Introduction

to
Sub Surface Soil
Exploration
or
Soil and Site Investigation
A sentence for Soil……? (By father of
Soil Mechanics)
Subsurface conditions.
Failures
Leaning Tower of Pisa
and Sinkholes
Geotechnical Site Investigation
Introduction

 Soil exploration is a part of site investigation.

 Site investigation, in general deals with

determining in general, the suitability of the
site for the proposed construction.
Introduction (Cont’d)…
WHAT?
 Attempt at understanding the subsurface conditions

such as:
 Soil and rock profile
 Gelogical features of the region
 Position and variation of ground water table
 Physical properties of soil and rock
 Contamination, if any
 General data of adjacent structures, hydrological data,
topography, soil maps, seismicity, etc.
Introduction (Cont’d)…
WHY?
 To determine the type of foundation required

for the proposed project at the site, i.e. shallow

foundation or deep foundation.
 To make recommendations regarding the safe

bearing capacity or pile load capacity.

 Ultimately, it is the subsoil that provides the

ultimate support for the structures.

Introduction (Cont’d)…
HOW?

 The three important aspects/steps of

geotechnical site investigation are planning,

execution and report writing.

Geotechnical Site Investigation Steps:

 Planning includes :(Desk Study , Site

Reconnaissance)
 Execution includes: ( Preliminary and main
investigations)
 Report writing includes: (Drafting a
comprehensive geotechnical investigation
report).
Introduction (Cont’d)…
A complete site investigation will consist of:
 Preliminary planning work (Desk study)
 Collecting general information and already existing data
such as study of geologic , seismic maps, etc. at or near
site.
 Study site history – if previously used as quarry,
agricultural land, industrial unit, etc.

 Site Reconnaissance: Actual site inspection.

 To judge general suitability
 Decide exploration techniques
Introduction (Cont’d)…
 Exploration
 Preliminary Investigations: Exploratory borings or shallow
test pits, representative sampling, geophysical
investigations, etc.
 Detailed/Main Investigations: Deep boreholes, extensive
sampling, in-situ testing, lab testing, etc.
 Depth and spacing: In general, depth of investigation
should be such that any/all strata that are likely to
experience settlement or failure due to loading. Spacing
depends upon degree of variation of surface topography
and subsurface strata in horizontal direction.
Geotechnical Site Investigation
Why Planning ?

 To minimize cost of explorations and yet give

reliable data.

 Decide on quantity and quality depending on type,

size and importance of project and whether

investigation is preliminary or detailed.

 Introduction (Cont’d)…
 Execution:
 Collection of disturbed and/or
undisturbed samples of
subsurface strata from field.
 Conducting in-situ tests of
subsurface material and
obtaining properties directly or
indirectly.
 Study of ground water
conditions and collection of
sample for chemical analysis.
 Geophysical exploration, if
necessary.
 Laboratory testing on samples
Introduction (Cont’d)…
 Report writing:
 Description of site conditions – topographic
features, hydraulic conditions, existing structures,
etc. supplemented by plans/drawings.
 Description of nature, type and importance of
proposed construction
 Description of field and lab tests carried out.
 Analysis and discussion of data collected
 Preparation of charts, tables, graphs, etc.
 Calculations performed
 Recommendations
Depth of Borings or Investigation
1. The borings should pass the critical zone
of the strata. The depth of borings is
governed by the topographical and
geological conditions and type purpose
of the structure.

2. Usually the depth of the borings is

approximately estimated dependent
upon the width and load of foundation.

3.For strip footing and single footing a

thumb role is that the boring depth
should be at least 2 to 3 times the width
of the foundation below the contact
area or base of the footing. For mat
foundation 1.5 times to 2 times, the width.
 Methods of Sub Surface or Soil
1) Trial pits Exploration
2) Probing
3) Subsurface soundings

