Soil Investigation

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Week 5 Site Investigation
Site Investigation Geology and Surveying (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)
Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university

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Week 5
Soil Investigation
Site investigation/ground investigation/soil or sub-ground investigation

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Ground Investigation
to reveal ground conditions
RMIT University Slide 2

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Why a ground investigation?

A ground investigation is necessary to provide information
for design, construction and for environmental assessment.

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Why a ground investigation?
Without Site Investigation Ground is a Hazard.

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Without Site Investigation Ground is a Hazard.
The landslide in this situation bashed the house from behind. The
occupant was fortunate to escape safely (Photo courtesy of SGH
Consultants, Inc. USA)

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The purposes of a soil investigation are:
1. To evaluate the general suitability of the site for the proposed project.
2. To enable an adequate and economical design to be made.
3. To disclose and make provision for difficulties that may arise during
construction due to ground and other local conditions.

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A ground investigation needs careful

planning and is usually done in phases
Phases of ground investigation:

Phase I: Collection of available information
Phase II: Preliminary site reconnaissance or a site visit
Phase III: Detailed soil exploration.

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Phase I Collection of available information

(Desk study)
such as: a site plan, size and importance of the

structure, loading conditions, previous
geotechnical reports, topographic maps, air
photographs, geologic maps, etc.

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RMIT University
Aerial photographs Slide 9

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Geological Society
Of Australia

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Phase II: Preliminary site reconnaissance or a site visit
to provide a general picture of the topography and geology

of the site. It is necessary that you take with you on the site
visit all the information gathered in the Phase I to compare
with the current conditions of the site.

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Phase III Detailed soil exploration.
The objectives of a detailed soil exploration are:
1. To determine the geological structure which should

include the thickness, sequence and extent of
the soil strata.
2. To determine the ground water conditions.
3. To obtain disturbed and undisturbed samples for

laboratory tests.
4. To conduct in situ tests.

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Scope of a site investigation

• The scope of a site investigation depends on the type, size and
importance of the structure, the client, the engineer’s familiarity with the
soils at the site and local building codes.
• Structures that are sensitive to settlement such as machine foundations

usually require a thorough soil investigation compared to a foundation for
a house.
• A client may wish to take a greater risk than normal to save money and
set limits on the type and extent of the site investigation.
• If the geotechnical engineer is familiar with a site, he/she may undertake

a very simple soil investigation to confirm his/her experience.

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Investigation Methods
Trial pits or test pits
Hand or powered augers
Boreholes/Drillholes

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Before you start digging…

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Dial before you dig

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Trial pits are shallow excavations going down to a depth no greater 6m. The
trial pit as such is used extensively at the surface for block sampling and
detection of services prior to borehole excavation.
Depth Excavation Method

0-2m By Hand
2-4m Wheeled Back Hoe
4-6m Hydraulic Excavator
An important safety point to note is that ALL pits below a depth of 1.2m must be
supported.

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Hand or powered augers

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Boreholes
A borhole is used to determine the nature of the ground (usually below 6m depth) in
a qualitative manner and then recover undisturbed samples for quantitative
examination.

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Standard penetration test (SPT)

The SPT test is made in boreholes by means of
the standard 50mm diameter split sampler.
The sampler is driven to penetration of 450mm
be repeated blow of a 63.5kg monkey falling
through 760mm.
Only the number of blows for the last 300mm of driving
is recorded as the SPT “N” value.
The SPT test is a very useful

means of determining the
approximate in-situ density of
coarse-grained soils
H:\CIVE1178_2012\video5_2 Standard Penetration Test (SPT) Demonstration

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Standard penetration test (SPT)

The SPT “N” values provide useful information for foundation design
Ref. Tomlinson 1986

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Sampling
Sampling can be either undisturbed, or disturbed.
The principal sampling methods used in boreholes are:
• SPT test
• Core Sample
• Bulk Samples
• Water Samples

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Sampling
Disturbed Sampling from SPT test

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Core Sample: Core samples must be sealed with paraffin to maintain the water
conditions and then end sealed to prevent physical interference. The most common
of these is the U100 (see below) although other sizes from 54mm to 100mm diameter
are used. U100: This is a 450mm long, 100mm diameter undisturbed sample. The
tube has a cutter at one end and the driving equipment at the other. Behind the
cutter is a core catcher, incorporating 3 arms that go into the sample as it is
withdrawn, to prevent the sample from falling out.

