SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

TOPIC 1 : SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Purpose and objectives of SI, designing site

investigation work.

Learning outcomes:
At the end of this lecture/week the students would
be able to:

 understand the importance of SI prior to any

design of geotechnical structures.
 Design Site Investigation schedule for simple
Civil Engineering Work
LEARNING OUTCOMES

Common SI methods, Field tests, Correlations of field

data.
Learning outcomes:
At the end of this lecture/week the students would
be able to:

 discuss different SI methods

 propose relevant laboratory and field tests to be
conducted for appropriate geotechnical design
parameters.
 use appropriate correlations based on field
tests
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

OUTLINE of PRESENTATION
1.1 Introduction & Overview
1.2 Purpose and Objectives of Site Investigation
1.3 Designing Site Investigation for Civil
Engineering Work
1.4 Sampling Techniques
1.5 Common S. I. Methods and In-situ tests
1.6 S. I. Report
1.7 Conclusion
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.1 Introduction & Overview

The topic looks at the basic definition and
pictures related to failures which may be
associated in one way or another to the
site investigation planning… and the need for
continuous monitoring and maintenance when the
need arises.

Associated problems may include

consolidation, slope failure, embankment
failure and bearing capacity failure.
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

Site Investigation :

Refers to the procedure of determining

surface and subsurface conditions in an
area of proposed construction.

Surface and subsurface features may

influence what can be built and will
directly affect the design and construction
procedures relating to how a structure is
built.
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

Rock fall at Bukit Lanjan

on N-S Expressway

Slope failure at Bukit

Antarabangsa
Condominium (15/5/1999)
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

ROAD EMBANKMENT
FAILURE
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ROAD EMBANKMENT FAILURE

Berita Harian
(22/12/1993)
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SINKHOLE AT ORAN ARMY CAMP, PERLIS (14/10/2001)

SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.2 Purpose and Objectives of Site Investigation

Purpose of subsurface exploration is to obtain

information that will aid the geotechnical
engineer in :
 Selecting the type and depth of foundation
for a given structure.
 Evaluating the load bearing capacity of the
foundation.
 Estimating the probable settlement of a
structure
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.2 Purpose and Objectives ….. cont.

 Determining the potential foundation

problems (e.g. expansive soil, collapsible
soil, sanitary landfill, and so on).
 Determining the location of the water table.
 Predicting the lateral earth pressure for
structures such as retaining walls, sheet
pile bulkheads, and braced cuts.
 Establishing construction methods for
changing subsoil conditions.
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.3 Designing Site Investigation for Civil

Engineering Work

Subsurface exploration comprises several

steps, including:

 collection of preliminary information

 reconnaissance
 site investigation
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.3.1 Collection of Preliminary Information

Involves obtaining information regarding the

type of structure to be built and its general use.

 For the construction of buildings, the

approximate column loads and their spacing
and the local building code and basement
requirements should be known.
 The construction of bridges requires
determining the lengths of their spans and the
loading on piers and abutments.
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.3.2 Reconnaissance
The engineer should always make a visual
inspection of the site to obtain information about :
 General topography of the site
 Soil stratification from deep cuts
 Type of vegetation at site – may indicate nature
of soil
 High water marks on nearby buildings and
bridge abutments
 Ground water levels – check nearby wells
 Types of construction nearby – any cracks ??
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.3.3 Site investigation

Consists of planning, making test boreholes,

and collecting soil samples at desired intervals
for subsequent observation and laboratory
tests.
Approximate required minimum depth of the
borings should be predetermined – which may
change during drilling.
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.3.3.1 Flowchart for SI Works

The following flowcharts may be adopted :

a) For highway projects
b) For a typical building construction
 SITE INVESTIGATION PLANNING

Site Investigation ARM/DrFA-UiTM July 2006

Fig. 2. Flow-chart for SI Works
SITE INVESTIGATION PLANNING
SITE INVESTIGATION PLANNING

Fig. 2.1 Flow chart for SI works (after REAM)

SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION
SITE INVESTIGATION PLANNING

Fig. 2.2 Flow-chart for SI Works

SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.3.3.2 Recommended Depths (Sower & Sowers (1970))

For a building with a width of 30 m :

No of stories Boring Depth (m)

