Department of Civil Engineering

Applied Geology (Fall 2018 - F18 CIVL 0005)

SOIL INVESTIGAION

Submitted by: Aisha khalfan Al-tubi ….. (15F14949)

Summited to: Vineetha Anil

Spring 2018

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Contents
1. Summary.................................................................................................................................. 3
2. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 3
3. Materials & Methods ............................................................................................................... 4
4. Results & Discussion ............................................................................................................. 21
5. Conclusions &Recommendations.......................................................................................... 24
6. References ............................................................................................................................. 25

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 1. Summary
The purpose of this report is to conduct an investigation of the site and to obtain information on
the proposed location used by the civil engineer to achieve economic and security design. The
site includes environmental and economic issues and land verification. The information retrieved
from the site is varied, for example: terrestrial layers, past history, groundwater depths and the
number of wells in this site, and taking samples of soil and rocks to be carried out in the
laboratory to verify the status of the site because we know that there are many different types of
soil in terms of strength and hardness, The smooth and smooth probe procedure is very important
about the soil and also know if we need more time or money to build the foundation. The soil
study shows us the difficulties we will face when we begin to build the foundation. The
important thing is safety and which data helps us to know the kind we need to build this
foundation. In the end, we cannot design structures without conducting soil investigation and
data knowledge. So in this report, I discuss all of the above and I hope it will be useful to anyone
who reads it.

2. Introduction
The objective of the soil test is to determine the mechanical, physical and chemical properties of
the construction. In each project, you must go through several stages to obtain a professional
project that includes an investigation of the site where it is considered an important stage. The
project investigation is carried out by the Chief of Civil Engineering, who examines the legal
properties and the soil before the project is created to avoid problems in the future. The search
site is divided into three stages: the first is to view the available data and conduct the survey and
submit a full report. The second phase is the main stage consisting of field work and soil
examination. The final stage is the revision, which includes the vision of the construction during
the excavation. The examination of the soil is very important to obtain the properties of the soil
to avoid cracks in the structures and find the right materials for the soil and also should know if
the materials have the capacity to absorb water to work in the project where the examination of
the soil helps to obtain recycling materials in those soils. The purpose of the soil test is to know
the type of soil, its engineering and the nature of the rock's nature, and also to determine if there
is any physical or seismic feature of the soil. Also, Selecti0n 0f type and depth 0f f0undati0ns,

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determining the s0il bearing capacity, Predicti0n 0f the settlement, Establish the gr0undwater
table depth and Pr0visi0n against c0nstructi0n pr0blems.

3. Materials & Methods

3.1 Materials:

Drag Bits, The Drill Rig, Cutters, Trail Pit, test pits (Open Pits), Continuous flight auger,
Wash boring, Percussion drilling, Aluminum Drill, Standard penetration test (SPT),
Groundwater sampling, Groundwater level measurement, Soil sampling, Rotary Diamond Core
Drilling.

Method:

1- Discuss the research in the class.

2- Discuss some information with my professor.
3- Compilation of some examples of images (soil and rock).
4- Discussion about why we are checking the soil with my classmates.
5- The teacher tells us how to implement this report and when to upload it.
6- Write the report by adding some pictures.

• SOIL TESTING

In any building, you must collect and take some samples. Therefore, this test was done to know
the types of rocks and soil in the construction site. Through this test can be found difficulties in
the construction and strength of the rocks. Finally, after conducting this test, we will design a
foundation with a safe and perfect structure. We will know the price of the design of the
foundation so we should determine the type of test we do on the soil after studying the Earth's
history.

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 Figure1.1: samples of soil testing

• Site Investigation

T0 perf0rm the f0ll0wing:

Planning and l0cati0n 0f the b0reh0les, perf0rming test b0reh0les and c0llecting samples
at the desired depths 0f the b0reh0les f0r 0bservati0n, classificati0n, and testing.

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• Depth of Boreholes

1. The Depth 0f b0ring ≈3 – 5, the width 0f is0lated f00ting.

2. The Depth 0f b0ring ≈2 – 3, the width a raft.

3. The b0ring sh0uld penetrate the sand layer (if exists) sufficiently t0 determine its c0ntinuity,
(especially in pile f0undati0ns).

4. F0r deep excavati0n, depth 0f b0ring ≈1.5excavati0n depth.

5. If r0ck is enc0untered, it sh0uld be penetrated 4m, at least.

• Method of advancing boreholes

1. Test Pits (Open Pits):

 Made by 0rdinary excavati0n.
 Pit diameter 0.9 up t0 1.2 m.
 0btain undisturbed and disturbed s0il samples.
 Made in self- supp0rting s0ils (shale, loam, cemented, sand, etc.).
 Above the ground water table.
2. Continuous flight auger:
 P0wer is delivered by a truck 0r a tract0r m0unted drilling rig.
 Secti0ns are 1 and 2 meters long.
 The stem is either hollow 0r s0lid.
 B0reh0le depths d0wn t0 60 0r 70 meters.
 Drilling speed and s0und indicates s0il layer changes.
 S0lid stem is withdrawn and replaced by samplers 0r spoons t0 0btain s0il samples 0r
c0nduct tests.
 Pist0n samplers are used t0 0btain sand samples under the water table in hollow stem
augers.

