Document No.

– L&T/MIAL/GEN/003 (R0)

METHODOLOGY OF LAND SOIL INVESTIGATION

The soil investigation is planned to obtain the subsurface stratification in the

proposed area and collect soil, rock and ground water samples for laboratory
testing to decide the foundation design parameters.

Boring in all types of Soil

Boring is carried out in accordance with the provision of IS: 1892. Initially guide
casing is provided & further boring is done by rotary method. Size of the borehole
is 100/150mm dia in soil. In this method boring is done by rotating the bit fixed at
the bottom of the drill rod.

Bore holes are planned to penetrate through the overburden soils, weathered
rock and into the hard rock strata for a minimum of 5m.

Depth of water table is measured. The water table in the borehole is allowed to
stabilize after depressing the water level adequately by bailing.

Coring in Rock
Whenever the rock is encountered coring is done with NX dia diamond drill bit.
Double tube core barrel is used for coring. In the weathered rock / hard strata
rotary core drilling was carried out using double tube core barrel. The drill run
was generally restricted to 1 to 1.5m. and core recovery and RQD (Rock Quality
Designation ) are computed based on the lengths of cores retrieved. To get an
idea of penetration resistance of rock, and where the core recovery is poor and
RQD less than 10%, standard penetration test SPT are conducted in rock strata.
All core are serially numbered for identification and their lengths measured.
Typical rock cores from the weathered and hard rock strata are selected for
strength, porosity, density, and other tests.

Standard Penetration Test (SPT)

SPT is conducted in boreholes at interval of 1.5m or at every change of strata.

The first penetration shall be conducted at 0.5m depth from the existing ground
level. SPT are conducted in bore holes to obtain the ‘N’ values i.e. no. of blows of
63.5kg hammer falling through 75 cm, required to penetrate 30 cm of SPT split
spoon. The ‘N’ values are indicative of the relative density of non-cohesive soils
and consistency of cohesive soils. The test also collects samples in the spilt
spoon assembly, which are treated as disturbed samples.
Disturbed Soil Samples
Disturbed soil samples are collected every 1.0m interval or at every change of
strata from boreholes for necessary laboratory testing. Identification labels
indicating depth, borehole no. and visual soil classification is affixed on the
containers.

Undisturbed samples

Undisturbed Samples are collected in clayey strata form all boreholes at

intervals of 3m in depth or at every change of stratum whichever occurs earlier
starting first UDS at 2m depth or adjacent boreholes depth of sample collection
is staggered to cater for full layer. In case the depth at which UDS is to be
collected clashes with the depth SPT is to be conducted, UDS are collected.
However if the UDS slips, SPT is to be conducted immediately. The area ratio of
the sampling tubes shall not exceed 20%. Care shall be taken to minimize
sample disturbance while collection of samples.

In-situ Vane Shear Tests

Sink the bore-hole up to the depth required and test to be carried. Extend the
casing up to the full depth. If the casing is loose, secure it so that it does not
move during the tests. Fix torque applicator anchor plate to the casing.

Connect the 50 mm x 100mm size vane (1:2 ratio) to the connecting rods and
lower it to the bottom of the bore-hole, putting guides at suitable intervals but not
more than about 5 m as the rods are extended.

Push the vane with moderate steady force up to a depth of five times the
diameter of the bore-hole below the bottom of the bore-hole or shoe.

Precautionary measures will be taken while rods are inserting. Fix the torque
applicator with frame to the anchor plate and connect the rods to it. Tighten the
torque applicator to the frame properly.

Allow a minimum period of five minutes after insertion of the vane. Turn the gear
handle so that the vane is rotated at the rate of 0.1o/s. Note the maximum torque
reading attained. If necessary note the torque indicator dial gauge readings at
half-minute intervals and continue rotating the vane until the reading drops
appreciably form the maximum.
Just after the determination of the maximum torque, rotate the vane rapidly
through a minimum of ten revolutions. The remoulded strength should then be
determined within one minute after completion of the revolutions.

Remove the van testing assembly, continue boring, and collect soil sample from
the level of the vane testing for laboratory analysis to ascertain whether the
deposit will behave as a purely cohesive soil

In case where a sleeve is not provided for the vane rod and the soil is in contact
with the rod, determine the friction between the soil and the vane rod by
conducting test at appropriate depth using the dummy rod corresponding to that
of the vane used in the test. The test should be conducted as with the vane
expect that the vane is replaced by dummy rod. The dummy rod should be
pushed into the ground to the same distance as the vane rod at the depth.

Water Samples

During investigation water samples are collected to determine the pH and

contents of sulphates and chlorides in them. Any precautions for protecting
concrete and reinforcement can be decided based on this data and the results of
chemical analysis on ground water.

All field testing are done generally in accordance with relevant I.S. specifications
and more specially as per technical specifications and instructions of the project
consultants.

Laboratory Testing

Laboratory testing is conducted on selected samples of soil, rock & water in our
laboratory, as per specification or as direct3ed by the ENGINEER.

The laboratory testing comprised of following tests conducted as per procedure

given in relevant parts of IS-2720.

a. Grain size and consistency limits for engineering classification as per IS-1498
b. Soaked and unsoaked crushing strength, point load index, porosity, density,
strength of rock cores, petrographic examination was also done.
c. Chemical analysis of water to determine PH, sulphate and chloride contents to
decide precautionary measures for protecting foundation concrete and
reinforcement.
Report

Report is prepared based on field and laboratory test results, and is presented in
standard format giving recommendations.

IS codes followed are listed below:

a) IS-1892 : Code of practice for Subsurface investigation for Foundations

b) IS-1498 : Classification and identification of soils for General Engineering

purposes

c) IS-2131 : Method of Standard Penetration Test for Soils

d) IS-2132 : Code of Practice for thin walled tube sampling of soils.

e) IS-6926 : Code of Practice for Diamond Core Drilling for Site Investigation

f) IS-5313 : Guide for Core Drilling Observations

g) IS-4078 : Code of practice for indexing and storage of drill cores.

h) IS-4464 : Code of Practice for presentation of drilling information and core

description in foundation investigation