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EXPLORATION
Exposed overburden
Course of a stream nearby
Rock outcrop or a hillock
Vegetation, and other geological features of the area
Objectives of Exploration
To select suitable site for the proposed project
(Earth/Concrete dam; Nuclear power plant; Engineered
landfill and ..)
Assess the fundamental properties of the sub layers such
as shear strength, volume compressibility and hydraulic
characteristics.
To decide type of foundation required for the proposed
project at the site, i.e. shallow foundation or deep
foundation and to recommend safe bearing capacity or pile
load capacity.
The program should be planned so that the maximum
amount of information can be obtained at minimum cost.
Methods of Investigations
Open Pits
Bore Holes
Geophysical Investigation (non destructive)
Electrical Resistivity Survey
Seismic Survey
Gravity Survey
Magnetic Survey
Temperature Logging
Radioactivity Logging
Angle Drilling
Assess geologic features
(dip, strike, joints, etc.)
Foundation testing for
bridge abutments.
of
Type of samples
Disturbed samples
Soil structure gets altered (or) modified during sampling operation
If natural moisture content and proportion of mineral is preserved
then these samples are called Representative Samples
If the above conditions is not met, then we call them as
non-representative Samples
Undisturbed samples
If any sample is not falling under the criteria mentioned above is
considered undisturbed sample
D4
D3
D1
D2
Types of Sampler
Standard Split Spoon Sampler
Shelby Tube Sampler
Open Drive and Piston Sampler
Double Tube Core Barrel
Piston Type Sampler
Depth of Investigation
Depth of Investigation
The approximate required minimum depth of the borings should be
predetermined. The estimated depths can be changed during the drilling
operation, depending on the subsoil encountered.
To determine the approximate minimum depth of
boring, engineers may use the following criteria:
1. Determine the net increase of stress, under a
foundation with depth as shown in the Figure.
2. Estimate the variation of the vertical effective
stress, 'v, with depth.
3. Determine the depth, D = D1, at which the stress
increase is equal to 0.1q ( where q = estimated
net stress at foundation level due to the Stress distribution below
the shallow foundation
structure).
4. Determine depth, D = D2, at which /v = 0.05.
5. Unless bedrock is encountered, the smaller of the
two depths, D1 and D2, just determined is the
approximate minimum depth of boring required.
Extent of Investigation
There are no hard and fast rules for the spacing of the
boreholes. The following table Provides some general
guidelines for borehole spacing.
These spacing can be increased or decreased, depending on
the subsoil condition. If various soil strata are more or less
uniform and predictable, the number of boreholes can be
reduced.
Spacing (m)
10-30
20-60
Highways
250-500
Residential subdivision
250-500
40-80
c=
T
d 2 h d 3
+
2 6
where
c = cohesion of the clay
T = torque required to shear the soil
d = diameter of vane tester
h = height of vane tester
Correction Factor ()
N 60
E m Cb C r N
=
0.60
SPT-Overburden Correction
N `= ( N 1 )60 = C N N 60
CN
2000
= 0.77 log 10 1
V
(kPa)
(Or)
Applied to N value based on chart by Peck, et. al. (varies from 0.45 to 2)
Compactness
of sand
Relative
Density (%)
0 to 4
Very Loose
0-15
< 28
4 to 10
Loose
15 - 35
28 -30
10 to 30
Medium Dense
25 - 65
30 -36
> 50
Very Dense
> 85
> 41
qu (kPa)
Very Soft Soft Medium Stiff
Very Stiff
Hard
SPT N-value
<2
2-4
4-8
8-15
15-30
>30
qu
<25
25-50
50-100
100200
200-400
>400
Type of Soil
Sandy gravels and gravels
8 to 10
Coarse sand
5 to 10
3 to 4
Pressure (kPa)
NC clay
9 to 16
0.67
OC clay
> 16
1.00
Silt-NC
8 to 14
0.5
Silt-OC
> 14
0.67
Sand
7 to 12
0.33
pl
qultimate
9
= 1 v + k bc ( pl h )
qdes
B
+ c B Fd
H =
2 B0 d
9 Em
B0
where
1v = effective horizontal stress in kPa
kbc = bearing capacity factor
H= settlement of shallow foundation
B0= a reference dimension=0.6 m
= rhelogical factor
Em= Menards shear modulus
Settlement (mm)
(
(
B f B p + 0.3
Sf = Sp
B p B f + 0.3
Eq .1
where
Sf = settlement of foundation in m
Sp = settlement of plate in m
Bf = width of the footing
Bp = width of the plate
Bf
Sf
=
S
B
p
p
Settlement (mm)
Sp as per Eq. 1
SBC (kPa)
B
quf = qup f
Eq .2 ( granular )
B
p
Size (cm)
Geophysical Methods
1.Seismic Refraction Method
Based on the fact that seismic waves exhibits varied
velocities in different types of geomaterials (soil and rocks)
Waves are refracted when they cross the boundary between
two layers
The method enables to identify the nature of the soil layer
and approximate depth of strata
Induce shock waves by detonation of small charge or
impact on plate with sledge hammer
The radiating wave are recorded by geophones, installed at
known distance
Xc
D=
2
V2 V1
+
V
V
1
2
1
2
Velocity
(m/sec)
Sandy
180 to 365
Sandy clay
365 to 580
Gravel
470 to 790
Shale
790 to 3350
Granite
3050 to 100
Geophysical Methods
1.Electrical Resistivity Method
The method is based on measured change of mean resistivity
of the material
Test is carried by driving four metal spikes (electrodes) into
the ground along straight line at equal or specified distance
The current flow through outer electrodes produce an
electrical field
The potential difference between inner two electrodes is
measured, apparent resistivity of the soil is calculated, which
is weighted average of true resistivity up to a depth a.
The soil close to the surface being heavily weight than soil at
greater depths
If a stratum of low resistivity overlies stratum of high
resistivity the is current is forced to flow closer to the ground
surface, resulting in higher voltage drop and high apparent
resistivity
Resistivity
(kOhm-cm)
0 to 10
10 to 25
25 to 50
Sand
50 to 150
Gravel
150 to 500
Sound rock
150 t0 4000