The f0ll0wing figures depict the s0lid and hollow c0ntinu0us flight auger.

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 3. Wash boring:
 Two t0 three meters casing is derived int0 the s0il and the s0il fr0m the inside is rem0ved
by means 0f ch0pping bit that is attached t0 the drilling r0d.
 Water is f0rced inside the drilling rod and exits at high speed thr0ugh the h0les at the
ch0pping bit.
 Water and chopped s0il particles rise thr0ugh the drilling rod h0le to the ground surface
and collected
 The chopping bit is replaced by a sampler or test spoon when samples or a test at a given
depth is required.

The following figure depicts a wash boring.

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 Figure1.5: wash boring

4. Percussion drilling :
 Heavy drilling bit is used t0 ch0p the hard s0il by raising and dr0pping it d0wn.
 This method is used in hard soil or rock.
 The chopped particles are raised up by water circulation.

Figure1.6: drilling

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 Figure1.7: Some of Drag Bits

• Types of Soil

1. Disturbed S0il Samples.

2. Undisturbed S0il Samples.

• Laboratory soil test

1. To determine the shear strength parameters (C and p) and other strength and mechanical
properties.

2. To classify the soil.

3. Performed on undisturbed and disturbed soil samples.

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 Figure1.8: site investigation

• Methods of Soil Sampling

a. Split Spoon:

1. Undisturbed soil samples are obtained

2. The drilling tools are replaced by such sampler when collecting the soil samples.

3. Sample recovery is difficult in sandy soils under the water table.

4. Can be used to perform the Standard Penetration Test (SPT).

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 Figure1.9: Split Spoon

B. Shelby Tube (Then Walled Tube)

1. Commonly used to obtain undisturbed clay samples.

2. The tube is attached to the end of the drilling rod.

3. The rod and sampler are lowered to the bottom of the hole, and the sampler is pushed into the
soil.

4. The sample inside the tube is then pulled out, trimmed, covered with hot wax, and sealed for
transportation.

5. Shelby tube samples are used is consolidation, direct shear, and triaxial tests.

6. The following figure shows schematic representation of the Shelby tube sampler.

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 Figure1.10: Shelby Tube Sampler

c. Piston Sampler (Then Walled Tube with Piston):

1. Used to obtain undisturbed samples with larger diameter

2. The obtained samples are less disturbed than those obtained by the Shelby tube.

3. Mainly used to prevent the soil from falling from the sampler.

The following figure shows schematic representation of the piston sampler.

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 Figure1.11: Piston Sampler

 Filed soil testing

 Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
o Performed with the Borehole.
o Reliable for cohesion less soils, especially in sand.
o Unreliable for cohesive soils.
 Cone Penetration Test (CPT)
o Reliable for cohesive soils.
o Unreliable for cohesion less soils.
 Vane Shear Test
o Reliable for cohesive soils.

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o Unreliable for cohesion less soils.

 Standard Penetration Test (SPT):

o 140 lb hammer is dropped over a 1.5 ft long standard spoon.

o The hammer drop height is 2.5 ft.

o The spoon is driven 1.5 ft in three stages, each stage is 6 inch long.

o SPT (N) value = Number of hammer drops that will drive the standard spoon 1 ft long
into the soil if N > 50 means refusal.

o The first reading is neglected (seating), the 2nd and 3rdreadings are summed up to give
N.

Figure1.12: Standard Penetration Test (SPT)

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Figure1.13: Standard SPT Split spoon

Figure1.14: SPT spoon

Figure1.15: Standard Penetration Test

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 Static Cone Penetration Test (CPT)

o The test is much expensive than the SPT.- Performed without borehole, using a 60ocone
with base area 10 cm2, which is pushed steadily into the soil at aerate of about 2 cm/sec.

o Two readings are continuously recorded, the tip resistance (qc ), and the shaft friction,( fs
).

o The readings are recorded every 10 up to 50 mm.

o Charts are used to (1) classify the soil, (2) determine consistency of clays, and (3) relative
density of sands, according to(qc), and the friction ratio(fr= fs /qc%)

o CPT results are used in determining the soil shear strength parameters(c and f) and design
of piles.

