ASSESSMENT OF GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION OF COMPOSED 4STOREY 12

CLASSROOM SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AT CENTRAL ELEMENTRY SCHOOL

Conti, Jeneva Several laboratory tests are performed to

gather geological data that lead geotechnical
dela Cruz, Joyce Camille
engineers to evaluate the geotechnical
Ilustrisimo, Harold Loyd properties of soil in the area. Through these
inputs, a properly designed foundation was
Marasigan, Jean
possible to be performed on the on-going
Rosas, John Leo construction of the said building to uphold
safety. This laboratory tests includes boring
Undergraduate, BS Civil Engineering,
Department of Civil and Sanitary Engineering,
test, soil classification test, sieve analysis,

Batangas State University, Alangilan Batangas determination of moisture content, Atterberg

City limit test, and unconfined compression test
and grain size analysis.

1. INTRODUCTION The present investigation shows a

This study was focuses on
assessment of the geotechnical investigation
conducted for the Construction of the
Proposed 4storey 12 Classroom Central
Elementary School at Taal, Batangas.
The soil in Taal, Batangas
generally grayish brown to light grey when
dry and dark brown to nearly black when
wet. The substratum is composed of loose
and tuffaceous sand and gravel. As stated in
geotechnical investigation report, the on-
going construction of senior high school
building at central elementary school have a
sandy silt soil.
detailed example of a foundation design.
the
The investigation consists of two boreholes
10.05 m deep that are drilled for the soil
exploration. The purpose of this study was
to make an assessment based on the nature
and geotechnical properties of the
were subsurface soil from the field investigation.
This consist the description of the site, the
methods and the result of the field
investigation, laboratory testing, and the
evaluation and recommendation of the
foundation scheme.
Statement of the Problem Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study focus to determine the following: This study focused on the effect of the data
obtained from laboratory tests in providing a
Importance of geotechnical
properly designed foundation. A well-built
investigation on construction.
Type of foundation used in the foundation will ensure the safety of the
occupants of the building.
structure.
Factor of safety to build a foundation
on the type of soil from the field.
Factors that might affect the design of 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
the foundation.
Possibility of settlement in the The site investigation was done two
structure. vertical boreholes that are identified which are
located at Brgy. Zone 2, Central Elementary
School, Taal, Batangas. 135255.5 N
Objective of the Study 1205529.6 E (BH-
1) and
The objective of the study is to
analyze the data based in the geotechnical
report presented with the actual design
performed in the site.

Significance of the Study 135255.5 N 1205529.0 E (BH-2) with

the depth of 10.05m each.
Conducting this study is important to
assure that the foundation design is Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and soil

appropriate to the soil type in the site. sampling where undertaken at regular interval

Geotechnical investigation which includes of 0.5m for the first 6m and 1m interval for

data needed in the design of the foundation the succeeding samplings. The retrieved soil

would help in designing and constructing the samples from every 1.5m depth were

structure. The confirmation of this will give subjected to the following laboratory tests:

the occupancies the assurance that the Grain Size Analysis (ASTM D422),

building is safe to maximize its purpose. Determination of Moisture Content (ASTM

