Civil Engineering Department: Foundation Engineering (ECIV 4052)

Chapter 3: Natural Soil Deposits and Subsoil

Exploration

Introduction
This chapter aims at understanding the types of soil deposits that will
support the foundation.
The soil at any site frequently is nonhomogeneous; that is, the soil profile
may vary. Therefore, evaluation of site conditions and soil parameters is a
must. To do this requires some knowledge of the geological process by
which the soil deposit at the site was formed, supplemented by subsurface
exploration.
This chapter is divided into two parts:
(1) overview of natural soil deposits generally encountered, and
(2) general principles of subsoil exploration.

Natural Soil Deposits: Subsurface Exploration

Subsurface exploration can be defined as the process of determining the
layers of natural soil deposits that will underlie a proposed structure and
their physical properties.
Purpose of Subsurface Exploration:
 nature of soil.
 type and depth of foundation.
 load-bearing capacity of the foundation.
 probable settlement of a structure.
 potential foundation problems (e.g., expansive soil, collapsible soil,
sanitary landfill, etc.).
 location of water table.
 depth and nature of bedrock, if encountered.
 in situ field tests, such as permeability tests, van shear test, and
standard penetration test.
 lateral earth pressure for structures, such as retaining walls, sheet
pile, and braced cuts.

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Civil Engineering Department: Foundation Engineering (ECIV 4052)

Subsurface
Exploration

Collecting of Reconnaissance Site Investigation

Preliminary
information

Involve collecting Visiting the site in Planning, making test

data related to the
type of the structure
need to be built.
virtue of a visual boreholes and
inspection (field trip) collecting Soil
to obtain information Samples at desired
about: intervals for
laboratory tests.
1- Site Topography.
2- Ground Water
Levels.
3- Type of vegetation
at the site.

Number of Borings
 If various soil strata are more or less uniform and predictable,
fewer boreholes are needed than in nonhomogeneous soil strata.
 One boring at each corner of the building and one boring at the
centre of the building should be provided.
 The table below gives some general guidelines for the spacing
between boreholes for different types of structures:
Approximate Spacing of Boreholes
Type of project Spacing (metre)
Multi-storey building 10 – 30
One-story industrial plants 20 – 60
Highways 250 – 500
Residential subdivision 250 – 500
Dams and dikes 40 – 80

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Civil Engineering Department: Foundation Engineering (ECIV 4052)

Depth of borings
To determine the approximate minimum depth of boring, engineers may
use the rules established by the ASCE (1972):
(1) Determine the net increase in the effective stress, ∆𝜎′, under a
foundation with depth as shown in the figure below.
(2) Estimate the variation of the vertical effective stress, 𝜎𝑜′ , with
depth.
(3) Determine the depth, 𝐷 = 𝐷1 , at which the effective stress increase
1
∆𝜎′ is equal to ( ) 𝑞 (q = estimated net stress on the foundation).
10
(4) Determine the depth, 𝐷 = 𝐷2 , at which ∆𝜎 ′ /𝜎𝑜′ = 0.05.
(5) Determine the depth, 𝐷 = 𝐷3 , which is the distance from the lower
face of the foundation to the bedrock (if encountered).
(6) Choose the smaller of the two depths, 𝐷1 , 𝐷2 and 𝐷2 , just
determined as the approximate minimum depth of boring required.
(7) Add up the depth of the foundation to the depth value determined
in the previous step to get the total boring depth, as given under:
𝐷𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 𝐷𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 + 𝐷𝑓

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Civil Engineering Department: Foundation Engineering (ECIV 4052)

How to determine the vertical stress applied at a given depth, 𝝈′𝒐

The vertical stress value 𝜎𝑜′ can always be determined regarding the
ground surface as the datum of the calculation process (see chapter 9 in
Soil Mechanics).

How to determine the increase in the vertical stress, ∆𝝈′

Two alternatives are available:
(1) By determining the vertical stress value regarding the lower face of
the foundation as the datum of the calculation process.
(2) Using the so-called 2:1 Method as shown in the figure given under.

𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑃 𝑞𝑜 ×𝐵×𝐿

∆𝜎 ′ = = =
𝐵𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑎𝑡 𝑧 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ 𝐴 (𝐵 + 𝑧)(𝐿 + 𝑧)

NB: if the foundation base is circular, the formula will be as given under:
𝜋
𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑃 𝑞𝑜 × ×𝐷2
∆𝜎 ′ = = =𝜋 4
𝐵𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑎𝑡 𝑧 𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑡ℎ 𝐴 ×(𝐷 + 𝑧)2
4

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Civil Engineering Department: Foundation Engineering (ECIV 4052)

Sampling Procedure
Two types of soil samples can be obtained during subsurface exploration:
(1) Disturbed – Split-spoon samplers:
Split-spoon samplers can be used in the field to obtain soil samples
that are generally disturbed to be used for:
a. Grain-size analysis
b. Determination of liquid and plastic limits
c. Specific gravity of soil solids
d. Determination of organic content
(2) Undisturbed – Thin-walled tubes:
Thin-walled tubes that are sometimes referred to as Shelby tubes
are made of seamless steel and are frequently used to obtain
undisturbed clayey soils to be used for:
a. Consolidation test
b. Hydraulic Conductivity test
c. Shear Strength tests

The degree of disturbance for a soil sample

For a standard split-spoon sampler. When the area ratio is 10% or less,
the sample generally is considered to be undisturbed.
𝐷𝑜2 − 𝐷𝑖2
𝐴𝑅 (%) = ×100
𝐷𝑖2
If (𝐴𝑅 ) ≤ 10%  the sample is disturbed.
If (𝐴𝑅 ) > 10%  the sample is undisturbed.

