Trenchless Essentials

Lecture Series
Lecture 6 Geotechnical Investigation Methods &
Procedures
Developed and delivered by
Indian Society for Trenchless Technology
908 Hemkunt Chambers,
89 Nehru Place, New Delhi 110 019
 Lecture Coverage
• Introduction

• Surface Mapping

• Subsurface Exploration

• Recovery of Samples and Cores

 Introduction
• Objectives

• Methodology

• Scope
 Objectives
• Define the lateral distribution and thickness of soil and rock
strata within the zone of influence of the proposed
construction.
• Define groundwater conditions considering seasonal changes
and the effects of construction or development extraction.
• Identify geologic hazards, such as unstable slopes, faults,
ground subsidence and collapse, floodplains, regional
seismicity, and lahars.
• Procure samples of geologic materials for the identification,
classification, and measurement of engineering properties.
• Perform in situ testing to measure the engineering properties
of the geologic materials
 Methodology
• Surface mapping of geologic conditions

• Subsurface sectioning

• Sampling
 Scope
• The scope of the investigation will depend
upon the size of the proposed construction
area, i.e., a building footprint, or several to
hundreds of acres, or square miles, and
the experience of the investigator in the
area. Do they have prior knowledge or is
the area new to them? This text basically
assumes that prior knowledge is nil or
limited.
 Surface Mapping
• General
• Research Data
• Remotely Sensed Imagery
• Terrain Analysis
• Site Reconnaissance
• Preparation of Subsurface Exploration
Program
 Surface Mapping
General
• Objectives
– Data Base
– Preliminary Site Evaluations

• Methodology
 Research Data
Basic Objectives
 Research Data
Information Sources
• Geologic texts
 Research Data
Geologic Maps
• Bedrock geology maps

• Structural geology maps

• Surficial geology maps

 Research Data
Geologic Maps
• Soil survey maps

• Flood insurance maps

• Flood insurance maps

• Earthquake data
 Research Data
Topographic Maps and Charts
Topographic maps, such as quadrangle
sheets, show landforms, drainage
patterns, stream shapes, and surface
water conditions, all indicators of geologic
conditions.
 Remotely Sensed Imagery
• Satellite Imagery (Digital Sensors)
• Satellite Imagery (Radar Sensors)
• Airborne Imagery (Digital Sensors)
• Airborne Imagery (Radar Sensors)
• Airborne Imagery (Aerial Photography)
• Hyperspectral Imagery
• Seaborne Imagery
 Terrain Analysis
General
• Significances

• Objectives

• Methodology
 Terrain Analysis
• Remote-Sensing Imagery and
Interpretation

• Interpretive Features of Topographic Maps

• Engineering Geology Maps

 Terrain Analysis

Stereoscopic interpretation of aerial photographs. Two types of stereo-

viewers are shown.
 Site Reconnaissance
• General

• Reconnaissance Checklist

• Revise Engineering Geology Map

 Preparation of Subsurface Exploration
Program
Prepare the subsurface exploration program, considering
the necessity of:
• Confirming the boundaries of the various geologic
formations as mapped.
• Obtaining data for the preparation of geologic
sections.
• Obtaining samples for identification, classification, and
laboratory testing.
• Obtaining in situ measurements of the engineering
properties of the materials.
 Subsurface Exploration
• General
• Geophysical methods
• Reconnaissance Methods
• Continuous CPT(ASTM D5778)
• Test and Core Borings
• Borehole Remote-Sensing and Logging
• Groundwater and Seepage Detection
 Subsurface Exploration
General
• Objectives

• Exploration Method Categories

 Subsurface Exploration
General
• Method Selection
 Geophysical methods
• Seismic Methods

• Transmission Characteristics
 Geophysical methods
• Seismic Exploration Techniques

• Reflection

• Energy
 Geophysical methods
• Seismic Refraction Method

• Operational Procedures

• Seismic Direct Methods

 Geophysical methods
• Seismic Reflection Method

• Electrical Resistivity Methods

• Electrical Conductivity (EM) Surveys

 Geophysical methods
• Ground-Probing Radar (GPR)

• Magnetometer Surveys

• Gravimeter Surveys

• Infrared Thermography
 Reconnaissance Methods
• General

• Method
 Continuous CPT(ASTM D5778)
CPT Operations

Cone penetrometer test equipment. Interior of CPT truck showing

hydraulic force apparatus.
 Continuous CPT(ASTM D5778)
Engineering Applications

Various types of cone penetrometers. (a) Piezo cone penetrometer (CPTU): measures tip
resistance, shaft friction, pore pressures, temperature, inclination, and shear wave
velocities. (b) Active gamma penetrometer: GCPT measures in situ soil density, particularly
useful in sands which are difficult to sample undisturbed.(c) Electrical resistivity cone
(RCPT): provides measures of relative soil resistivity.
 Continuous CPT(ASTM D5778)

• Environmental Applications

• Classification of Materials

• Operations Offshore
 Continuous CPT(ASTM D5778)

Schematic diagram of the operational procedures from a drill ship.

