rock coring

Sampler consists of core barrel and bit is coring bit. Core barrel single tube or double tube of various dia: EX, AX, BX, NX, etc. Recovery = Length of sample recovered x 100% Length of run RQD = Length of samples >= 4 x 100 % Length of run

SPT (Standard Penetration Test)

IS:2131 1981 Method for Standard Penetration Test for Soils. Most important and most commonly used field test Typical equipment: drill rig, split spoon sampler, hammering equipment, casing pipe.

SPT Procedure

Procedure:
1. 2. 3.

4.

5.

6.

7. 8.

9.

Drive a section of casing pipe. Complete wash boring and clean the hole Replace driving bit by split spoon sampler at the bottom end of the driving rod Drive the sampler by dropping a hammer of 63.5kg weight through a height of 75 cm The number of blows required to penetrate three successive lengths of 15 cm are noted. The first 15 cm drive is considered as seating load and is ignored. The total number of blows required to penetrate the remaining 30 cm is called the blow count or penetration number N. Raise the sampler to the surface, open it and extract the sample. Drive the next length of casing and repeat the process until required depth is reached. At the end of the borehole, note the gwt after it stabilizes and then backfill the borehole.

Corrections to N value

Overburden Correction applied to N value based on chart by Peck, et. al. (varies from 0.45 to 2)

N=Cn * N where Cn is correction factor

Correction due to dilatancy for fine sand and silt below gwt having N > 15

N = 15 + 0.5*(N-15)

Correlations between N values and soil properties

N Compactness
Relative Density (%)

fo

0 to 4 4 to 10 10 to 30

Very Loose 0-15 Loose 15 - 35 Medium Dense 25 - 65

< 28 28 -30 30 -36

> 50

Very Dense

> 85

> 41

Correlations between N values and soil properties

Consistency Very Soft Soft Medium Stiff Stiff Very Stiff Hard N 0 to 2 2 to 4 4 to 8 8 to 12 15 to 30 > 30 qu (kPa) < 25 25 to 50 50 to 100 100 to 200 200 to 400 > 400

Other test methods

DCPT Dynamic cone penetration test IS:4968 -1976 (Method for subsurface sounding for soils: Parts I and II) CPT Static Cone Penetration Test (Method for subsurface sounding for soils: Part 3 Static cone penetration test) Plate Load Test (Method of Load Test on Soils)

Borelog and geotechnical investigation report

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