9/13/22

GEOLOGICAL and
ANALYTICAL MODELS

CE 262

Analytical Model (Soil Testing)

Geological Laboratory Load and

Model Model Drainage
Model

Analytical Model

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2 Methods of Thinking

Structure is a Geotechnical Foundation

Given Condition Solution

Geotechnical Structure is Foundation

Condition is adapted Solution
assessed

Project Flow
Desk Initial Detail of
Study Planning Design Design
Construction

Regional Geology
Study
Site Visit Preliminary Site Investigation

Soil Type
Detailed Site Investigation
Geological
Information Depth Ground Geotechnical
Characterization Parameters
Investigation Strata
Program

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Borehole Location and Depth of

Borehole (Position)

Structure Ground
(Borehole + (Borehole
Location) Depth)

Quick Guide

Depth of Borehole

•> 2 x Width (b)

•Stress Influence Area

•3-5 meters after bedrock is reached

(to confirm competent strata)
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Site Investigation and Analysis

Engineering
Analysis } Geotechnical
Design

Field Laboratory
Testing Testing

What’s in a Borehole Log?

• Drilling Information
} Depth
} Drilling Method
• Soil Description
} USCS/ AASHTO
} Color
} Water Level
} Sample Type
} Plasticity
} Structure Consistency

• Field Testing
} Moisture } CPT
} SPT } DCP
• Strata Information
} Origin } Elevation
} Graphic Log } Depth
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Field Boring Log VS Final Boring Log

•Field Log •Final Log

• Water Level • Plus
• Classification / LL, PL, SL
• SPT N-Values
• Moisture Content
• Visual Classification • All other Lab Test Results

Multi-Parameter Analysis

Latest
Research

Field/Final Regional
Boring Log Geology

Past
Past Experience/
Failures Field
Performance

Seismic Hazard
Maps Maps

Lab Tests

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Soil Description

•Silty •Sand
• Secondary •Main Component
Component

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Soil Description

Silty Sand with traces of gravel

Minor Component

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Coarse (cohesionless) vs. Fine

(cohesive)
COARSE FINE
More than half of More than half of
material is larger that material is smaller than
G 0.075mm S M 0.075mm C O
Gravel Sand Silt Clay Organic
More than More than half
half of of coarse
coarse fraction is
fraction is smaller than
larger than 2MM
2mm
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Transported vs Residual

Transported
• Alluvial – by water
• Glacial – by ice
• Aeolian – by wind
• Colluvial – by gravity
• Fill – by man
Residual
• In place weathering
• Chemical weathering of
parent rock

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Rock Properties

• Weathering grade
• Color
• Structural
• RQD (Rock Quality Designation)
• UCS
• Point Load Index
• Defect/ Discontinuity
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Rock Mass Behavior

Depth

Weathering

Rock
Intact Rock
Loading Mass
Rock Defects
Behavior
Ground
Water

State
of
Stress

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Total Geological Model

Tectonic – boundaries

Geological – broad “picture” (depth & breadth)

Geomorphological – “near-surface” details

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Quaternary Geology

•Pleistocene & Holocene

•2.6 million years ago (earth is 4 billion years
old)
•Influences the state of the ground today
•The time in which we live
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Understanding Ground Conditions

• Nature and strength of soils/ rocks

• Geological history/ Stress history
• Groundwater Conditions

• Drainage Conditions
• Fracture Conditions of rocks
• Weathering patterns
• Man-made impacts

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Inadequate Geotechnical Investigation

• Only a tiny fraction of the ground is studied

• Not having a good match between the ground

condition and the field/laboratory test

• Parameters not relevant to problem

• Failure to discover critical ground condition

• Not assessing geologic (wide scale) risks

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Borehole Costs

• Cost to bringing equipment onto site

• Cost to set-up each borehole

• Cost to drill per meter

• Cost to demobilize

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Costs

Mob /Demob MMLA 15,000

Hole to Hole Move 5,000

Per Meter (Soil) 3,000

Per Meter (Rock) 4,000
Lab Tests (20%)

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Analytical Model (Soil Testing)

Geological Laboratory Load and

Model Model Drainage
Model

Analytical Model

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End

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