Shown are the Fugro Seaclam for deep water drilling, push
sampling, and in situ testing using a cone penetrometer.
 Test and Core Borings
Purpose

Various sampling and in situ testing tools used with the Fugro
Seaclam. BAT probe is an electrical resistance piezometer.
 Test and Core Borings
Boring Types
They may be classified according to sampling
operations:
• Wash sample borings
• Sample borings
• Core borings
• Rotary probes
• Air track probes
 Test and Core Borings
Operational Elements

The Dolphin Cone Penetrometer

 Test and Core Borings
• Standard Drilling Machines and Tools

• Standard Boring Procedures

 Test and Core Borings

The wash boring method. The hole is advanced by hand by twisting a

bladed bit into the soil as water under pressure removes cuttings
from the hole.
 Test and Core Borings

A skid-mounted rotary drilling machine which advances the hole in soil

or rock with a cutting bit on the end of a power-driven rotating drill
rod to which pressure is applied by a hydraulic ram.
 Test and Core Borings

Rotary drill rig advancing boring with the continuous hollow-stem flight
Auger.
 Test and Core Borings

(a) Heavy-duty auger machine excavating with a large-diameter barrel

bucket. Generally suitable only in soils with cohesion where the hole
remains open without support. (b) Types of large augers.
 Test and Core Borings
Other Drilling Machines and Methods

Continuous flight, hollow-stem auger. Plug at tip prevents soil from

entering the stem during hole advance.
 Test and Core Borings
• Subaqueous Drilling

• Planning and Executing a Test Boring

Program
 Borehole Remote-Sensing and
Logging
A number of devices and instruments can be
lowered into boreholes to obtain a variety
of information. They are particularly useful
for investigating geologic conditions in
materials from which it is difficult or
impossible to obtain UD, such as
cohesionless granular soils and badly
fractured rock masses.
 Groundwater and Seepage
Detection
General Groundwater Conditions
• Static water table or level (GWL)

• Perched water table

• Artesian conditions
 Groundwater and Seepage
Detection

The elements of the rock indicator, or acoustical sounding technique, to

differentiate boulders from bedrock
 Groundwater and Seepage
Detection

Various groundwater conditions

 Groundwater and Seepage
Detection
• Determining Conditions

• Test Borings

• Seepage Detection

• Detection Methods
 Recovery of Samples and Cores
• General
• Test Boring Soil Sampling
• Miscellaneous Soil-Sampling Methods
• Subaqueous Sampling
• Rock Coring
• Sample and Core Treatment
• Data Presentation
 Recovery of Samples and Cores
General
• Objectives

• Sample Classes Based on Quality

• Sampler Selection
 Test Boring Soil Sampling
• Types Commonly Used

• Required Boring Diameters

• Sampling Interval
 Test Boring Soil Sampling
Factors Affecting Sample Quality
 Test Boring Soil Sampling
Split-Barrel Sampler (Split Spoon) (ASTM
D1586-99)
 Test Boring Soil Sampling
Thin-Wall Tube Samplers

• Purpose

• Tube Materials
 Test Boring Soil Sampling
Thin-Wall Tube Samplers

• Operations

• Shelby Tube Sampling

• Standard Stationary Piston Sampler

 Test Boring Soil Sampling
Thin-Wall Tube Samplers

• Osterberg Hydraulic Piston Sampler

• Shear-Pin Piston
 Test Boring Soil Sampling
Double-Tube Soil Core Barrels

• Purpose

• Denison Core Barrel

• Pitcher Sampler
 Miscellaneous Soil-Sampling
Methods
• Wash Samples

• Auger Samples

• Retractable Plug Sampler

 Miscellaneous Soil-Sampling
Methods
• Test Pit Samples

• Swedish Foil Sampler

 Subaqueous Sampling
• Categories

• Normal Cased-Boring Methods

• Sampling to Shallow Penetration without Drill

Rigs and Casing
 Subaqueous Sampling
Wireline Drilling Methods

Float-mounted tripod rig; casing is being driven prior to SPT

exploratory sampling.
 Rock Coring
• Objectives

• Equipment

• Operations

• Core Barrels
 Rock Coring
• Coring Bits

• Core Recovery and RQD

 Rock Coring

• Integral Coring Method

• Large-Diameter Cores by Calyx or Shot

Drilling
 Sample and Core Treatment

• Upon Retrieval

• Preservation, Shipment and Storage

– Split-Barrel Samples
– Thin-Wall Tube Samples
– Rock Cores
 Sample and Core Treatment
• Extrusion of UD Samples
– Thin-Wall Pushed Samples
– Thin-Wall Cored Samples
– Field Extrusion
 Data Presentation

• Basic Elements
– Location Plan
– Geologic Sections
– Logs
 Data Presentation

• Boring Logs
– General
– Field Log
– Report Log