CE 441

Geotechnical Engineering II

SUB-SURFACE EXPLORATION

Sheikh Sharif Ahmed

Department of Civil Engineering

University of Asia Pacific
 Sub-Surface Exploration

VANE SHEAR TEST

 The vane shear test (ASTM D-2573) may be used
during the drilling operation to determine the in situ
un-drained shear strength (cu) of clay soils -
particularly soft clays.

 The vane shear apparatus consists of four blades on

the end of a rod, as shown in Figure 01.
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VANE SHEAR TEST

Figure 01 Geometry of field vane

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VANE SHEAR TEST

Figure 01 Geometry of field vane

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VANE SHEAR TEST

Figure 02
Vane Apparatus
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VANE SHEAR TEST

 The height, H, of the vane is twice the diameter, D.
The vane can be either rectangular or tapered (see
Figure 01 & 02).

 The vanes of the apparatus are pushed into the soil at

the bottom of a bore-hole without disturbing the soil
appreciably.
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VANE SHEAR TEST

 Torque is applied at the top of the rod to rotate the
vanes at a standard rate of 0.1o/sec.

 This rotation will induce failure in a soil of

cylindrical shape surrounding the vanes.

 The maximum torque, T, applied to cause failure is

measured.
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VANE SHEAR TEST

 Note that-

Or,

Where,

is in N.m, is in , and
a constant with a magnitude depending on the
dimension and shape of the vane
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VANE SHEAR TEST

 The constant-

Where,

diameter of vane (cm)

measured height of vane (cm)
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VANE SHEAR TEST

 Field vane shear tests are moderately rapid and
economical and are used extensively in field soil-
exploration programs.

 The test gives good results in soft and medium-stiff

clays and gives excellent results in determining the
properties of sensitive clays.
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VANE SHEAR TEST

 Sources of significant error in the field vane shear
test are poor calibration of torque measurement and
damaged vanes.

 Other errors may be introduced if the rate of rotation

of the vane is not properly controlled.
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VANE SHEAR TEST

 For actual design purposes, the undrained shear
strength values obtained from field vane shear tests
are too high, and it is recommended that they be
corrected according to the equation-

Where,

correction factor
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VANE SHEAR TEST

 Several correlations have been given previously for
the correction factor.

 The most commonly used correlation for is that

given by Bjerrum (1972), which can be expressed as-

Where,

Plasticity Index of soil

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CONE PENETRATION TEST

 The cone penetration test (CPT), originally known as
the Dutch cone penetration test, is a versatile
sounding method that can be used to determine the
materials in a soil profile and estimate their
engineering properties.

 The test is also called the static penetration test, and

no boreholes are necessary to perform it.
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CONE PENETRATION TEST

 In the original version, a cone with a base area of
was pushed into the ground at a steady rate of about
20 mm/sec and the resistance to penetration (called
the point resistance) was measured.
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CONE PENETRATION TEST

 The cone penetrometers in use at present measure (a)
the cone resistance to penetration developed by the
cone, which is equal to the vertical force applied to
the cone, divided by its horizontally projected area;
and (b) the frictional resistance which is the
resistance measured by a sleeve located above the
cone with the local soil surrounding it.
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CONE PENETRATION TEST

 The frictional resistance is equal to the vertical force
applied to the sleeve, divided by its surface area—
actually, the sum of friction and adhesion.

 Generally, two types of penetrometers are used to

measure and .

 Mechanical friction-cone penetrometer

 Electric friction-cone penetrometer
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CONE PENETRATION TEST

Figure 03
Electric Friction-cone Penetrometer
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CONE PENETRATION TEST

Figure 04
CPT Test in Field
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SOIL EXPLORATION REPORT

 At the end of the soil exploration program, the soil
samples collected from the field are subjected to
visual observation and laboratory tests.

 Then, a soil exploration report is prepared for use by

the planning and design office.
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SOIL EXPLORATION REPORT

 Any soil exploration report should contain the
following information-

 Scope of investigation

 General description of the proposed structure for

which the exploration has been conducted

 Geologic conditions of the site

 Drainage facilities at the site

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SOIL EXPLORATION REPORT

 Details of boring

 Description of sub-soil conditions as determined from

the soil samples collected
 Groundwater table as observed from the boreholes

 Details of foundation recommendations and

alternatives
 Any anticipated construction problems

 Limitations of the investigation

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SOIL EXPLORATION REPORT

 The following graphic presentations also need to be
attached to the soil exploration report-
 Site location map
 Location of borings with respect to the proposed
structure
 Boring logs
 Laboratory test results
 Other special presentations
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PREPARATION OF BORING LOGS

 The detailed information gathered from each
borehole is presented in a graphical form called the
boring log.
Information in a Standard Log
 Name and address of the drilling company

 Driller’s name

 Job description and number

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PREPARATION OF BORING LOGS

Information in a Standard Log
 Number, type, and location of boring

 Date of boring

 Subsurface stratification, which can be obtained by

visual observation of the soil brought out by auger,
split-spoon sampler, and thin-walled Shelby tube
sampler
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PREPARATION OF BORING LOGS

Information in a Standard Log
 Elevation of water table and date observed, use of
casing and mud losses, and so on
 Standard penetration resistance and the depth of SPT

 Number, type, and depth of soil sample collected

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PREPARATION OF BORING LOGS

 After completion of the necessary laboratory tests, the
geotechnical engineer prepares a finished log that
includes notes from the driller’s field log (Figure 20) and
the results of tests conducted in the laboratory.
 Figure 19 shows a typical boring log. These logs have to
be attached to the final soil-exploration report submitted
to the client.
 The figure also lists the classifications of the soils in the
left-hand column, along with the description of each soil
(based on the Unified Soil Classification System)
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PREPARATION OF BORING LOGS

Figure
Typical Boring Log in Report
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PREPARATION OF BORING LOGS

Figure
Typical Field Boring Log