GUIDANCE FOR CALCULATIONS OF SOME

GEOTECHNICAL PARAMETERS
 TABLE OF CONTENT

1. Allowable bearing pressure of isolated / strip footings on sand.

2. Allowable bearing pressure of raft foundations on sand.

3. Allowable bearing pressure of isolated / strip footings on rock.

4. Allowable bearing pressure of raft foundations on rock.

5. Piles capacity on sand.

6. Piles capacity on rock.

7. Piles settlement.

8. Allowable bearing pressure for shallow footings on sand based on

CPT.

9. Soil Electrical Resistivity.

10. Ground Improvement by Grouting.

Appendix A

Figure No.1 Influence factor If for footing at a Depth D.

Figure No.2 Relationship Bet. Standard Penetration Test N-values and Angle
of Shearing Resistance

Figure No.3 Bearing Capacity Factors of Berezantsev

Table No.1 Values of I1 and I2 to compute the Steinbrenner Influence

Table No.2 Example for Electrical Resistivity Calculations

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1. Allowable Bearing Pressure of Isolated / Strip Footings on Sand.

qnet(all) = 16 N kd (1-1)

For footings width  1.22m

qnet(all) = 10 N kd (1-2)

For footings width > 1.22m

Where,

qnet(all) = Net allowable bearing pressure, kN/m2

N = Average corrected standard penetration test in the

Zone of 2B to 3B below footings = CN Nf

Nf = Uncorrected field standard penetration value

CN = 9.78

 = Effective over burden pressure, kN/m2

Kd = depth factor = 1 + 0.33  1.33

(take Kd = 1.0, conservative)

Df = footings depth, m

B = Footings width, m.

S = tolerable total settlement, mm (usually S = 25.4m)

The above equations (1-1) and (1-2) are to be multiplies by 0.5 in case of
existence of shallow water table.

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2. Allowable Bearing Pressure of Raft Foundations on Sand.

qnet(all) = 10N kd (2-1)

(usually S = 50mm)

Notes:

1) The above equations (1-1), (1-2) and (2-1) are the average
between Meyerhof (1956) and Bowles.

2) q gross = qnet + ` Df (2-2)

3. Allowable Bearing Pressure of Isolated / Strip Footings on Rock.

qnet(all) = (3-1)

UCS: Average unconfined compressive strength in the zone of 3B below

footings.

F.S.: Factor of safety, usually in the range of 5 - 10.

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4. Allowable Bearing Pressure of Raft Foundations on Rock.

qo = (4-1)

qo : net allowable bearing pressure for 50mm settlement and poisson’s

ratio = 0.3

Es: weighted average rock modulus of elasticity (from stress- strain

curves)

B’: ½ B, B = raft width

I1, I2 & If: factors depend on length of raft, width of raft and thickness of
influenced rock strata below raft = 2B (Table No.1 for I1 and I2
and Figure No.1 for If are attached).

The obtained qo should be check against factor of safety = 5

F.S. = (4-2)

UCS = average unconfined compressive strength in the of 2B

if F.S. <5, qo =

q gross = qnet +  h (4-3)

Note: Original equation for (4-1) is;

H = 4 qo B  If (4-4)

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5. Piles Capacity on Sand

Qu = Qp + Qf (5-1)

Where:

Qu = Ultimate Pile Capacity

Qp = Load Carried in Point Bearing
Qf = Load Carried by Friction Along Perimeter of Pile

According to the Tomlinson (1987), the following equations are used for the
case of cohesionless soils:

Qp = Nq  vo Ab (5-2)

Qf = 1/2 Ks  vo tan  As (5-3)

Where:

Qp = Ultimate base resistance

Qf = Ultimate Skin Friction

' vo = Effective overburden pressure

Ab = Base pile area
As = Area pf pile shaft in contact with soil
Nq = Bearing factor
Ks = 0.85 (1-sin )
 = Angle of wall friction for bored piles in sand.

For the determination of Nq corresponding for a certain N-values of the SPT,

the angle of internal friction can be obtained from Figure No.2, utilizing the
obtained angle friction, the Nq value can be determined on Figure No.3.

Qu
Qall = -------
F.S.

