GEOTECHNICAL

ENGINEERING
INVESTIGATION
MANUAL
ROY E. HUNT
Consulting Engineer
 CONTENTS

FOREWORD ix
PR EFACE xi

I. I NTROD CTIO
1.1 Basic Considerations. I
1.2 Scope, 2
1.3 Geotechnicall nvestigation: Objectives, Stages, Scopes, Planning, 7

PART I INVESTIGATION M ETHODS AND PROCEDURES 11

2. E XPLORATIO N 13
2. 1 Introduction. 13
2.2 Surface Mapping. I 3
2.3 Subsurface Exploration. 45
2.4 Recovery of Samples and Cores, 90

3. MEAS UREM ENT OF PROPERTIES 127

3. 1 Introduction, 127
3.2 Basic a nd Index Properties, 132
3.3 Hydraulic Properties (Permeability), 149
3.4 Rupture Strength, 160
3.5 Deformation without Rupture, 203

4. FIELD I NSTRUM ENTATION 245

4.1 Introduction, 245
4.2 Surface Movements. 249
4.3 Subsurface Deformations. 266
4.4 In Situ Pressures and S tresses. 278
4.5 Instrumentation Arrays for T ypical Problems, 287

PA RT 11 C HARACTERISTICS OF GEOLOGIC MATERIALS AND FORMATIONS 301

5. ROCK AND SOIL: IDENTIF ICATIO N AND C LASS IFIC ATION 303
5.1 Introduction, 303
5.2 Rock.305
5.3 Soils, 336

6. ROCK-MASS C HAR ACTERISTICS 363

6. 1 Introduction, 363
6.2 Original Rock-Mass Forms, 379

V
Vi CONTF."'TS

6. 3 Deformation by r olding, 396

6.4 J ointing. 399
6.5 Fault~. 411
6.6 Residual St resses. 425
6.7 Alteration o f Rock. 428

7. SOIL FORMATIONS: GEOLOGIC CLASSES AND CHARACTER ISTICS 457

7. 1 lntroduction. 457
7.2 Residual Soils. 451!
7.3 Colluvi um. 476
7.4 Alluvial Deposits. 480
7.5 Eolian Deposits. 529
7.6 G lacial Deposits. 540
7.7 Secondary Deposi ts. 569
7.8 Pedological Soils and Plant Indicators, 574

8. WATER: SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE 587

8.1 Introduction, 587
8.2 S urface Water. 588
8.3 Subsurface Water (Groundwater), 60 I
8.4 Groundwater and Seepage Control. 629
8.5 Environmental Conservation. 654

PA RT Ill TH E GEOLOGIC HAZARDS 663

9. LANDSLI DES AND OTHER SLOPE FA ILURES 665
9.1 Introduc tion, 665
9.2 Slope Failure Form C haracterist ics, 677
9.3 Assessment of Slopes, 720
9.4 T reatment of Slopes. 748
9.5 Investiga tion: A Review, 773

10. GROUND SUBSIDENCE, COLLAPSE, AND HEAVE 785

I 0. 1 Introduction, 785
I 0.2 Groundwater and Oil Extraction, 785
I 0.3 Subsurface Mining, 794
I 0.4 Solution of Rock. 804
I 0.5 Soil Subsidence a nd Collapse. 81 3
I 0.6 Heave in Soil and Rock, 825

11. EARTHQUAKES 837

11 . 1 Int roduct ion, 837
11 .2 Earthqu ake Elements, 843
11 .3 Surface Effects on the Geologic Environment, 868
11.4 Earthquake-Resistance Design: An Overview, 89 1
11. 5 Investigation: Important S tructures in High-Hazard Areas, 9 10
 t:o:-:T f.NTS Vii

APP EN DICES
A. THE EART II A '0 GEOLOG IC' HI TORY 923
.I Significance to the Engineer. 923
/\.2 T he Ea rth. 923
/\.3 G loba l T ectonics. 923
/\.4 Geologic ll istory. 924

B. PROCURE l ENT OF GEOLOG IC P BLIC'AT IONS. Mi\P i\ N O R EMOTE-S ENSI NG

IMAGE RY, AN D EARTHQ AKE INFORM i\TION 93 1

C. CO NV ERS ION TABLES 939

0. SYMBOLS 943

I NDEX 95 1