GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION REPORT

GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION

PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF
FIVE (5) STOREY TENEMENT HOUSING PROJECT
LOREGA, CEBU CITY

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Proposed Construction of Five (5) Storey Tenement Housing Project is located at Lorega,
Cebu City. This report includes the assessment of the geotechnical conditions of the site and
provides recommendations of soil characteristics and strength for the foundation system.

Three boreholes were drilled for the Soil Exploration Program with a depth of 10.5 meters into
the ground. During drilling of soil-type material, Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and soil
sampling were undertaken at regular intervals of 1.5m. The retrieved soil samples were taken to
the soil laboratory for the various laboratory tests.

2.0 SITE LOCATION

The site is situated at Barangay Lorega in Cebu City. Cebu City is located on the central eastern
part of Cebu Province, an island at the center of the Visayas in Southern Philippines. The
topography of Cebu City is rugged and mountainous with elevation reaching up to 900 meters
above mean sea level. Flat lands are found only along the shorelines that extend a few
kilometers inland. Cebu City’s flat land occupies about 23 square kilometers, representing eight
(8%) percent of its total land area but it contains over 40 barangays and about two thirds of its
population. Location map of the site is shown in Figure 1 as follows.

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Figure 1. Location Map of Barangay Lorega, Cebu City

3.0 FIELD INVESTIGATION PROGRAM

The boring was accomplished using wash boring. A casing is driven into the ground and the soil
inside the casing then is removed by means of a chopping bit that is attached to a drilling rod.
Water is forced through the drilling rod, and it goes out at a very high velocity through the holes
at the bottom of the chopping bit (Das, 2010).

Standard Penetration Test (SPT) is carried out by using a standard split-spoon sampler, mounted
on a drive rod of sufficient strength to prevent whipping from blows delivered by 140 pound
(63.5 kg) hammer free-falling from a height of 30 in. (76 cm).

The value of N is reported as the resistance to penetration. It is the number of blows required to
drive the tube to the last 300 mm (12 in) of penetration distance.

After the sample and tube are brought to the surface and separated, the sample is removed
from the tube and properly preserved and sealed using a moisture tight plastic bag for further
testing in the laboratory.

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Correlation of SPT data with other soil parameters have been developed for estimates of
stiffness of a soil and is a very useful supplementary classification as shown in tables below:

Table 1. Consistency Classification for Fine-Grained Soils

Classification SPT, N Undrained Shear Strength, su (kPa)
Very soft <2 < 12
Soft 2–4 12 – 25
Medium 4–8 25 – 50
Stiff 8 – 15 50 – 100
Hard 15 – 30 100 – 200
Very hard > 30 > 200
Source: (Terzaghi, Peck & Mesri, 1996 & U.S. Navy, 1982)

Table 2. Consistency Classification for Coarse-Grained Soils

Classification SPT, N Relative Density, Dr (%)
Very loose <4 0 – 15
Loose 4 – 10 15 – 35
Medium dense 10 – 17 36 - 65
Dense 17 – 32 65 – 85
Very dense > 32 85 - 100
Source: (U.S. Navy, 1982 & Lambe and Whitman, 1969)

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4.0 LABORATORY TESTING PROGRAM

The procedures used in testing the samples for this project conform to the ASTM Standards. All
samples were subjected to the following specific tests (as applicable) done at the Laboratory
Office of Mega Testing Center, Inc. The test results are presented as attachments to this report,
and the procedures are briefly described in this section:

4.1 Soil Particle Size Analysis (ASTM D-422, ASTM D-1140/AASHTO T88)

The size and quantity of individual particles found in particular soil is indicative of the
performance characteristics of the soil. The percentage by weight of the material
passing through each succession sieve is recorded.

4.2 The Atterberg Limits (ASTM D-4318/ AASHTO T89, T90)

The liquid Limit and the plastic limit tests define the upper and lower moisture content
points at which a particular soil ceases to perform as plastic. The use of this test is
constrained to cohesive soils.

4.3 Moisture Content of Soils (ASTM 4959/ AASHTO T 265)

This test is based on the weight of the water in the soil. It indicates imperative behavior
of different soil types at various levels of moisture. It is the ratio expressed as
percentage of the weight of water in a given mass of soil to the weight of solid particles.

4.4 Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) (ASTM D-2487/ AASHTO M145)

Based on the results of visual observations and prescribed laboratory tests, a soil is
classified according to the basic soil groups, assigned a group symbol(s) and name. This
standard classifies soils from any geographic location into categories representing the
results of prescribed laboratory tests to determine the particle-size characteristics, the
liquid limit, and the plasticity index

The various groupings of the classification system have been devised to correlate in a
general way with the engineering behaviour of soils.

