CE 2305 Foundation Engineering PART A 1. Write the objectives of site investigation 2.

. Define the given terms a) Inside clearance ratio. b) Area ratio c)Outside clearance ratio PART B 3. Describe the Boring Methods in detail 4. Explain in the different types of samplers used. Key 1. Objectives of Site Investigation To access the general suitability of the site, to achieve safe and economical design of foundations and temporary works, to know the nature of each stratum and engineering properties of the soil and rock, to foresee and provide against difficulties that may arise during construction due to ground and other local conditions. to find out the sources of construction material and selection of sites for disposal of water or surplus material. to investigate the occurrence or causes of all natural and manmade changes in conditions and the results arising from such changes to ensure the safety of surrounding existing structures. to design for the failed structures or remedial measures for the structures deemed to be unsafe. to locate the ground water level and possible corrosive effect of soil and water on foundation material.

2. Inside clearance ratio =

Area ratio =

Outside clearance ratio = For good sampling process, the ratio should be within 0-2 % 3. Boring Methods The methods of boring or drilling are auger, auger and shell, wash boring, and rotary boring. Auger boring Augers are used in cohesive and other soft soills above water table. Hand augers are used for depths upto about 6 it mechanically operated augers are used for greater depths and they can also be used in gravely soils. Samples recovered from the soil brought up by augers are badly disturbed and are useful for identification purposes only. Auger boring is fairly satisfactory for highway explorations at shallow depths and for exploring borrow pits.

Auger and shell boring Cylindrical augers and shell with Auger cutting edge on teeth at the lower end can be used for making deep borings. Hand operated rings are used for depths upto about 25 m and the mechanized rings upto 50 m. Augers are suitable for soft to stiff clays, shells for very stiff and hard clays and shells or sand pumps for sandy soils. Small boulders, thin soft strata or rock or cemented gravel can be broken by chisel bits attached to drill rods. The hole usually requires a casing a typical sand pump. Wash boring Wash boring is a fast and simple method for advancing holes in all types of soils. Boulders and rock cannot be penetrated by this method. The method consists in first driving a casing through which a hollow drill rod with, a sharp chisel or chopping bit at the lower end is inserted. Water is forced under pressure through the drill rod which is alternatively raised and dropped, and also rotated. The resulting chopping and jetting action of the bit and water disintegrates the soil. The cuttings are forced up to the ground surface in the form of soil-water slurry through the annular space between the drill rod and the casing. The change of soil stratification could be guessed from the rate of progress and the guessed color of the wash water.

Rotary Boring. Rotary boring or rotary drilling is a very fast method of advancing hole in both rocks and soils. A drill bit, fixed to the lower end of drill rods, is rotated by a suitable chuck and is always kept in firm contact with the bottom of the hoje. A drilling mud, usually a water solution of bentonite; with or without other admixtures, is continuously forced down the hollow drill rods. The mud returning upwards brings the cuttings to the surface. The method is also known as mud rotary drilling and the hole usually require no casing. Rotating core barrels, provided with commercial diamondstudded bits or a steel bit with shots, are also used for rotary drilling and simultaneously obtaining the rock cores or samples.

The method is then also known as core boring or core drilling. Water is circulated down the drill rods during boring. 4. Different types of samplers 1. Standard split spoon sampler It consists of tool-steel driving shoe at the bottom, a steel tube (that is split longitudinally in to halves) in the middle, and a coupling at the top. The steel tube in the middle has inside and out side diameters of 34.9mm and 50.8mm, respectively. When the bore hole is advanced to a desired depth, the drilling tools are removed. The split-spoon sampler is attached to the drilling rod and then lowered to the bottom of the bore hole. The sampler is driven in to the soil at the bottom of the bore hole by means of hammer blows. The hammer blows occur at the top of the drilling rod. The hammer weights 623N. For each blow, the hammer drops a distance of 0.762m. The number of blows required for driving the sampler through three 152.4mm interval is recorded. The sum of the number of blows required for driving the last two 152.4mm intervals is referred to as the standard penetration number; N. it is also commonly called the blow count. After driving is completed, the sampler is withdrawn and the shoe and coupling are removed. The soil sample collected inside the split tube is then removed and transferred to the laboratory in small glass jars. Determination of the standard penetration number and collection of split-spoon samples are usually done at 1.5m.

Split Spoon Sampler

2. Piston type sampler Good quality undisturbed samples are obtained from piston samplers which use thin-walled sampling tubes with a piston inside. While the tube is being lowered to the bottom of the drill hole, the piston rods and piston are held at the bottom of the sampler by means of a drill rod which rises to the top of the bore hole. The presence of the piston prevents excess soil from squeezing in to the tube and thus, maintains the integrity of the sample.

3. Thin tube samplers Undisturbed samples are may be obtained from boreholes by open drive samplers or piston samplers. Open drive samples consist of thin-walled tubes which are pushed or driven in to the soil at the bottom of the hole and then rotated to detach the lower end of the sample from the soil. Most soft or moderately stiff cohesive soil can be sampled without extensive disturbance in thinwalled seamless steel tubes having diameter not less 50 mm. the lower end of the tube is sharpened to from a cutting edge and the other end is machined for attachment to the drill rods. The entire tube is pushed or driven in to the soil at the bottom of the hole and is removed sample with inside. The two ends of the tube are then sealed and sample shifted to the laboratory.