1.

EXTENT AND NUMBER OF BORES

Location No. of Bores

Approaches on either side 2
Centre line 2
50 m behind the abutment 2
120 m behind the abutment 2
Each foundation of Viaduct 2
In case of appreciable variation in detailed Additional bores in the transverse
investigation, specially foundations resting on rock direction.

2. DEPTH OF BORES

Description
Below the proposed foundation level
Unsuitable soil or doubtful bearing capacity
If rock is met with having RQD>75
For embankments and guide bunds
Depth
11/2 times the width of foundation
4 times the width of foundation or till
firm soil or rock is met
Limited to 3 m
Bore should cover all strata & ordinarily
be 2.5 times the maximum height of the
embankment/guide bunds, subjected to a
minimum of 20 m

3. DETAILED INVESTIGATION

Zone Location Tests to be carried out Frequency of soil Ref. of

sample collection Code
1 Between bed level Soil classification, particle size Every 1 m to 1.5 Table 1 of
and up to anticipated distribution, shearing strength m depth or at Annex 2
max. Scour depth characteristics, compressibility change of strata of IRC:78
and permeability
2. From max. Scour Do Do
depth to the
founding level
3. From founding level Do Do
to a depth of about
11/2 times the width
of the foundation
Embankments Average shear stress and Each strata
compressibility of clayey strata below G.L.
Each strata Do 1 representative
Homogeneous strata Do 1 representative
for each 3 m
thickness

4. INFORMATION TO THE DESIGNER FOR BRIDGE WORKS:

i) The engineering properties of the soil/rock
ii) The location and extent of soft layers, cavities and gas pockets, if any, under the hard foundation
strata
 iii) The geological condition like type of rock, faults, fissures or subsidence due to mining, cavities,
hollows, porosity etc.
iv) Ground water level
v) Artesian conditions, if any
vi) Quality of water in contact with the foundation
vii)The depth and extent of scour
viii) Suitable depth of foundation
ix) Bearing capacity of the stratum
x) Probable settlement and differential settlement of the foundations
xi) Likely sinking or driving effort, and
xii)Likely construction difficulties.

5. BASIC INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR BRIDGE FOUNDATIONS RESTING ON ROCK

i) Geological system
ii) Depth of rock strata and its variation over the length of the bridge
iii) Whether bed consists of isolated boulders or continuous rock formation
iv) Extent and character of weathered zone
v) Structure of rock- including bedding planes, faults, fissures, solution cavities etc.
vi) Properties of rock material- strength, geological formation, etc.
vii)Colour, quality and quantity of water coming out of drill holes
viii) Erodability of rock to the extent possible, where relevant

6. CORE RECOVERY AND ROCK QUALITY DESIGNATION

Classification According to RQD

RQD Percent Core Quality IS Ref.

90-100 Excellent IS:5313, IS:4464,
75-90 Good IS:4078
50-75 Fair
25-50 Poor
25 Very Poor

The cores obtained shall be subjected to the following tests:

i) Visual identification for texture, structure, composition, colour and grain size.
ii) Laboratory tests for specific gravity, porosity and moisture content.
iii) In-situ tests shall be carried out in accordance with IS:7292; IS:7317; and IS:7746.
iv) Bore hole photography will also be desirable to evaluate the presence of faults, fissures
or cavities, etc.
v) Laboratory tests to be carried out on samples.
vi) Investigation for Conglomerate: For shallow foundation- Plate Load Test to be conducted
vii) Investigation for Laterites: These may be Static or dynamic penetration tests or vane
shear tests. In case of hard laterite, core drilling as for soft rocks may have to be resorted
to. For laterites at shallow depths, use of Plate Load Test may be advantageous.

7. PRESENTATION OF DATA
The data shall be given in diagrammatic form in 3 sheets giving the following details:
 Sheet 1 : Plan showing the position of bore-holes clearly marked so as to fix the locations
which can be easily identified at a future date.
Sheet 2 : Bore log chart and test results of the samples separately for each bore hole/ drill
hole/pit.
Sheet 3 : Pictorial representation of the bore log data to get an overall idea of the soil profile
at the cross section of the river along the length of the bridge.

