








1
METHOD STATEMENT FOR SOIL INVESTIGATION FOR THREE FISHERY PORTS
PROJECT AT GURUNAGAR AND SILAWATTUARI SRILANKA

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The ‘Three Fishery Ports’-project comprises the development of 3 harbours for fishery
purposes in Sri Lanka. These harbours are situated in Gurunagar in the Jaffna District,
Silawattuari in the Mannar District and Gandara in the Matara District.
Herewith SOILTECH submits the Technical proposal for above. This Proposal will summarize
the procedure on the Soil Investigation to be conducted by SOILTECH to provide geotechnical
and geological information to support the feasibility study for the Proposed Project in
Gurunagar and Silawatturai.

2.0 SCOPE OF WORK

The scope of work for the Soil Investigation of the project is summarized as follows:

 Soil boring, field testing and carrying out sufficient in-situ testing and sampling
 Laboratory testing of obtained samples to determine the properties of the subsoil
 Carrying out Vibracores to get an insight in the composition of the superficial
sediments and the location of the top of rock.
 Determination of geotechnical parameters required for the foundation analyses

Figure 1. Soil Investigation at Colombo

2
3.0 FIELD INVESTIGATION

3.1 General

The investigation program will consist of Soil and rock boring and sampling at
desired intervals for subsequent observation, laboratory testing to determine of
geotechnical parameters and Geological survey for analysis of geological conditions of
the study area.

3.2 Boring and Sampling

3.2.1 Core drilling

Rock Coring will be carry out by rotary core drilling using double tube core barrel with a
diameter not less than 54mm. Boreholes will be advanced into hard rock up to a target depth
decided by the project engineer to determine the engineering properties of the rock. When
bedrock is encountered, perform continuous core sampling utilizing triple tube core barrel and
diamond bits of diameter not less than 54mm. Each coring recovery will be recorded. All
significant actions of the bit, water return and reasons for loss of core will be recorded in the
boring log. Core recovery, RQD and rock logging shall be carried out.

Figure 2. Core box sample

3.2.2 Non-core Drilling

3
Non-core drilling may be undertaken using continuous flight augers or rotary drilling with
water/mud flush. The hole is advanced by a rotary bit, with water being pumped down the
drill rods and returned up the annulus, carrying the drill cuttings. Only major changes in
stratification can be determined from the cuttings, together with some information from ‘feel’
and rate of penetration.

Immediately upon removal from the hole, the sampler will be carefully disassembled and the
soil will be classified. The most representative and least disturbed portion of the sample will
be securely sealed to prevent evaporation of the soil moisture and the samples will be
properly labeled. The project identification and date of sampling will be clearly shown on the
label. If a soil sample is lost or is found unsatisfactory as to size or condition, a second
attempt will be made to obtain a satisfactory soil sample before advancing the casing to a
lower elevation.

3.2.3 Undisturbed Sampling

From the borehole undisturbed sample shall be collected at the strata and at the regular
intervals as per the instruction by the site engineer.

The starting depth of collection of UDS shall be staggered in the boreholes and starting depth
is decided by the site engineer. Undisturbed samples in soft to stiff cohesive soils shall be
obtained using a thin walled sampler. In order to reduce the wall friction, suitable precautions
such as oiling the surface shall be taken.

The borehole shall be cleaned and the depth of sampling below the ground level shall be
noted. The sampler shall be attached to the bottom of the boring rods and lowered into the
borehole. The sampler shall be pushed into the clay layer by hand or by jacking and soil
sample of specified length shall be collected without disturbing the soil. Samples will be
obtained by forcing the tube into the soil with continuous pressure. Driving will not be
permitted.

3.2.4. Trail Pits

Trial pits shall be of minimum 1mX1m size at the bottom so as to permit easy access for
visual examination of walls of the pit and to facilitate sampling and in situ testing operations.
Pits shall be excavated to a depth of 1.50m. Precautions shall be taken to ensure the stability
of pits walls including provision of shoring, if necessary. Precautions shall be taken to prevent
surface water draining into the pit. In situ tests shall be conducted and undisturbed samples
shall be collected immediately on researching the specified depth so as to avoid substantial
changes in moisture content of the subsoil.

