- extent.

areas & depth of ground to be results exceeding 75 kPa if

investigated the height of embankment is
- time & site constraint 3m to 5m.

The extent of SI mainly depends on the (c) until 2 consecutive SPT

character and variability of the subsoil and values exceeding 50 or 2
ground water and the amount of existing consecutive SPT values
information available. However, it should be exceeding 40 (for depth
noted that subsoil conditions of a road exceeding 30m) if the height
alignment are very sensitive to type of of embankment is more than
geological formations and so the spacing and 5m.
location of boreholes/test pits/types of tests
should be more closely related to the detailed (d) at least one borehole along
geology of the project area and the the soft stretch should be
geotechnical problem/analysis required to be extended until 2 consecutive
carried out. SPT values exceeds 50 or until
1.5m rock coring, whichever
Common SI methods and the list of relevant lab comes first.
and field test methods are given in Appendix B.
List of abbreviations used is given in Appendix - consolidation parameters for
C. settlement analysis (Cc, Cv, Mv, Pc,
etc, from consolidation tests using
Some typical geotechnical problems and usual quality undisturbed samples obtained
applicable SI methods and tests for typical road by stationary piston samplers). These
works are given in the following sections. consolidation properties also can be
supplemented by correlation values
from DS or piezocones tests etc.
3.1 ROAD EMBANKMENT ON SOFT/WEAK GROUND
- shear strength parameters for stability
Coastal alluvium or deposited soil formations or and bearing analysis or ground
swamps are typical soft/weak grounds. Typical improvement design (Cu from insitu
geotechnical problems in such areas are vane shear tests or undisturbed
excessive total settlement, excessive differential samples, C' & ' from triaxial tests using
settlement and stability. Usual geotechnical quality undisturbed samples etc ....)
design and checking are bearing (short & long
term), slope stability (local & global, short & long - Index properties (LL, PL, PI, M/C,
term), amount and rate of settlement (primary & gradation, organic contents, etc) for
secondary consolidation, elastic deformation). soil classification and engineering
Geotechnical designs are usually carried out to property correlations, etc.
check whether the design criteria as shown in
Appendix A can be complied and subsequently - see Appendix D for applicability of
carry out the necessary designs of ground various tests for various engineering
improvement works. important data to be properties.
acquired through SI are:
3.2 ROAD EMBANKMENT ON ROLLING & HILLY
- subsoil profile showing the thickness of TERRAINS
various compressible and firm strata,
Water Table (WT), etc. Deep The main geotechnical problems and the
Sounding/Deep Boring (DS/DB) plus relevant SI methods and tests to address the
continuous sampling are necessary if problems are:
accurate profile is required. Spacing
of DS/DB should be in the range of (a) Check the stability of embankment
60m to 300m. DS/DB can be body (local and global slope stability);
supplemented by insitu vane shear usually unsaturated soil, and the
tests such as Geonor Vane tests and design parameters especially the
JKR probes. Usually one or two shear strengths are from the
boreholes plus two or more DS or compacted samples using bulk
piezocones are used to determine the samples taken at least one or two
generalized subsoil profile for each samples at 1.5m deep from the major
stretch of soft ground. Criteria to cut areas or borrow pits; assessment on
terminate depth of bore hole are: suitability of fill material from the
relevant major cut areas (HA, test pits
(a) until 10 consecutive SPT & bulk samples for the
exceeding 10 or until 10 compaction/CBR & classification tests
numbers of insitu vane shear to get index properties for engineering
tests exceeding 50 kPa if the property correlations).
height of embankment is less
than 3m. (b) Check local and global stability of
embankment: bearing check of
(b) until 5 consecutive SPT values supporting ground (DB/SPT or CIU tests
exceeding 20 or 5 numbers to obtain the shear strength
of insitu vane shear tests

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