4.

0 EXISTING GROUND CONDITION

The fundamental issue with piles is the uncertainty as to whether they are resting on a solid
layer or a porous one. Engineers must recognize the critical soil profile of a given location. Before
any construction can be built, the local geological characteristics of the site are crucial and will
determine the design of the base. There are numerous methods for obtaining soil property
information that involves borehole testing. Using the data and our engineering judgment, a nearby
soil profile can be reconstructed from borehole data. Three boreholes have been drilled to collect
soil data from the location.

The top layer is mainly sand under geological conditions. The top surface layer is essential
for positioning the machinery. The layer after the topsoil is the sand layer. It could be sticky after
raining. The solution is to lay the mud mats on the soil for a smooth working area for the heavy
machines. In our project, the machinery could pass through without getting rutting and stuck.

The soil below the groundwater table varies from dense to very dense sand and consists of
gravel. The soil layer in between the sand is made up of clay. The clay also varies from different
stiffnesses. The last layer obtained from the three boreholes, granite, is at the bottom layer. This
further justified that the building could safely transfer load from structure to foundation where the
boulder or granite could bear the load capacity. For low-bearing soil, a more substantial or deep
foundation could be selected compared to the soil with a strong bearing capacity.

The groundwater table is 0.74 m from the surface soil layer. The determination of the
groundwater table is vital in the excavation of a deep foundation. Groundwater greatly influences
the engineering mechanical properties of rock and soil. So, the mechanical properties of the soil
will also affect the bearing capacity of foundation soil in addition to the stability and safety of
buildings. The location of the groundwater table and its change in groundwater level affect the
bearing capacity of the foundation. In our project, we considered groundwater level in the
geotechnical investigation of the foundation design to counteract any problems such as
consolidation and settlement of soil.

Based on the data from the borehole, hard rock strata such as boulder is at 9.30 m from the
surface. So, it is capable of bearing the load from the foundation. The pile in the project can transfer
heavy loads from the structure to the hard rock strata below the ground level. In our project, the
pile shaft is not suitable to be used as the deep layer of soil has boulders exists.

The parameter used in soil analysis is the unit weight of soil (γ), soil friction angle (Φ) as
well as Undrained Shear Strength (Cu). Unit weight of soil is important to be used in calculating
the effective stress of soil. Effective stress is important in determining the settlement of soil as well
as the shear strength of the soil. Furthermore, the Undrained Shear strength is important parameter
to the bearing capacity of soil that could bear on it.

Existing ground conditions are essential to the choice of foundation. For clay soil, it has a
high capacity for water retention, which will cause expansion and shrinkage. This would lead to a
settlement. Hence, according to British Standard, the recommended minimum depth of 1 m for a
foundation consists of clay soil and 3 m if trees are surrounding. Furthermore, sand and gravel
allow water to drain so it will not cause structural movement. The compaction of soil and sand will
make stable support for the foundation. In short, knowing the existing ground condition is essential
because the soil type determines the choice of foundation.
5.0 SUMMARY OF SOIL PROFILE

There are three boreholes taken before the project's excavation in order to detect the
variations of soil at the site, which are BH01, BH02, and BH03. The groundwater table is located
at 0.74 m for BH1, BH2, and BH3.

The soil underneath the area around BH 1 consisted of different layers of sand, gravel, clay,
and granite. From the depth of 0.1 m until 3.0 m, the soil consists of medium dense sand and gravel.
The soil layer below the following depth of 3.0 m is stiff clay that is 2.8 m thick, which may cause
settlement. From the depth of 5.8 m to 16.3 m, the soil layer is different conditions of clay that
vary from stiff to firm and hard clay. After 16.30 m, there is s layer of granite obtained from the
borehole data.

At BH 2, the main composition of the type of soil is sand, clay, and granite. The top layer
of soil from 0.1 m to 5.0 m is loose and very loose sand. From 5 m to 9.5 m, the following layer is
firm and hard clay, respectively. The next layer of soil is the granite soil-forming the boulder,
which is 1.5 m thick, from 9.5 m to 11.0 m. The following layer of soil is sand with mid-dense,
dense, and very dense sand. Lastly, the bottom layer of our borehole is the strong granite soil.

At BH 3, the subsurface of the soil is mainly made up of clay, sand, top rock, and granite.
The top surface of the soil is an old concrete surface that is 0.1 m thick. From 0.1 m to 4.5 m, the
soil layer is loose sand. Next, the clay layer is categorized from firm to stiff in depth from 4.5 m
to 9 m. The sand layer is the soil layer below the clay layer at a depth of 9 m to 11.5 m. Next, the
top rock layer is 11.5 m to 12.0 m. The granite is the bottom layer in our borehole test.