1 3.5
2 6
3 10
4 16
5 24
 Overall Stages of SI
1. Planning program & Scope SI
2. Desk Study
3. Site Reconnaissance
4. Ground Exploration
5. Laboratory Testing
6. Preparation SI Report
7. Design
8. Review during Construction and
Monitoring
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.3.3.2 Recommended Depths (Sower & Sowers (1970))

To determine the boring depth for hospitals
and office buildings the following rule may
be adopted :

Db = 3S0.7 (for light steel or narrow concrete buildings)

and

Db = 6S0.7 (for heavy steel or wide concrete buildings)

where Db = depth of boring , in meters

S = number of stories
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.3.3.3 Approximate Spacing of Boreholes

Type of Project Spacing (m)

Multistory building 10-30
One-story industrial plant 20-60
Highways 250-500
Residential subdivision 250-500
Dams and Dikes 40-80
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.4 Field Sampling and Laboratory Tests.

 The guidance given in the standards can be used

to determine the locations, numbers and types of
SI methods or boreholes or insitu testing required
based on the need and purpose of SI established
from the desk study.

 The sequence of SI methods or boring or

insitu testing & criteria of termination of
boreholes should be clearly stated in the
written instruction and contract document
for SI contractor.
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.4.1 Field Sampling

1.4.1.1 Disturbed Samples
Basic & Index Properties
1.4.1.2 Undisturbed samples
Engineering Properties Tests
1.4.1.3 Water Samples
Chemical Tests
1.4.1.4 Block Samples
Engineering Properties & Classification Tests
1.4.1.5 Bulk Samples – from test pits
Compaction/CBR & Classification Tests
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.4.2 Laboratory Tests

1.4.2.1 Basic Properties Tests

1.4.2.2 Index Properties Tests

1.4.2.3 Chemical Properties Tests

1.4.2.4 Engineering Properties Tests

SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.4.2.1 Basic Properties Tests

 Include for colour, smell, natural

moisture content, Gs, Porosity,
Void Ratio, Reactivity, etc

 For soil identification, description,

classification and correlation
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.4.2.2 Index Properties Tests

 Include Atterberg Limits (LL, PL, PI),

Shrinkage Limit (SL), Particle Size
Distribution (PSD), Organic Content.

 For soil description, classification and

correlation with engineering properties
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1.4.2.2 Index Properties Tests ..cont.

Cone Penetration &

Casagrande Apparatus
for Liquid Limit Test
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1.4.2.2 Index Properties Tests ..cont.

Shrinkage Limit Apparatus

SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.4.2.2 Index Properties Tests ..cont.

Particle size distribution

apparatus
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1.4.2.3 Chemical Properties Tests

 Include Total Dissolved Salts,

Sulphate & Chloride Contents,
pH value, etc

 For corrosion and durability

assessment of foundation
1.4.2.3 Chemical Properties Tests ..cont.
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.4.2.4 Engineering Properties Tests

 Include shear strength, stiffness,

compressibility/swelling,
compaction/CBR, permeability
 For analysis and design
 Can be obtained from insitu testing &
laboratory test on undisturbed samples
 should be compared with correlated
values from Index Properties
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.4.2.4 Engineering Properties Tests ..cont.

Triaxial Apparatus
for Strength Test
SITE INVESTIGATION

1.4.2.4 Engineering Properties Tests ..cont.

Shear Box Apparatus

and accessories for
Strength Test
FIELD RESULTS & ANALYSIS I

1.4.2.4 Engineering Properties Tests ..cont.

Shear vane
Apparatus

 d d
2
d
T  cu hd x  2 x 
 2 4 3
SITE INVESTIGATION

1.4.2.4 Engineering Properties Tests ..cont.

Consolidation Apparatus to determine compressibility

SITE INVESTIGATION

1.4.2.4 Engineering Properties Tests ..cont.

Automatic Compaction
Apparatus

CBR
Apparatus
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.5 Common S. I. Methods .