F.S. = Factor of safety, usually 2.5 to 3.0

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6. Piles Capacity on Rock

Q = Qp + Qf (6-1)

Qf = Af . Fs

Af = Area of pile contributed in friction

Fs = Ultimate bond stress = 0.15 quc

quc = Average unconfined compressive strength in friction zone

Qp = Ap . qb

qb = 4.5 quc

quc = Representative unconfined compressive strength in the zone of

3B below pile toe

B = Pile Diameter

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7. Piles Settlement

= + . . (7-

1)

Where,

 = Pile Settlement

Ws = Loads on the pile shaft

Wb = Loads on the pile base

L = Shat Length

As = Cross sectional area of shaft

Ab = Cross sectional area of pile base

B = Pile diameter

 = Poisson’s ratio

Ip = Influence factor related to the ratio of L/B

Eb = The elastic modulus of soil beneath the pile base

Ep = Elastic modulus of the pile materials

(For Concrete) Ep = 9.1 fcu0.33, fcu : Compressive strength of

concrete in Mpa and Ep in Gpa 0.33

For a poisson’s ratio of 0 to 0.25 and L/B > 5, Ip is taken as 0.5, the last term
approximates to 0.5Wb / BEb, so

 = + (7-2)

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8. Allowable Bearing Pressure for Shallow Foundations on Sand Based on
CPT

8.1 Meyerhof

qnet (all) = (8-1)

B  1.22m and S = 25m

qnet (all) = (8-2)

B > 1.22 and S = 25m

B = Width of footing, m

qnet(all) in kN/m2
qc = Average CPT end bearing resistance in the zone of 2B, kN/m2

8-2 Schmertmann

Strip, qult = 28 – 0.0052 (300-qc)1.5 (8-3)

Square, qult = 48 – 0.009 (300 – qc)1.5 (8-4)

qult and qc in kg/cm2

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9. Electrical Resistivity

A) Apparent Resistivity

S=2  a R (9-1)

Where,

S = Apparent Resistivity

a = Electrode spacing, m

R = Soil resistance, 

B) Resistivity by layer (Barnes Procedure)

Layer Resistivity, LR = x F (9-2)

F = 2t

t = Layer thickness, m

(See attached example)

10. General Guidelines For Ground Improvement By Grouting

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10.1 Scope

10.1.1 The work to be done shall comprise the drilling and pressure
grouting of the fill and / or cavities. The work shall include
among others, the following items: drilling and grouting of
holes and testing. Casing and or other grouting tubes may
be required to prevent holes collapse during drilling and
grouting.

10.1.2 The programme for drilling and grouting shall be tentative

only. Client/Consultant reserves the right to increase or
decrease any part of the drilling and grouting.

10.2 Grouting

10.2.1 Grouting consists of low pressure deep hole grouting of the

fill layers and / or cavities.

10.2.2 Grout holes shall be drilled at a minimum spacing of 5.0m.

Generally, the holes shall be grouted to the full depth in one
stage. Additional holes shall be drilled and grouted as
needed.

10.2.3 Grout nipples at the collars of grout holes shall be placed into
fill a minimum of 40cm to prevent leakage between the pipe
or casing and fill.

10.2.4 In general, grouting starts with a 3:1 neat water-cement mix.

Subsequently batches shall be progressively thickened by
decreasing the water-cement ratio, the pump operating as
nearly as practicable at constant speed at all times, until the
required pressure has been reached. If this procedure does
not produce the desired pressure, sanded grout mix shall be
used and the mix varied as necessary to produce the desired
results. When the absorption rate decrease, grout mixes
shall be made progressively thinner.

10.2.5 Grout shall be mixed in batches of suitable volume and in

such a way as to enable water-cement ratios, compositions
and viscosities of sanded grouts to be changed, and to
ensure continuous flow and minimum wastage. Cement and
sand-cement grouts shall be agitated continuously so as to
prevent settling or sedimentation between time of mixing and
injection. All grout which cannot be injected within 2 hours of
mixing shall be wasted.

