ECNC353: Geotechnical Engineering

Tutorial Five Wednesday 10 September 2014

A large raft foundation is to be constructed as part of a residential nursing home development. Several
SPTs are carried out in a set of shallow boreholes, sited at each corner of the proposed foundation,
using a donut hammer and cathead release with a measuring module to determine the energy ratio of
each blow.

The results of the boreholes indicate that the soil is relatively homogeneous, sub-angular fine sand,
with the ground water level at 2 m. An understanding of the local geology suggests that the soil is
likely to be heavily overconsolidated, as a result of the loss of a large overburden due to erosion.

For one SPT, the rod energy ratio is found to be 52%, for a particular operator using the equipment.
The results of the SPT are:

Depth (m) 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0

SPT N 11 13 15 17 17

1. Correct the data to an energy ratio of 60% to find N60.

2. Determine the normalized

blowcount (N1)60 values with depth
using one of Skempton’s (1986)
expressions for the empirical
correlation factor CN and an estimate
of the vertical effective stress at
each depth.

3. Use the empirically-derived graph

given to estimate the relative density
and expected peak friction angle of
the soil.

4. If a different operator or a different

set of otherwise similar equipment
had been used to carry out the
testing, would you expect the results
to be different? Explain your
answer.

5. A piled bridge foundation is to be

constructed adjacent to the site. How
useful would this data be in terms of
the site investigation for the bridge?
Explain your answer.

Submission policy – as per usual.

ENCN353 Tutorial Five 2014 1 JJMH