1.5.1 JKR/Mackintosh Probes

1.5.2 Hand Augering (HA)
1.5.3 Deep Boring (DB)
1.5.4 Deep Sound (DS) -100/200 kN Capacity
1.5.5 Test Pits, Bulk & Block Samples
1.5.6 Motorised Hand Boring (MHB)
1.5.7 Geophysical Survey
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.5.1 JKR/Mackintosh Probe

SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.5.1 JKR/Mackintosh Probe

 Can be used to determine the
thickness of unsuitable material to be
removed and also for preliminary
design of embankments
 Limited to about 15 m
 Record no. of blows/ft. then correlate
to established chart to determine
bearing capacity of soil
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.5.2 Hand Augering (HA)

SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.5.3 Deep Boring (DB)

SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.5.3 Deep Boring (DB) ….cont.

 Advanced by power rotary drilling

 Open hole rotary drilling or casing
advancement drilling method
 Flushing medium.. Clear water, mud
water, etc
 Bentonite/mud water for coarse
sand/fine gravel
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.5.4 Deep Sound (DS)

Cone Penetration
Equipment
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.5.4 Deep Sound (DS)

 Static Dutch Cone Penetrometer

 Used to supplement Deep Boring (DB)
results in filling areas which are fluvial
or soft formation
 Not suitable for gravel abundant
subsoil
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

Cone Penetrometer
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

CONE PENETRATION TEST

ACCESSORIES & TEST
RESULTS
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.5.5 Test Pit, Bulk & Block Samples

SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.5.6 Test Pit, Bulk & Block Samples.. cont.

 Usually to access suitability of soil as

filling material
 Up to 2 m or more (with excavator)
 Visual inspection in Test Pit
 Bulk samples for Laboratory Tests
 Undisturbed block for Strength Test
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.5.7 Geophysical Survey

Seismic Refraction Method

Electrical Resistivity Method

SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

Geophysical Survey .. cont.

 Used to supplement borehole results
covering large areas
 Include seismic refraction method &
electrical resistivity method
 Can be used to predict corrosivity of
soil & geological features and cavities
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

Comparison between JKR Probe, Mackintosh Probe & SPT

Con
Weight of Height of Energy per
Type of
Hammer Fall Unit Area
Penetrometer Diameter Area
(kg) (mm) N·m/m2
(mm) (mm2)

JKR Probe 25 491 5 280 27972

Mackintosh
27.9 611 4.5 300 21675
Probe

SPT 50 1963 65 760 246874

SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

Comparison of Energy between JKR Probe, Mackintosh

Probe & SPT
246874
Ratio of Energy of SPT to JKR Probe =  8 .8
27972
246874
Ratio of Energy of SPT to Mackintosh Probe =  11.4
21675

If the cone base diameter of Mackintosh probe is 25 mm, then

246874
Ratio of Energy of SPT to Mackintosh Probe =  9.2
26979
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

Correlation between JKR Probe, Mackintosh Probe & SPT

(i) JKR Probe’s correlation with SPT-N value

JKR value
SPT  N value 
8 .8

(ii) Mackintosh Probe’s correlation with SPT-N value

Mackintosh value
SPT  N value 
11.4

(iii) JKR Probe’s correlation with Mackintosh Probe value

26 JKR value  20 Mackintosh Probe value

BEARING CAPACITY OF SOILS
Allowable bearing capacity of sands

Relationship between
N-value and
allowable bearing
pressure (after Terzaghi
and Peck, 1967)
 FIELD RESULTS & ANALYSIS I

Relationship
between N-value
and φ’, Nq and Nγ
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

Pile type Soil type Ultimate base Ultimate shaft

resistance resistance
qb (kPa) fs (kPa)

Driven Gravelly sand

and sand 40(L/B)N < 400 N 2Nav

Driven Sand silt and

silt (ML) 30(L/B)N < 300 N 2Nav

Bored Gravels and

sands 13(L/B)N < 130 N Nav

Bored Sandy silt

and silt (ML) 10(L/B)N < 100 N Nav
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.6 SI Factual Report .

 Report submitted by SI Contractor

 Checked and endorsed by a
qualified PE (Professional Engineer)

 Report should include

Introduction
Site Description
Field work
SITE INVESTIGATION

Typical Borelog
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

Note how the SPT value and recovery ratios are

recorded !!
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION

1.7 Conclusion
 Accurate soil properties and ground data
have to be procured by proper SI
Planning and Execution

 Testing methods and procedures to

follow specification of SI works and
relevant Standards, i.e. MS/BS/ASTM