𝐴𝑅 = a ratio of disturbed area to total area of soil,

𝐷𝑜 = outside diameter of the sampling tube, and
𝐷𝑖 = inside diameter of the sampling tube.

Soil Report
A variety of soil reports will be comprehensively discussed in a lecture.

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Civil Engineering Department: Foundation Engineering (ECIV 4052)

Problems
Problem (1):
Site investigation is to be made for a structure of 100 m length and 70 m
width. The soil profile is shown below, if the structure is subjected to 200
KN/m2, what is the approximate depth of borehole, assuming 𝛾𝑤 =
10 KN/m3 .

Solution:
𝐵 = 70.0 𝑚
𝐿 = 100.0 𝑚
𝑃 = 𝑞×𝐵×𝐿 = 200×100×70 = 1.4×106 𝐾𝑁
𝐷𝑓 = 0.0 𝑚
𝐷3 = 130.0 𝑚
𝟏
 Calculate 𝑫𝟏 at which ∆𝝈′ = ( ) 𝒒 :
𝟏𝟎

𝑃 1
∆𝜎 ′ = = ( )𝑞
𝐴 10
1.4×106 1
= ( ) 200
(70 + 𝐷1 )×(100 + 𝐷1 ) 10
𝐷1 = 180.0 𝑚

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Civil Engineering Department: Foundation Engineering (ECIV 4052)

 Calculate 𝑫𝟐 at which ∆𝝈′ /𝝈′𝒐 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓 :

∆𝜎 ′ = 0.05×𝜎𝑜′
𝜎𝑜′ = (𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑤 )×𝐷2 = (18 − 10)×𝐷2

′
𝑃 1.4×106
∆𝜎 = =
𝐴 (70 + 𝐷2 )×(100 + 𝐷2 )
1.4×106
= 0.05×[(18 − 10)×𝐷2 ]
(70 + 𝐷2 )×(100 + 𝐷2 )
𝐷2 = 101.4 𝑚
 Calculate 𝑫𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 :
𝐷 = 101.4 𝑚
𝐷𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 𝐷 + 𝐷𝑓 = 101.4 + 0.0 = 101.4 𝑚

Problem (2):
Site investigation is to be made for 2500 KN load carried on (3.0 m x 2.0
m) footing. The foundation will be built on layered soil as shown in the
figure below, estimate the depth of borehole, assuming 𝛾𝑤 = 10 KN/m3 .

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Civil Engineering Department: Foundation Engineering (ECIV 4052)

Solution:
𝐵 = 2.0 𝑚
𝐿 = 3.0 𝑚
𝑃 = 2500.0 𝐾𝑁
2500.0
𝑞= = 416.7 𝐾𝑁
3.0×3.0
𝐷𝑓 = 1.5 𝑚
𝐷3 = 100.0 − 1.5 = 98.5 𝑚
𝟏
 Calculate 𝑫𝟏 at which ∆𝝈′ = ( ) 𝒒 :
𝟏𝟎

𝑃 1
∆𝜎 ′ = = ( )𝑞
𝐴 10
2500 1
= ( ) ×416.7
(3 + 𝐷1 )×(2 + 𝐷1 ) 10
𝐷1 = 5.3 𝑚
 Calculate 𝑫𝟐 at which ∆𝝈′ /𝝈′𝒐 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟓 :
∆𝜎 ′ = 0.05×𝜎𝑜′
𝜎𝑜′ = 3.5×(𝛾𝑑 )𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑 + 1.5×(𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑤 )𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑 + 𝑍×(𝛾𝑠𝑎𝑡 − 𝛾𝑤 )𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑦
𝜎𝑜′ = 3.5×17 + 1.5×(18.5 − 10) + 𝑍×(16.9 − 10)
𝜎𝑜′ = 72.25 + 6.9×𝑍 = 72.25 + 6.9×(𝐷2 − 3.5) = 48.1 + 6.9×𝐷2
𝑃 2500
∆𝜎 ′ = =
𝐴 (3 + 𝐷2 )×(2 + 𝐷2 )
2500
= 0.05×[48.1 + 6.9×𝐷2 ]
(3 + 𝐷2 )×(2 + 𝐷2 )
𝐷2 = 15.5 𝑚
 Calculate 𝑫𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 :
𝐷 = 5.3 𝑚
𝐷𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 = 𝐷𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 + 𝐷𝑓 = 5.3 + 1.5 = 6.8 𝑚

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Civil Engineering Department: Foundation Engineering (ECIV 4052)

Problem (3):
Site investigation is to be made for a structure of 100 m length and 70 m
width. The soil profile is shown below. Knowing that the structure exerts
a uniform pressure of 200 KN/m2 on the surface of the soil, and the load
transports in the soil by 2V:1H slope. What is the approximate depth of
borehole? (Assume 𝛾𝑤 = 10 KN/m3 ).

Solution:

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Civil Engineering Department: Foundation Engineering (ECIV 4052)

Problem (4):
For the soil profile shown below, if 𝐷1 = 10 𝑚 and 𝐷2 = 2𝐷1
A. Determine the dimensions of the foundation to achieve the required
depth of borehole.
B. Calculate the load of column which should be applied on the
foundation to meet the required depth of boring.

Solution:

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Civil Engineering Department: Foundation Engineering (ECIV 4052)

Problem (5):
A foundation investigation is to be made for a 40 m diameter and 20 m
height of water tank, to be built on a thick layer. The soil profile is shown
below; estimate the depth of borehole considering only the weight of
water in the tank, assuming 𝛾𝑤 = 10 KN/m3 .

Solution:

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