4) Geo physical methods

 Seismic reflection method

 Seismic refraction method

 Electrical resistivity method

5) Boring
 Auger boring

 Wash boring

 Percussion boring

 Rotary boring
Methods of Investigation
 Test pits:
 Permits visual inspection
of subsurface conditions
in natural state.
 Max. depth limited to 18 -
20 feet.
 Especially useful for
gravelly soil where
boreholes may be
difficult.
 Sampling/testing done on
exposed surfaces.
 Stratigraphy and Finds
Layer Soil Soil Colour Finds Chronology
L1 Sandy soil Gray 7.5YR 5/1 Modern Rubbish (filled soil) 1980s
L2 Sandy soil Pinkish white 7.5YR 8/2 Modern rubbish (filled soil) 1980s
L3 Sandy soil Reddish yellow 7.5YR 7/6 Modern rubbish (filled soil) 1980s
L4 Sandy soil Gray 7.5YR 6/1 Modern rubbish (filled soil) 1980s
L5 Loamy soil Reddish yellow 5YR 6/6 Nil (original decomposed soil)
L6 Loamy soil Reddish yellow 5YR 6/8 Nil (original decomposed soil)
L7 Loamy soil, with Light red 2.5YR 6/8 Nil (original decomposed soil)
some
decomposed
bed rock texture

Test Pit Wall Photograph Test Pit Wall Drawing

Western Wall Section Western Wall Section Drawing
TRIAL PIT
Methods of Boring
 Auger Borings:
 Simplest method of exploration and sampling.
 Power driven or hand operated.
 Max. depth 10 m
 Suitable in all soils above GWT but only in
cohesive soil below GWT
 Hollow stem augers used for sampling or
conducting Standard Penetration Tests.
Hand operated
augers

Power driven augers

a. Helical (worm types) Augers b. Short
flight Auger
c. Iwan (posthole) Auger
a. b. c.
Methods of Boring
 Wash Boring:
 A casing is driven with a drop hammer. A hollow drill
rod with chopping bit is inserted inside the casing.
 Soil is loosened and removed from the borehole using
water or a drilling mud jetted under pressure.
 The water is jetted in the hole through the bottom of a
wash pipe and leaves the hole along with the loose
soil, from the annual space between the hole and
wash pipe.
 The water reaches the ground level where the soil in
suspension is allowed to settle and mud is re-
circulated.
Methods of Boring

Another example of wash boring is called mud rotary

drilling (soil) or core drilling (rock).
 Mud rotary
 Hollow drill rods with a drill bit is rotated into the soil.
Drilling mud is continuously pumped into the hole. The bit
grinds the soil and the return flow brings the cuttings to the
surface.
 Core drilling
 Used for obtaining rock cores.
 A core barrel is fitted with a drill bit is attached to hollow
drill rods.
 Examples: diamond coring, calyx or shot core drilling
Schematic for wash boring
 Diamond Drill Bit

Tricone drill bit

Methods of Investigation
 Percussion drilling
 Grinding the soil by repeated lifting and dropping
of heavy chisels or drilling bits.
 Water is added to form slurry of cuttings.
 Slurry removed by bailers or pumps.
 In general, a machine used to drill holes is
called a drill rig (generally power driven, but
may be hand driven).
 A winch is provided to raise and lower the
drilling tools into the hole.
Methods of Investigation

 Probing or sounding methods:

 Drive a pipe or rod into the soil.
 Measure the resistance offered by the soil.
Example: CPT, SPT
Standard penetration test (SPT)
 Probing
 This method is suitable for soft soils such as clay ,
gravel and sand.
 In this method , a steel bar of 25 to 40mm diameter
having a pointed end is driven in the ground until a
hard strata is met . The bar is allowed to fall
vertically under its own weight or it is driven by drop
hammer .
 The bar is drawn out at some interval , so that the
rough idea of the nature of strata is obtained from
the soil sticking to the sides of the bar.
 The experienced persons can be engaged in the
execution of the driving operation .
 Probing

Fig. shows various types of probing cones:

Geophysical methods
 Seismic refraction method

 Seismic reflection method

.

 Electrical resistivity method (etc)

SEISMIC TECHNIQUES
PRINCIPLE
Difference in stiffness of different soil/rock
layers measured
PROCEDURE
An elastic wave is generated in the ground:
• by Impact force (Falling Weight or Hammer
Blow)
• Explosive Charge
Resulting Ground motion is measured using
vibratio detectors (geophones)
Time elapsed will help to evaluate different
Wave Velocitie in different layers .
 Electrical Resistivity (ER) Surveys
 Resisitivity R (ohm-m) is an electrical property.
It is the reciprocal of conductivity
 Arrays of electrodes used to measure changes
in potential.
 Evaluate changes in soil types and variations in
pore fluids
 Used to map faults, karst features (caves,
sinkholes), stratigraphy, contaminant plumes.
Electrical Resistivity method