3.2.5 Disturbed Sampling

4
Disturbed samples shall be collected in boreholes at regular intervals to provide complete
description of the soil profile and its variation. Samples shall be collected in boreholes at the
intervals as directed by the site engineer at every identified soil strata to supplement the
boring records. Sample shall be immediately stored in air tight jars or polythene bags and
labeled with borehole number and depth. The bags shall be sealed properly and they shall be
kept in wooden boxes.

3.3 Standard Penetration Test

Standard Penetration Tests (SPT) will be carried out to provide an indication of the density
and/or consistency of the ground and to obtain disturbed samples for visual inspection and
laboratory testing and classification. The results will be given on boring logs.

Standard Penetration testing shall be done on every borehole at 1.0 m intervals of soil depth
up to the Hard Strata. The test is carried out by driving 50 mm diameter Standard split tube
sampler in to the soil to a depth of 45 cm using 63.5 Kg hammer falling freely through
760mm. The number of blows ‘N’ required to penetrate the standard sampler through 30cm is
called the Standard Penetration Value.

The SPT test shall be terminated when the SPT value is more than 50 in three consecutive
layers.

The N-values as observed shall be reported in the bore logs without any correction for
overburden or water table.

Visual classification of each soil type encountered was carried out from samples recovered
from the split tube sampler, and dry samples. In the results submitted, the classification of
the soil types encountered along the depth of the bore holes and Standard Penetration Test
values obtained have been shown.

3.4 Groundwater Measurement

Groundwater is one element that affects in the stability and foundation analyses.
The groundwater level was measured 24 hours after completion of the borehole.

However, the low permeability of the soil will mean that the water level in the
borehole is controlled more by drilling fluid rather than by the ground water itself.
Significant fluctuations in the location of ground water table should be anticipated
throughout the year, depending upon the amount of precipitation, evaporation and
surface runoff.

5
3.5 Laboratory testing

Geotechnical laboratory tests will be performed on the soil samples to classify soil and to
determine their engineering characteristics. All laboratory tests will be conducted in
accordance with ASTM Standards. The soils will be also classified based on the Unified Soil
Classification System (USCS).

3.5.1 Atterberg Limits

Atterberg limits will be determined (ASTM D 4318) on representative soil samples of cohesive
soils. The Atterberg limits refer to arbitrarily defined boundaries between the liquid and plastic
states, and between the plastic and brittle states of grained soils, expressed as water content,
in percentage. The liquid limit is the water content at which a part of soil placed in a standard
cup, cut by a standard grooving tool, will flow together at the base of the groove when the
cup is subjected to 25 standard shocks. The one-point liquid limit test is usually carried out
and distilled water may be added during soil mixing to achieve a desired consistency.

3.5.2 Particle Size Analysis

Particle size analysis will be performed by means of sieving. For oven-dry materials, sieving is
carried out for particles that are being retained on a 0.063 mm sieve. In sieve analysis, the
mass of soil retained on each sieve is determined and expressed as a percentage of the total
mass of the sample. The particle size is plotted on a logarithmic scale so that two soils having
the same degree of uniformity are represented by curves of the distribution plot. In
Hydrometer analysis is based on the principle of sedimentation of soil grains in water. When a
soil specimen is dispersed in water, the particles settle at different velocities, depending on
their shape, size, and weight.

3.5.3 Unit Weight and Water Content Determination

As a routine laboratory test, unit weights of soils will be determined based on the mass of soil
in a standard volume steel cylinder with cutting edge. The unit weight refers to the unit
weight of the soil at the sampled water content. The dry unit weight is determined from the
mass and the water content of the specimen.

