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Geotechnical Investigation for
NPPs with Emphasis on Alluvial
Sites
1. Al l uvi al Deposi t s
Deposits from flowing flood water
All Types of Soils are carried and deposited by water.
Depth varies from a few meters to >100m
Thickness depends on flow velocity; local terrain
Exist in alternating layers of sand, silt and clay.
Density is low generally at shallow depths
Liable to liquefaction particularly sand deposits
Occurance : Indo Gangetic, Brahmaputra Flood
Plains
2. Typi c al Al l uvi al Deposi t s
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SPT (N) Vs Angle of internal friction()
4. Suggest i ons/Gui del i nes f or
Geot ec hni c al I nvest i gat i on
Depth of Investigation for Important Structures : T.G.,
Turbine etc.
Depth of the investigation minimum
- 1.5 Times the width of foundation,
Below the base of foundation
- 20% Borehole to 2 times the width of
foundation.
Investigation shall be carried to the point where the
vertical stress due to proposed structure is equal to or
less than 5 to 10% of the original stress at that point
before the structure is constructed.
10% is generally OK, but few bores (20%)
to be carried out to 5%.
Both the above two conditions to be
satisfied.
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Fig.1
5. Spac i ng and Number of Fi el d Test s/Bor ehol es
Depends on
i) Nature of Profile Regular Erratic
- In Alluvial sites Fairly regular
ii) Type of structure Sensitive, Insensitive
NPP
6. Types of Test s
In Alluvial Deposits, depend more on in-situ tests
rather than Lab tests for strength & compressibility.
That is
a) Boreholes with SPT, PMT, K field, Pump out test
Even in very stiff to hard clays.
b) SCPT Limitation - Equipment Capacity 20t
- 30t - Piezocone
c) Geophysical Investigation Cross hole survey
(E, G, Values)
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7. SPT
Regular Interval in all soils Generally
3m interval with UDS in between
In non-cohesive soils Replace UDS by
SPT. Hence SPT will be @ 1.5m interval.
Also in Very Stiff clays (N>20) replace,
80% UDS by SPT.
In hand clays (N>30), replace UDS by
SPT
8. N r ope Vs N aut ohammer SPT
N rope efficiency0.60 of theoretical
This method, very old and widely used.
All corelations are w.r.t. N rope
N autohammer is recent and being encouraged
N autohammer efficiency 0.85 to 0.95. Theoretical
N autohammer = 1.42 to 1.58
N rope
Say, Nrope = Nautohammer
1.5
9. Pl at e Load Test /Bl oc k Test
For shallow Foundations
Preferably on sand deposits, or
limited clay deposits
unsaturated.
Prefer two or three plate sizes.
Dewater, in sands, atleast upto
base of the plate/footing.
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10. Labor at or y Test s
Mechanical Analysis Adequate Numbers
on UDS/DS.
Strength and compressibility Tests on
UDS with N between 4 to 20.
Chemical Analysis of soil and water.
Shake Table Test Liquefaction Analysis.
E/G Determination (Field or Lab Test)
Refer Fig attached.
Best is seismic wave method say cross
hole test.
Fig. 2 Stain level associated with different in-situ and
laboratory tests for determination of dynamic shear modulus.
11. Li mi t at i ons of Labor at or y Test s
Limitations mainly w.r.t. strength, compressibility
tests, etc. (UDS)
Poor Quality Sampler
- Non-Seamless tube
- High Area Ratio Lowest 4.5% - Israel,
highest India 20%, Actual much Higher
- Cutting Edge Blunt
Sealing of sample in sampler Incorrect Method
Transportation to Lab - crude
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Cont d.
Storage in Lab Bad
Extraction of sample in Lab often incorrect
Testing Accuracy
Cutting the sample by spatula rather than
piano wire
Water content determination often
inaccurate
Even with all the above limitations, more
stress is laid on Lab Tests
Learn to depend more on field tests.
12. Dependabl e Lab Test s
Mechanical Analysis
Tests on compacted samples
Chemical Analysis Tests
Shake Table Test
13. Concl usi ons
Much more importance needs to be given to
Geotechnical Investigation.
Greater importance needs to be given to
field testing particularly with respect to
strength and compressibility characteristics
Must ensure Reliability of Investigation
J ust Brand Name of Investigating Agency is
not Adequate