D2216), Atterberg Limit Test for Liquid Boring Log for Borehole no.2
Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of
soils (ASTM D4318), Soil Classification
Tests (ASTM D2487), and Unconfined BH-1: SS-1
Compression Test (ASTM D2938). SIEVE SIZE
NO. MM. %PASSING
4 4.75 100
10 2 100
40 0.425 97.8
Depth Sample SPT blows N
200 0.075 53.2
(m) No. per 15cm Value LL 46.2
1.50 SS-1 3 6 6 12 PL 30.6
3.00 SS-2 5 7 8 15 PI 15.6
4.50 SS-3 9 11 1 27 Group Symbol ML
6 Soil Description Sandy Silt
6.00 SS-4 1 1 2 38 Moisture Content 21.97
6 8 0
7.50 SS-5 1 2 2 48
8 0 8
9.00 SS-6 2 2 3 59
BH-1: SS-2
9 9 0 SIEVE SIZE
10.50 SS-7 3 3 3 61 NO. MM. %PASSING
0 0 1 4 4.75 100
Boring Log for Borehole no.1 10 2 100
40 0.425 97.3
200 0.075 51.3
LL 44.8
Depth Sample SPT blows N PL 30.1
PI 14.7
(m) No. per 15cm Value Group Symbol ML
1.50 SS-1 2 6 7 13 Soil Description Sandy Silt
3.00 SS-2 6 8 9 17 Moisture Content 27.81
4.50 SS-3 9 1 11 21
0
6.00 SS-4 11 1 1 33
6 7
7.50 SS-5 1 2 2 41 BH-1: SS-3
SIEVE SIZE
9 0 1
NO. MM. %PASSING
9.00 SS-6 2 2 2 53
4 4.75 100
0 6 7 10 2 100
10.50 SS-7 2 3 3 63 40 0.425 98.3
9 1 2 200 0.075 54.6
 LL` 46.2
PL 31.1
PI 15.1 BH-1: SS-6
Group Symbol ML SIEVE SIZE
Soil Description Sandy Silt NO. MM. %PASSING
Moisture Content 21.93 4 4.75 100
10 2 100
40 0.425 98.8
200 0.075 50.9
LL 43.2
BH-1: SS-4 PL 30.2
SIEVE SIZE PI 13.0
NO. MM. %PASSING Group Symbol ML
4 4.75 100 Soil Description Sandy Silt
10 2 100 Moisture Content 22.27
40 0.425 96.9
200 0.075 55.4
LL 43.5 BH-1: SS-7
PL 29.2 SIEVE SIZE %PASSIN
PI 14.3 NO. MM. G
Group Symbol ML 4 4.75 100
Soil Description Sandy Silt 10 2 100
Moisture Content 24.54 40 0.425 96
200 0.075 58.3
LL 46.7
PL 31.3
PI 15.4
Group Symbol ML
Soil Description Sandy Silt
Moisture Content 24.74

BH-1: SS-5
SIEVE SIZE
NO. MM. %PASSING
4 4.75 100 BH-2: SS-1
10 2 100 SIEVE SIZE
40 0.425 98 NO. MM. %PASSING
200 0.075 55.4 4 4.75 100
LL 45.8 10 2 100
PL 31.0 40 0.425 98.4
PI 14.8 200 0.075 53.2
Group Symbol ML LL 44.8
Soil Description Sandy Silt PL 30.9
Moisture Content 29.49 PI 13.9
Group Symbol ML
Soil Description Sandy Silt LL 48.3
Moisture Content 23.71 PL 31.0
PI 17.3
Group Symbol ML
Soil Description Sandy Silt
Moisture Content 28.91
BH-2: SS-2
SIEVE SIZE
NO. MM. %PASSING
4 4.75 100
10 2 100 BH-2: SS-5
40 0.425 96.3 SIEVE SIZE
200 0.075 50.5 NO. MM. %PASSING
LL 48.2 4 4.75 100
PL 31.7 10 2 100
PI 16.5 40 0.425 98.8
Group Symbol ML 200 0.075 53.5
Soil Description Sandy Silt LL 44.9
Moisture Content 22.65 PL 30.2
PI 14.7
Group Symbol ML
Soil Description Sandy Silt
Moisture Content 24.77
BH-2: SS-3
SIEVE SIZE
NO. MM. %PASSING BH-2: SS-6
4 4.75 100 SIEVE SIZE
10 2 100 NO. MM. %PASSING
40 0.425 98.8 4 4.75 100
200 0.075 57.6 10 2 100
LL 45.9 40 0.425 96.8
PL 30.6 200 0.075 53.7
PI 15.3 LL 47.5
Group Symbol ML PL 31.8
Soil Description Sandy Silt PI 15.7
Moisture Content 29.95 Group Symbol ML
Soil Description Sandy Silt
Moisture Content 23.47
BH-2: SS-4
SIEVE SIZE
NO. MM. %PASSING
4 4.75 100
10 2 100 BH-2: SS-7
40 0.425 97.1 SIEVE SIZE
200 0.075 54.6 NO. MM. %PASSING
 4 4.75 100 DPWH (Department of Public Works and
10 2 100 Highways) standard design for spread were
40 0.425 97.7
200 0.075 55 used for the construction of the foundation of
LL 46.1 the building.
PL 30.5
PI 15.6 Spread footing is used for most buildings
Group Symbol ML
where the loads are light and / or there are
Soil Description Sandy Silt
Moisture Content 26.05 strong shallow soils. These footing deliver the
load directly to the supporting soils. Generally