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Hand operated Sampler

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Sampling for Different Soils

Clays: Normally need undisturbed samples
• U100 every 1.5m or change of stratum. Blow count and
penetration should be noted.
• If unable to obtain a U100 then bulk samples as above.
• If U100 does not full penetrate SPT test is required.
Sands & Gravels: Undisturbed samples are not practical due to

the lack of cohesion.
• SPT every 1m or change of stratum. Number of seating blows
should also be recorded.
• Bulk samples to be taken between SPT's.
Silts:
• Alternate SPT and U100 samples at 0.75m intervals

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Shear Vane Test / Vane Shear Test

is a test to find shear strength of a given soil.
Vane shear test is a useful method of measuring the shear strength of clay. It is a cheaper and
quicker method. The test can also be conducted in the laboratory. The laboratory vane shear test for
the measurement of shear strength of cohesive soils, is useful for soils of low shear strength (less
than 0.3 kg/cm2) for which triaxial or unconfined tests can not be performed. The test gives the
undrained strength of the soil. The undisturbed and remoulded strength obtained are useful for
evaluating the sensitivity of soil.
Laboratory vane shear test

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Field vane shear test

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Introduction to:
Australian Code of Practice
For Geotechnical Site

Investigation

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Follow the Code of Practice

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Reporting
Factual Report on Geotechnical Investigation

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Report on Geotechnical Investigation

RMIT SAB Building at Swanston Street
Geotechnical Investigation

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Geotechnical Risks

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Geotechnical Risks

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Infinity Tower, Dubai Marina

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Infinity Tower, Dubai Marina
The excavation for the 80-floor Infinity Tower in Dubai, U.A.E. was nearing
completion when the supervision team noticed a slight movement and cracks in
the diaphragm wall adjacent to the Dubai Marina. Management ordered an
immediate evacuation of the site and nearly 100 workers escaped The
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Video show : Geotechnical Risk Management

H:\CIVE1178_2010\video\Geotech_risks.MPG

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Video show : Introduction to drilling and sampling

H:\CIVE1178_2010\video\drilling150xvid.avi

Soil Investigation

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Week 5 Site Investigation

Site Investigation Geology and Surveying (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology)

Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university

Downloaded by KOYOYA FUKO (koyoyafuko@gmail.com)

RMIT University Slide 2

Downloaded by KOYOYA FUKO (koyoyafuko@gmail.com)

Why a ground investigation?

RMIT University Slide 3

Downloaded by KOYOYA FUKO (koyoyafuko@gmail.com)

Why a ground investigation?

Without Site Investigation Ground is a Hazard.

RMIT University Slide 4

Downloaded by KOYOYA FUKO (koyoyafuko@gmail.com)

Without Site Investigation Ground is a Hazard.

RMIT University Slide 5

Downloaded by KOYOYA FUKO (koyoyafuko@gmail.com)

The purposes of a soil investigation are:

2. To enable an adequate and economical design to be made.

RMIT University Slide 6

Downloaded by KOYOYA FUKO (koyoyafuko@gmail.com)

A ground investigation needs careful

Phases of ground investigation:

RMIT University Slide 7

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Phase I Collection of available information

such as: a site plan, size and importance of the

RMIT University Slide 8

Downloaded by KOYOYA FUKO (koyoyafuko@gmail.com)

Downloaded by KOYOYA FUKO (koyoyafuko@gmail.com)

RMIT University Slide 10

Downloaded by KOYOYA FUKO (koyoyafuko@gmail.com)

RMIT University Slide 11

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Phase II: Preliminary site reconnaissance or a site visit

to provide a general picture of the topography and geology

RMIT University Slide 12

Downloaded by KOYOYA FUKO (koyoyafuko@gmail.com)

Phase III Detailed soil exploration.

The objectives of a detailed soil exploration are:

1. To determine the geological structure which should

2. To determine the ground water conditions.

3. To obtain disturbed and undisturbed samples for

4. To conduct in situ tests.

RMIT University Slide 13

Downloaded by KOYOYA FUKO (koyoyafuko@gmail.com)

Scope of a site investigation

• Structures that are sensitive to settlement such as machine foundations

• If the geotechnical engineer is familiar with a site, he/she may undertake

RMIT University Slide 14

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Trial pits or test pits

Hand or powered augers

RMIT University Slide 15

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Before you start digging…

RMIT University Slide 16

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Dial before you dig

RMIT University Slide 17

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Trial pits or test pits

Depth Excavation Method