CIVL576 Geotechnical Site Characterization

[3-0-0:3], Fall 2009

Thursday, 12:00 noon – 2:50 pm, Room 4472
Prof. Limin Zhang
Office: 3564, Phone: 2358 8720, E-mail: cezhangl@ust.hk

Course description

A site investigation is performed to determine subsurface conditions. Information is obtained

from such methods as geologic and geophysical surveys, in-situ testing, boring and sampling,
visual inspection, local experience, laboratory testing of the subsurface materials, and ground
water observations and measurements.

In CIVL 607D, two surface geophysical procedures and several in-situ soil and pore fluid
tests will be introduced. A number of other tests, boring and sampling procedures, the
reconnaissance phase, and the planning and reporting of an investigation will also be covered.

Course website

http://teaching.ust.hk/~civl607d

Syllabus

1. Planning and procurement (3 Sept.)

 Terminology
 Objectives
 Project type
 Existing data sources
 Approaches to site investigation
 Planning ground investigations
 Supervision & quality assurance
2. Drilling and sampling of soil and rock (10 Sept.)
 Exploration in soil
 Exploration in rock
3. Rock and soil description (17 Sept.)
 Description of rocks
 Description of soils
 Soil classification for engineering purposes
4. Cone penetration test (CPT) (24 Sept. & 8 Oct.)
 Introduction
 Equipment and procedures
 Standards and specifications
 Interpretation of CPT/piezocone data
 Examples – HK Disneyland reclamation
  Appendices
5. Standard penetration test (SPT) (15 Oct.)
 Evolution of SPT
 Test methods and standards
 SPT energy measurement and corrections for SPT
 Influence of practices and equipment on penetration resistance
 Influence of ground conditions on penetration resistance
 SPT corrections
 Use of SPT results
6. Pressuremeter test (PMT) (22 Oct.)
 Types of equipment
 Running the test
 Data reduction and PMT soil parameters
7. Vane shear test (VST) and dilatometer test (DMT) (29 Oct.)
 Vane shear test
 Results from VST
 Flat dilatometer test
 Results from DMT
8. Mid-term exam (5 Nov.)
9. Geophysical methods (12 & 19 Nov.)
 Ground penetrating radar
 Wave propagation in soils
 Refraction method
 Shear wave: borehole methods
 Electrical resistivity
10. Permeability and ground water monitoring (26 Nov.)
 General
 Determination of ground water levels and pressures
 Field measurement of permeability
11. Displacements monitoring, slope indicator (self study)
 Measurement of vertical displacements
 Measurement of horizontal displacements
12. Statistical treatment of test data –Geostatistical methods (3 Dec.)
 Sources of uncertainty and variability of soil properties
 Statistical treatment
 Site investigation strategy

Grading

25% home works, 25% mid term exam and 50% final exam.

References

Annual Book of ASTM Standards. ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West
Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959.
Clayton, C.R.I., Matthews, M.C. and Simons, N.E. 1995. Site investigation. Blackwell
Science, Cambridge, Mass., USA.
GEO. 1987. Geoguide 2-Guide to site investigation. Geotechnical Engineering Office, Hong
Kong SAR.
GEO. 1988. Geoguide 3, Guide to rock and soil descriptions. Geotechnical Engineering
Office, Hong Kong SAR.
GEO. 2007. Engineering geological practice in Hong Kong. GEO Publication No. 1/2007,
Geotechnical Engineering Office, Hong Kong SAR.
Mayne, P.W., Christopher, B.R., and DeJong, J. 2001. Manual on Subsurface Investigations.
National Highway Institute Publication No. FHWA NHI-01-031, Federal Highway
Administration, Washington, DC.