For further analyses the following values are it is suitable for low rise buildings (1-4

of geotechnical parameters can be applied for Stories). It requires firm soil conditions that

silty layer: are capable of supporting the building on the

area of the spread footings.
= 25 degrees 18 = KN/m3
As the weight of the building increases in
c= 20- 30 KPa Es= 10 MN/m2 relation to the bearing capacity or depth of

Poissons Ratio= 0.35 good bearing soil, the footing needs to expand
in size or different systems need to be used.

The following table represents the data

obtained from the laboratory test mentioned 3. EVALUATION

above.
The result of the boreholes is presented on

The soil has a group symbol of ML. ML the table below.

and MH groups are sandy silts, clayey silts, or

GWL- 10m
inorganic silts with relatively low plasticity.
Also included are loess-type soils and rock
Depth, m USCS Classification
flours. Micaceous and diatomaceous soils
0.0-3.0 ML
generally fall within the MH group but may 3.0-4.5 ML
extend into the ML group when their LL is 3.0-15.0 ML
less than 50. The same is true for certain types
of kaolin clays and some elite clays having Using isolated footing scheme with
relatively low plasticity. a minimum recommended embedment depth
of 1.5m, the following values could be
employed:
Embedment Depth
2.00 m
2.50m
The following results were obtained
from the laboratory test performed
Soils of the ML group may be subject
to liquefaction and may have poor bearing
capacities, particularly where heavy structure
loads are involved. However based on the
geotechnical investigation conducted, the site
has no potential for liquefaction when
subjected to a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. And
the above value of net allowable bearing
capacity incorporates a geotechnical factor of
safety of 3.0 which makes it safe to construct
a shallow foundation without pile. The
contractor then use a spread footing that is
included in the plan with the depth of 2.1
meters as indicated on the standard design for
4 storey building of DPWH.
4. IMPLICATIONS
Based on what we observed the
construction of 4 storey senior high school
building at Taal, Batangas, and most of the
government project. The construction phased
already been started before the soil boring test
performed, the contractors started to build the
foundation even without the laboratory results
that will help them to identify what kind of
foundation will be used for the structure.
Net Based on the
Allowable laboratory
Bearing report, some of the
Capacity
130 conclusions
KPa on the soil investigation report
150 KPa
were not properly justified with various data
needed and the soil parameters are just
assumed which can cause some inconsistency
that can affect the integrity of the foundation.
The soil type and classification cannot be
justified by the grain size analysis due to
more than 50 percent of soil particles pass
through U.S. sieve no. 200 which means that
majority of the soil sample is silt and clay
which requires a hydrometer analysis for
further determination of the kind of the soil
on the site. Therefore, it is recommended to
perform the soil investigation before starting
the construction and to provide more specific
and reliable laboratory reports to ensure that
the soil is for the type of foundation that will
be use or to know if it will be needed to
change the type or procedure that will be used
to build a safe foundation.
5. CONCLUSION
The foundation is that part of the building
which serves as a base and transmits the load
to the soil. Before a foundation is designed, it
is necessary to investigate the characteristics
of the underlying soil. There are different
methods to assess these characteristics.
A geotechnical investigation was carried
out at Taal, Batangas in order to build a 4-
storey Senior High School building in a sandy
silt soil type. It is not required to use micro
piles in a stiff soil and the site has no issue on
the settlement, therefore, spread footing is
used with specifications according to the
standard plan for 4 storey school building of
DPWH.
Geotechnical investigation for soil
foundation has a vital role for the design of a
foundation. Non-reliable data from a soil
investigation may cause failure for the
project. Therefore it is recommended to have
more reliable and more specific data that will
be used to identify what kind of foundation
will be used for the structure.