Geotechnical Policy

and Procedures
Manual
By
Irvan Sophian
2015
 Review of Available Data

 Assessment of Project Requirements

 Sources of Geotechnical Data
 Topographic maps
 Aerial photographs
 Geological Maps and Reports
 Engineering Geological Maps and Reports
 Soil Conservation Services (SCS) and USDA
Surveys
 Adjacent Projects
 Geotechnical Investigations

1. Subsurface investigations
 Administrative requirements
 Soil subgrade borings for roadways
 Spacing requirements
 Depth requirements
 Sampling requirements
 Borings for Embankment Areas (Soil
Mechanics Borings).
 Spacing requirements
 Depth requirements
 Sampling requirements

 Borings for structures

 Borings for Traffic Control structures
 Borings for Borrow pits
 Backfilling Boreholes
 etc
2.Laboratory tests
Index Properties

Soil Classification Systems

AASHTO
USCS
Particle Size/grain size analysis
Hydrometer Analysis
Specific Gravity
AASHTO M145 Soil Classification
System
Plasticity Chart for Classification of
Fine-Grained Soils
Index Properties (Laboratory Tests)

Moisture Content (Atterberg limits)

Liquid Limit
Plastic Limit
Srinkage Limit
Unit weight
Atterberg Device
• Moisture Density Relationship
 Mechanical Properties tests

Shear Strength Tests

Unconfined Compression Test
(UCT/UCS)
UU Triaxial test
CU Triaxial test
Direct Shear test
Consolidation/ swell/collapse tests
 One-dimensional consolidation test
 One-dimensional swell test
 Collapse Potential test

 Compaction test
 CBR test
Triaxial Test
Schematic Diagram of Triaxial Test
Apparatus
Hydraulic Conductivity Tests
 Constant Head Test
 Falling Head test
 Flexible Wall Permeameter Test
(permeability)
 3. Field Tests
 Shelby tube samples
 Standard Penetration test (SPT)
 Cone Penetration Test (CPT) / sondir
 Vane Shear Test
 Pressurement Test
 Quick Shear Tests (Pocket Penetrometer and
Torevane)
 Field Moisture-Density Testing
 Field Identification of Soil
 Field Identification of Rock
Soil Sampling (shelby Tube)
Test Pit Soil Sampling
Relationship of N Value to Relative

N Value Relative Density Friction Angle

0-4 Very Loose 26 - 30

4 - 10 Loose 28 - 34
10 - 30 Medium Dense 30 - 40
30 - 50 Dense 33 - 45
Over 50 Very Dense <50
 Relationship of N Value to Strength and
Consistency for Cohesive Soils.

N Value Consistency Strength, Qu, kPa (tsf)

<2 Very soft <25 (0.25)
2–4 Soft 25 – 50 (0.25 - 0.50)
4-8 Medium Stiff 50 – 100 (0.50 - 1.0)
8 – 15 Stiff 100 – 200 (1.0 – 2.0)
15 - 30 Very Stiff 200 – 400 (2.0 – 4.0)
>30 Hard 400 – 800 (4.0 – 8.0)
Particle Description Based Upon Size.
 Cone
Penetration
Test (CPT)
Sondir
At minimum, field identification of
rock should include:
 Rock type, if possible (shale, sandstone or mudstone)
 Color (which may change with weathering/moisture)
 Moisture condition (wet or dry)
 Grain size and shape (if visible)
 Texture (stratified, foliated, thin-bedded, massive,
etc.)
 Noticeable weathering or alteration of sample
 RQD
Rock Description (outcrops)
Rock Quality Designation (RQD)
Geotechnical Drilling
Rock Description (Core)
Relationship Between RQD and Rock
Quality.
Sampling preparation/ package
TERIMA KASIH