Foundations Engineering (0504421)

By:
Dr Mahmoud Alrsai
(m.alrsai@ahu.edu.jo)

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 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.

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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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Subsoil Exploration
Subsurface Exploration

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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 center of the
building should be provided.
• The table below gives some general guidelines for the spacing between
boreholes for different types of structures:

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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,∆𝜎𝜎′,under a foundation with

depth as shown in the figure below.
2. Estimate the variation of the vertical effective stress, 𝜎𝜎𝑜𝑜′, with depth.
3. Determine the depth, 𝐷𝐷=𝐷𝐷1, at which the effective stress increase ∆𝜎𝜎′is equal to
(1/10) 𝑞𝑞(q = estimated net stress on the foundation).
4. Determine the depth, 𝐷𝐷=𝐷𝐷2, at which ∆𝜎𝜎′/𝜎𝜎𝑜𝑜′=0.05.
5. Determine the depth, 𝐷𝐷=𝐷𝐷3, which is the distance from the lower face of the
foundation to the bedrock (if encountered).
6. Choose the smaller of the two depths, 𝐷𝐷1, 𝐷𝐷2and 𝐷𝐷2, 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:

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Subsoil Exploration

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Subsoil Exploration
Effective Stress ( )

The normal stress acting on a point within a saturated soil mass is shared by the soil
grains and the water. The component carried by the soil grains is the effective stress,
and the remainder carried by the pore water is called the pore water pressure.

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Subsoil Exploration

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The increase in vertical effective stress(Δ )

Two alternatives are available:

(1) By determining the vertical stress value regarding the lower face of the foundation.

(2) Using the so-called 2:1 Method as shown in the figure given under.

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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

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Subsoil Exploration
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.

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Subsoil Exploration
Problem (1):

Determine the degree of disturbance to a sample taken by the standard split-spoon

sampler. (inside diameter = 34.93 mm and an outside diameter = 50.8 mm.

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Problem (2):

Site investigation is to be made for a structure of 100m length and 70m width. The soil
profile is shown below, if the structure is subjected to 200 KN/m^2, what is the
approximate depth of borehole, assuming 𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤=10KN/m^3.

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Subsoil Exploration
Problem (3):

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
𝛾𝛾𝑤𝑤=10KN/m^3.

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• Remember to do something good today!!!

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