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5.0 SUBSURFACE AS FOUND

The subsoil at the site is represented by the soil profile derived from the drilled boreholes as
shown in the borehole logs attached. As can be seen in the soil profile, the site is generally
underlain by firm overburden (soil) starting from the ground level to 10.5m depth, distinguished
by stiff to hard fat and lean clay.

The type and condition of the overburden which consists of several materials are idealized into
three (3) soil horizons, namely: (a) weak, (b) firm, and (c) hard/over compacted.

(a) Weak Zone – this zone is extremely very soft/loose soils with N-values of less than 10
blows/ft for sandy soils and less than 4 blows/ft for plastic silts and clays. No weak zones
were observed for the boreholes drilled.

(b) Firm Zone – this zone is confined mainly at the upper to middle soil layers with N-values
between 10 to 40 blows/ft for sands and between 4 -15 blows/ft for plastic silts and clays.
The vertical extent and type of material is tabulated as follows:

Borehole Thickness
Type and Condition of Materials
Number (meter)
0.0-1.5m; Stiff, Fat Clay, CH
BH-1 0.0-10.5
1.5-10.5m; Stiff to Hard, Lean Clay, CL
0.0-3.0m; Stiff, Fat Clay, CH
BH-2 0.0-10.5
3.0-10.5m; Hard, Lean Clay, CL
0.0-1.5m; Stiff, Fat Clay, CH
BH-3 0.0-10.5
1.5-10.5m; Stiff to Hard, Lean Clay, CL

(c) Hard/Compacted Zone – this zone is located beyond the bottom level of the firm zone. N-
values fell over 40 blows/ft for sand and 30 blows/ft for silts and clays. No hard zones were
observed for the boreholes drilled.

The following figure shows the Standard Penetration Test Index of BH-1, BH-2, and BH-3.

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60

SPT N-value 50

40

30
BH-1
BH-2
20
BH-3
10

0
0.0 1.5 3.0 4.5 6.0 7.5 9.0 10.5

Depth, m

Figure 2. Standard Penetration Test Index

Static water level has not been encountered even at 10.5m depth within the area at the time of
observation.

6.0 DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION

6.1 General Assessment of the Subsoil

Since the results of the subsoil tests give results which rest majority on firm stratum, the
proposed foundation system is recommended to be standing on shallow foundations.

With the ground water table level not encountered even at an average of 10.5m depth from
the ground surface, and with the soil mass having a general firm zone of stiff to hard fat and
lean clay, the ground is not susceptible to liquefaction in the event of strong earthquakes.

Settlement analysis is critical for this site since it is underlain by a significant thickness of clay
material based on the soil profile from 0.0-10.5m depth. Ground improvement by removal
and replacement with engineered fill, grouting methods, and/or installation of geosynthetics
is recommended to reduce expected settlement and increase bearing capacity. Ground
improvement options can be further discussed with ground improvement specialty
contractors.

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6.2 Structural Foundation Design

The use of shallow foundation along the area is usually permissible for the intended building.
Shallow foundation may consist of isolated or spread footing units preferably integrated
with strap or tie-beam. It is recommended that foundation depth to be located at ≥ 0.8m.

Greater resistance can be achieved by combined footings or continuous footing strips for
balance distribution of stresses.

6.3 Bearing Capacity for Shallow Footing Location

Under shear failure criteria, the recommended allowable bearing capacity for general
condition is intended to provide sufficient margin of safety with respect to bearing failures.
The allowable bearing capacities for the specified depths are as follows:

Table 3. Allowable Bearing Capacity in KPa (Factor of Safety = 3)

6.4 Seismic Considerations

The area is categorized as under Seismic Zone 4. The nearest known seismic generator is
the Cebu Fault System (CFS): Central Cebu Fault which is approximately 5.6km from the
site. The site has specific Soil Profile Type, SE. Near source factors and proximity to the
site shall be verified by a structural engineer prior to design.

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Source: http://faultfinder.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/

7.0 LIMITATIONS

Given the data obtained in this investigation, it is expected that the proposed building can be
properly designed using the evaluation earlier discussed in the preceding sections of this report.
Its scope is limited to this project and at the site herein described.

Should there be significant changes in the location of the structure relative to the drilled holes,
and/or any marked differences in the characteristic of the soil as reported herein and/or as
found from the laboratory tests, compared to that found in the excavation for the foundations,
the undersigned should be informed immediately so that conclusions and recommendations
herein are modified accordingly.

MEGATESTING CENTER, INC.

Engr. Angela Renee Davis-Abarquez, MSCE

Civil/Geotechnical Engineer
PRC # 0110127
Valid Until 02/15/2021
PTR #1638862 issued on
January 16, 2020 at Cebu City, Cebu

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