8. BORING : As per Annex-2 of IRC:78

9. RECORDS OF BORINGS AND TRIAL PITS : As per Appendix 2.1 of IRC:75
For borings and trial pits, necessary information shall be given covering the following. A site plan
showing the disposition of the bore holes shall also be attached:
a) Agency
b) Location with reference map
c) Pit/Bore-hole number
d) R.L. of ground surface or other reference point
e) Dates of starting and completion
f) Name of supervisor
g) Scales of plans and sections
h) Description of methods such as hand tools, blasting, boring, etc. Used for proceeding with
investigation
i) General description of strata met with the RLs at which they are met
j) Position and altitude of contacts, faults, strong joint, slicken sides, etc.
k) Inflow of water, methods of controlling the water, required capacity of pumps for
dewatering
l) The level at which subsoil water is met
m) Dip and strike of bedding and of cleavage
n) Visual description of strata
o) Results of field tests e.g. SPT, in-situ vane shear test etc.
p) Any other information and remarks.
q) The length of the sample inthe tube and the length between the top of the tube and the top
of the sample in the tube upon removal of sampling tube.

10. METHODS OF SAMPLING

Nature of Ground Type of Sample Method of Sampling Code ref.

Soil Disturbed Hand Samples IS:1892 and IS:2132
Auger Samples
Shell Samples
Undisturbed Hand Samples
Tube Samples
Rock Disturbed Wash Samples from
Percussion or Rotary
drilling
Undisturbed Cores

11. PROCEDURE FOR TAKING SAMPLES

 Type of soil samples Device to be utilised for collecting soil Code ref.
samples
Clayey deposits Split spoon samplers/ Tube samplers Appendix-2.1
Sandy deposits Sampling spoons shall be fitted with suitable of IRC:75
devices
Coarse grained samples Penetration test should be carried out with
penetrometers
Soil profile is fairly regular Preliminary & detailed investigation

(A) Disturbed Soil samples:

(i) Disturbed soil samples are to be obtained in the course of excavation and boring.
(ii) In case of procuring from below ground water level, special type of sampler to be used.
(iii) Where Standard Penetration Test is conducted, representative samples shall be
obtained from split spoon.
(iv) The collected samples should represent all types of borrow materials to be used in the
construction of embankment and sub grade.

Size of Soil Sample Required

Sl. Purpose of Sample Soil Type Weight of Sample

No. Required Kg
1. Soil identification, natural moisture cohesive soils 1
content tests, mechanical analysis and
index properties, chemical tests sand & gravel 3
2. Compression tests Cohesive soils and sand 12.5
3. Comprehensive examination of cohesive soils 25-50
construction material and borrow area
soil including soil stabilization sands gravelly soil 50-100

(B) Undisturbed Soil samples:

(i) The location of the bore-hole shall be as per drawing.

(ii) Samples shall be obtained in such a manner that their moisture content and structure do not
get altered. This may be ensured by use of correctly designed sampler and by careful preservation
and packing.

(iii) Standard Penetration Test may have to be conducted in each case to obtain additional data
as directed by the Engineer. In soft clay, in-situ vane shear test as per IS:4434 may have to be
conducted. Where all the three operations have to be carried out in one layer, the sequence shall be
as follows: undisturbed soil sampling, in-situ vane shear test, Standard Penetration Test.

(iv) For compression test samples, a core of 40mm dia. And about 150-200 mm length may be
sufficient, but for other laboratory tests, a core of 100 mm dia. And 300 mm length shall be taken.

(C) Rock Samples:

(a) Disturbed Samples
 The sludge from percussion boring or from rotary boring which have failed to yield a core,
shall be collected to serve as a disturbed sample. It may be recovered by settlement of circulating
water in a trough.

(b) Undisturbed Samples

Block samples taken from the formation shall be dressed to a size of about 90 mm x 75 mm x
50 mm.
Cores of rock shall be taken by means of rotary drills fitted with a coring bit with core
retainer, if warranted.
In case rock is met with at shallow depths, test pits or trenches may be dug. These are most
dependable since they permit a direct examination of the surface, the weathered zone and
discontinuities, if any. It is also possible to take representative samples for tests. (Ref. IS4453)

12. PRESERVATION, HANDLING AND LABELLING OF SAMPLES

(i) The samples shall be labelled and handled carefully so that they are received in the
laboratory in a fit state for examination and testing and can be correctly identified as
coming from a specified trial pit or bore.
(ii) The disturbed material in the upper end of the tube shall be completely removed before
applying wax for sealing. The length and type of material so removed should be
recorded.
(iii) The soil at the lower end of the tube shall be reamed for a length of about 20 mm. After
cleaning, both ends shall be sealed with wax applied in such a way that it does not enter
the sample. Wax used for sealing should not be heated to more than a few degrees
above melting temperature. The empty space in the samplers, if any, should be filled
with moist soil or saw dust and the ends covered with tight fitting caps.
(iv) Labels giving the following information should be affixed to the tubes:
a) Job designation
b) Sample location
c) Boring number
d) Tube number
e) Sample number
f) Depth
g) Penetration
h) Gross recovery ratio

The tube and boring numbers should be marked in duplicate.