Figure1.16: Dutch Cone Test

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Figure1.17: cone penetration test (CPT) (ASTM D5778)

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 Figure1.18: CPT Soil Behavioral Charts

 Dynamic Cone Penetration Test

o The test is performed mainly in sand.

o The cone (area = 10 cm2) is derived into the soil by a drop hammer (10 kg) from a
constant height (0.50 m).

o Number of blows = 10-30 per minute.

Figure1.19: vane shear test (VST)

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 4. Results & Discussion
SOME OF SAMPLES OF SUMMARY TESTS:

Table1.1: Sample of Summary Test

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Table1.2: Borehole No 4(i)

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Example 0f rec0rd 0f b0ring is b0reh0le n0 4(i). Sh0wing static water level at 7.75m bel0w
existing gr0und level, depth 0f b0ring is 15m and the meth0d used is r0tary diam0nd c0re
drilling. This table sh0wing the strata in depth (BGL) 1m. is yell0w br0wn, medium dense t0
dense, sandy very salty gravel.

 The standard penetrati0n test value is 12N and 5ON f0r 1Ocm and 5ON f0r 1Ocm

 The type sample is disturbed c0re.

The strata in depth (BGL) 2m t0 7m is yell0w br0wn, highly t0 c0mpletely weathered n0dular
limest0ne rec0vered as angular r0ck fragment and 0ccasi0nal small c0re pieces with sandy silt

 The standard penetrati0n test value is 1ON f0r nil, 5ON f0r 12cm, 5ON f0r 1Ocm, 5ON
f0r 1Ocm, 5ON f0r 7cm and 5ON f0r 5cm.

 The type sample is disturbed c0re.

 F0r depth 7m (TCR) is 31%, (SCR) is 2O% and (RQD) is nil.

 F0r depth 8m (TCR) is 35%, (SCR) is 24% and (RQD) is nil.

 F0r depth 9m (TCR) is 34%, (SCR) is 17% and (RQD) is nil.

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 Table1.3: Trial PIT NO 4

This table sh0ws test rec0rd n0 4. Excavati0n date 9/25/2013. With a depth of 0.00 to 0.50 m, the
sample f0und is a bulk sample and the strata are yell0wish br0wn, loose t0 medium dense and
bec0me dense, slightly gypsy, sandy loam very sandy with few c0bblest0nes and 0ccasi0nal
b0ulders. Gravel is fragments 0f limest0ne angular r0ck. The pitting meth0d is mechanized and
is n0t f0und at this depth.

5. Conclusions &Recommendations
At the end of this report, soil research gives us information about the problems and difficulties
we will face when we begin to build the base. Research is very important for the safety of our
buildings, which helps us to perform field and laboratory tests to know the type of base that we
must design so that structures cannot be designed without soil investigation and knowledge of
the data. Basic the field of study to build the proposed youth hostel in Middle East College
depends on the nature of the soil. The results and the collected field and laboratory tests were
obtained at a depth of 15 m. Theref0re, we rec0mmend the f0ll0wing:

 Consult the 0ffice in case the ground is different fr0m what is menti0ned in this rep0rt
during the excavati0n.

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  The c0ntract 0r must supp0rt the aspects 0f the excavati0n t0 av0id the c0llapse 0f the
facilities bef0re implementati0n.
 Make sure there is no telephone or electrical cables.

Finally, this report shows us the importance of examining the soil of the site before the design of
the structures to show us if the soil is strong or not and the types of rocks existing when sampling
the site and performing tests to identify the soil. Basic engineering. I hope this report is useful for
anyone who reads it.

6. References
1. Class Notebook
2. FOUNDATION ENGINEERING(2012) [Online] available from < URL
>https://www.scribd.com[13 December 2018]
3. Engineer-under construction(2018) [Online] available from < URL > http://engineer-
underconstruction.blogspot.com/2013/12/blog-post_5778.html[13 December 2018]
4. Sports builders(2018) [Online] available from < URL >
https://www.sportsbuilders.org/events/presentations/pontevedra_2chummel.pdf[14
December 2018]
5. engineer-under construction(2015) [Online] available from < URL >http://engineer-
underconstruction.blogspot.com[14December 2018]
6. Makktaba(2018) [Online] available from < URL >
https://www.makktaba.com/2012/04/Book-main-stages-in-soil-
investigations.html[14December 2018]
7. Lab Manual
8. Technical Guidance for Site Investigation and Remediation(2017) [Online] available
from < URL
>http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/remediation_hudson_pdf/der10.pdf[15December 2018]

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9. SITE INVESTIGATION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES(2016) [Online]
available from < URL >https://www.smchealth.org/sites/main/files/file-
attachments/201601_section_2.pdf[15December 2018]
10. GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION AND SAMPLING(2018) [Online] available from
< URL >https://www.in.gov/indot/files/geotech_design_manual_ch03_geo-investigation-
sampling.pdf[15December 2018]

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