10.2.6 If, during the grouting of any hole, grout is found to flow from
adjacent grout holes, the contractor shall be prepared to
make an immediate hook up to the flowing holes for

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 simultaneous grouting of up to a total of 3 holes. Additional
holes continue to flow so as to interface seriously with the
grouting operations or to cause more than 25 litres/hour loss
of grout, such connections shall be capped and a pressure
gauge installed to monitor the pressure on the capping.

If during grouting of any single stage in a hole, the cement

injected exceeds 5000 kg, whatever the mix, client/consultant
may direct the contractor to interrupt grouting to allow the
injected grout to settle and partially set before resuming
grouting. The contractor shall take suitable measures to
prevent the grouting of packer in place or grout setting
completely in the hole.

10.2.7 After the grouting of any hole is completed, if back pressure

exists, the pressure shall be maintained therein by means of
a valve until the grout in the hole has taken its initial set.

10.2.8 All grout holes shall be backfilled from the bottom up with 1:1
by volume water cement slurry grout or dry packed upon
completion of grouting.

10.2.9 During the grouting operations, the contractor shall take due
precautionary measures to prevent uplifting of the ground
slabs or footings due to excessive grouting pressure.

10.2.10 Grouting pressure should, in general, not exceed the

overburden pressure. Only in cases of a very low grout
absorption where the quantity of grout material injected does
not exceed the theoretical quantity of the borehole volume,
the pressure can be increased and for a very limited period.

10.3 Refusal Criteria

The injection of grout into any hole shall be continued until the
hole takes a 4:1 water-cement grout at the rate of less than 0.027m3 in
20 minutes, at the specified grouting pressure.

10.4 Drilling and Grouting Equipment

10.4.1 General

All drilling and grouting equipment used shall be of a

type, capacity and mechanical condition capable of performing
the drilling and grouting. All grout holes and cored shall be of
NX sizes diameter dimensions.

10.4.2 Drilling Equipment

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 All drilling equipment shall produce a smooth, round
hole, free of irregularities.

10.4.3 Grouting Equipment

The grouting equipment shall be capable of

satisfactorily supplying, mixing, stirring, pumping and injecting
the grout mixes of diverse viscosities.

The equipment shall be adequate in size and capable

of injecting an uninterrupted flow of grout at a rate of 120 litres
per minute at any pressure up to 700 KPa, measured at the
collar of a grout hole.

The equipment shall be maintained in first-class

operating condition at all times and any grout hole that is lost
or damaged due to mechanical failure of equipment or
inadequacy of grout supply shall be replaced by another grout
hole.

10.4.4 Arrangement and Operation

The arrangement of the grouting equipment shall be

such as to provide a continuous circulation of grout throughout
the system and permit accurate pressure control by operation
of valves on grout pumps, on grout connections at the holes
and on grout re-run lines. It also may be necessary to use a
single line system directly into a grout hole. The grout pump
shall be located as close as practicable to the hole being
grouted using the minimum length of line.

Fouling of the equipment and lines shall be prevented

by maintaining a continuous flow of grout and by periodic
flushing with water. Pressure gauges and valves for bypass
and shutoff shall be attended by experienced operators.

10.5 Grouting Materials

The grouting materials shall conform to the following specifications:

a. Water

The water used in the grout mixes shall be free from

objectionable quantities of silt, organic matter or other
impurities.

b. Cement

Cement shall be Sulphate resisting Portland Cement.

c. Sand

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 Whenever sand is added to the grout it shall consist of
clean, durable stone particles, free from lumps of clay and
objectionable foreign matter and shall conform to the following
grading requirements:

ASTM Standard % Passing by

Sieve Weight
No.16 100
No.30 60 - 85
No.50 30 - 50
No.100 10 - 30
No.200 0-5

10.6 Drilling

a. Holes shall be drilled at the locations as decided by the

designer.

b. The use of grease, “rod dope”, or other lubricants will not be

permitted.

c. Contractor may be required to drill holes at any angle from the

vertical to 90 degrees from the vertical.

d. All the holes for grouting shall have a diameter equivalent to

NX size or more.

e. Any grout hole that becomes obstructed prior to grouting shall

be cleaned out, or another hole provided.

f. Extreme care should be taken so as not to damage the

foundation structures.

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APPENDIX A

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