Water content is determined by oven-drying a moist/wet soil at a constant temperature of

105 °C for 18 - 24 hours. The difference in mass before and after drying is used as the mass
of water in the specimen, while the mass of remaining material is used as the mass of solid
particles. The ratio between the mass of water and the mass of solid particles is the water
content of the soil material.

6
3.5.4 Uniaxial Compressive Strength of Intact Rock Samples

Intact rock cores of minimum NX size and length 2.5 to 3 times the diameter should be tested
for its Uniaxial Compressive Strength. This test will be conducted on perfectly cylindrical
samples. The UCS of the sample will be reported along the diameter and length of the
sample.

3.5.5 Chemical tests of Soil

Chemical tests shall be conducted on soils as per the relevant IS latest revisions to report the
following;

a. Organic content
b. Calcium carbonate content

3.6 REPORT

The final report shall include:

1. Location (co-ordinates to the National Grid) Reduced level of ground level in each Borehole
location and reduce level of each strata encountered in the Borehole.
2. Description of the Method carried out of Field Investigations.
3. Photographs (Labelled Borehole sample boxes indicating the location and depth, site
photographs)
4. Borehole Stratigraphy and SPT results
5. Rock Coring Results (Core Recovery (CR), Rock Quality Designation (RQD), Unconfined
Compressive Strength of Rock, etc.)
6. Soil Classification Test Results

7
4.0 Surveys

4.1 Bathymetric and Topographic Survey

Objectives: The purpose of this task is to conduct bathymetric and topographic surveys and
develop maps at Gurunagar and Silavaturai fishery harbour sites. As per tender document,
lengths of survey lines are given below;

 Bathymetric survey at Gurunagar: 40km

 Bathymetric survey at Silavaturai: 70km

 Topographic survey at Gurunagar: 6.5km

 Topographic survey at Silavaturai: 4.6km

Activities: The following instruments will be used for the survey.

1. Eco Sounder - TELEDYNE ODOM

2. DGPS - TRIMBLE
3. Auto Level - SOKKIA
4. Total Station - TRIMBLE
5. Survey Vessel
6. Laptop Computer
7. Other Relevant Accessories

Prior to survey all field equipment will be calibrated in line with standard specifications.

A system of geodetic control stations will be setup at the sites on the basis of permanent
benchmarks established by Survey Department and the stations will be used as baseline for
all the proposed survey. The survey will be referred to the Sri Lanka Datum 1999 (SLD99)
and all depth / level will be referred to the Mean Sea Level (MSL).

Tide data are required for the reduction of soundings and tide measurements will be
conducted at interval of about 30min with an accuracy Development of Fishery Harbours at
Gurunagar and Silavaturai ST Field Survey Proposal 2014 Jun 7 of 0.01m by installing a tide
gauge / pole during the bathymetric survey period. The tide gauge will be at sheltered
location as far as possible from the effect of waves.

Navigation of the bathymetric survey will be carried out using hydro-pro software, which
couples the DGPS (horizontal coordinate) and the echo sounder (depth) to a laptop computer
along the survey line. Some cross lines survey will be carried out to confirm the precision of
the soundings. The survey will be carried out during mild sea conditions. Conventional
levelling technique will be used to survey shallow water area, where echo sounding is not
8
possible, and topographic survey area. The survey will be detailed to obtain all topographic
features in the seaward and the landward areas including shoreline. The mapping will be
prepared with contour lines at 0.5m interval and suitable scale, depending on the variations of
depth / level measured in the survey, by AutoCAD system. The measured depth will be
corrected for tide, spikes, etc and the measured tide data will be used for the tidal correction.
The topographic survey map will be integrated with bathymetric survey. The depth / level
data measured during the survey will be reduced to MSL, and the horizontal control will be
referenced to the SLD99.

4.2 REPORT

When completing survey and mapping for each site, two hardcopies and one softcopy of a
comprehensive survey report including survey data and drawings on AutoCAD system will be
submitted to the client.