CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

SESSION II: 2021/2022

DCC30112 – GEOTECHNICAL AND HIGHWAY ENGINEERING

LABORATORY

NAME
REGISTRATION
PROGRAM / GROUP
PRACTICAL WORK
DATE

Displays correct procedures for investigating the

problems
Select and uses Tools
Displays the usage of the tools/ apparatus/ machine/
CLO1 to run the study/ laboratory work
PRACTICAL Measures the data with accuracy and quality
(P3) Measurement
Displays performance of data measurement
Time management Follows time management
Housekeeping Displays cleanliness and neatness
𝟎
TOTAL P3 (60%) × 𝟔𝟎% =
𝟑𝟎

CLO2 Safety procedure Adhere to safety procedure during laboratory

SAFETY Personal Protective
(A4) Adhere to safety protocols
Equipment (PPE)
TOTAL A4 (10%)

Result Presentation
(Raw Data/Value/ Plan/ Graph, etc) *if any

Report Analysis Calculation

CLO3 Result Discussions
REPORT
Conclusions
(C4)
Apply a standard format of report
Report Standard (Cover page, title, presentation and tidiness)
Completion of report within the time given

TOTAL C4 (30%)

TOTAL SCORE (P3) + (A4) + (C4) /100

1
 EXPERIMENT 1: SITE INVESTIGATION (HAND
AUGER METHOD)

PART A: SITE INVESTIGATION/SOIL SAMPLING

1.0 OBJECTIVE

a. To determine the sequence, thicknes and lateral extent of the soil strata.
b. To obtain representative samples of the soils (undisturbed and disturbed sample)
for identification and classification of soil.

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, students should be able to apply the knowledge and skills they have
learned to:
a. Understand the concept of site investigation.
b. Understand the methods of soil sampling (undisturbed and disturbed samples).

3.0 THEORY

An adequate a ground investigation is an essential preliminary to the execution of a civil

engineering project. Sufficient information must be obtained to enable a safe and economic
design to be made and to avoid any difficulties during construction. The hand auger (also called
a post-hole or Iwan auger) is a very simple hand-tool used for drilling into soft-soils down to a
maximum of 5 – 6 m using a set of extension rods.

Soil samples are divided into two main categories, undisturbed and disturbed samples.
Undisturbed samples in which the structure and water content is preserved, as far as possible,
to truly represent site conditions. Undisturbed samples are often defined as those samples
obtained by slowly pushing thin-walled tubes into the soil. Disturbed samples should be
collected as drilling or digs proceed, where possible attempting to preserve the in-situ water
content. Disturbed samples are mainly required for soil identification and for classification and
quality test.

2
4.0 EQUIPMENTS

a. Hand b. Thin Wall Tube

Auger Sampler

c. Extension rods
d. Steel tray
e. Measuring tape
f. Hoe

3
5.0 PROCEDURES

Site Procedure

1. Attach the auger toa drill rod extension and attach the T-handle to the drill rod.
2. Clear the sampling area from any surface debris (e.g, twigs, rocks, litter). It may be
advisable to remove the first three to six inches of surface soil for an area approxiamtely
six inches in radius araound the drilling location.
3. The auger is rotated and pressed down into the soil by means of a T-handle on the upper
road. Begin augering, periodically removing and depositing accumulated soils (disturbed
sample) into a steel tray. This prevents accidential brushing of loose material falling back
to the borehole and avoid possible contamination of the surrounding area.
4. After reaching the desired depth, slowly and carefully remove the auger from the borehole.
5. To obtain undisturbed samples, the auger is replaced with a thin wall tube attached to a
sliding extension rod to protect the sample during extraction and transport to the laboratory
6. A hammer is used to drive the sampler into the undisturbed soil just below the bottom of
the borehole.
7. The sampler is then removed from the hole and the sample is transported to the laboratory.
8. If a more undisturbed sample is desired in the same hole, reattach another thin wall tube to
a sliding extension rod and follow step 3 to step 7.

Lab Procedure

1. Remove the undisturbed sample from the tube using the extruder.
2. Measure the diameter and length of undisturbed sample. Weigh the soil sample and
calculate the bulk density (ρb).
3. Then, follow the procedure below in order to determine the water content of undisturbed
sample :
a. Weigh a mass of empty container. Take about 30g of undisturbed sample and put into a
empty container. After that, Weigh the container + wet soil.
b. Oven dry the sample for 24 hour. Then, weigh the mass of container + dry soil after 24
hours.
c. Take about three sample of undisturbed sample to calculate the water content of soil.

4
6.0 RESULT AND CALCULATIONS

Undisturbed Sample
a. Determination of Bulk Density, ρb

Test No. 1 2 3

Length of sample (mm)

Diameter (mm)

Volume (mm3)

Mass of sample, W (g)

Bulk density, ρb (W/V

kg/m3)

b. Determination of Water content (w)

Container no. 1 2 3

Mass of empty container (M1)

Mass of container + wet soil

(M2)

Mass of container +dry soil

(M3)

Mass of water,Mw

Water content,
w = Mass of water X 100
Mass of solid

5
7.0 QUESTIONS

1. Calculate the bulk density and water content of the soil samples.

2. Sketch the soil layer and classified the soil for each layer.

3. Discuss briefly regarding of :

a. Disturbed sample
b. Undisturbed sample
4. Explain the use and suitability of thin-wall tube application for soil sampling method.