UNIVERSITY OF DOHUK

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ENGINEERING CONSULTING BUREAU

SOIL
INVESTIGATION
REPORT

(NL-102)

MAY. 2010
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Chapter Subject Page

1 INTRODUCTION 2
1.1 Authorization 2
1.2 Site Location and Description 2
1.3 Geology and Climatic condition of the site area 3

2 FIELD EXPLORATION 3
2.1 Borings 3
2.2 Sampling 4
2.3 Testing 4

3 LABORATORY TESTS 4
3.1 Classification Tests 5
3.2 Shear Strength and Compressibility Tests 5
3.3 Chemical Tests 5

4 FIELD TEST 5

5 CONCLUSIONS 6
5.1 Subsoil Profile 6
5.2 Underground water 6

6 RECOMMENDATIONS 7
6.1 Bearing capacity Analysis 7
6.2 Type and Depth of Foundation 8
6.3 Type of Cement to be Used in Foundations 9

7 APPENDICES
7.1 Appendix A
7.2 Appendix B
LIST OF CONTENTS

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 AUTHORIZATION:

This site investigation report that concerns the soil tests

required for THE CONSTRUCTION OF RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS
BUILDINGS in Duhok Governorate at ETOT, it has been conducted
by the Engineering Consulting Bureau (E.C.B.), College of
Engineering / Dohuk University according to the memo. No. 1 at
03/05/2010 form THE NEW LAND II OFFICE AT DUHOK.
This soil investigation report includes all the methods of
drilling, sampling, and field and laboratory testing done in order to
explore the sub-surface of soil or rock conditions at the specified
site. The soil conditions with test results then were analyzed to
establish adequate recommendations for the proposed project.

1.2 SITE LOCATION AND DESICRIPTION:

The proposed locations of the area of the project are inside the
zone area of what is called Etot basin in Dohuk Governorate, Iraqi-
Kurdistan Region. The basin is bordered by Bekhair anticline to the North
and Dohuk anticline to the South. The western limit of the basin is
represented by a chain of hills. Etot basin is about 130 km 2 which is
restricted between latitude 36◦48′ 00″-36◦ 57′ 00″ N and longitude 42◦ 51′
30″-43◦ 06′ 40″ E. The main subject of the project is to construct
residential apartments as a plan of Dohuk Governorate for the
development of the residential sector in Dohuk. The components of the
project are shown in appendix -A-. .

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1.3 GEOLOGY AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

OF THE SITE AREA:
Large parts of the soils in Etot areas are covered with clay beds that
vary in the color from heavy brown to yellowish brown. This soil is of
variable thickness, covering almost moderately deep inclined rock strata.
The main geological succession in Etot area is affected by Bekhair
and Dohuk Mountains. Bekhair anticline, is covered by late Cretaceous
and Paloeogene sediments. It extended from southeast towards northwest
at northern part of Dohuk City, and Dohuk Mountain at southern part
which is covered by Tertiary deposites. The southwestern part of the
investigated area is of low relief and covered mostly by Quaternary
Deposites. However, such formations can be considered, to some extent,
stable from the engineering point of view for constructing the proposed
component of the project.
The climate of the area is similar to the Mediterranean climate
conditions with an influence of the comparatively high altitude of the
surrounding mountains. The main annual rainfall was about 500 mm for
the period (1976-2001), while the average annual temperature for the
same period was about 19.4◦C.

2. FIELD EXPLORATION

2.1 BORINGS:

Three boreholes were drilled on the site. Their depth is limited to

12 m below the natural ground surface (N.G.S.) or the base of the
foundation level. The location of the boreholes is also shown in Appendix
-A-. Drilling of the boreholes were conducted by the Drilling Department
Team/ Directorate of Construction Dohuk Laboratory using flight auger

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with a drill hole of 100 mm in diameter and thin Shelby tubes of 100 mm
in diameter 600 mm in length. However, the drilling scheme is decided
by the owner. The Engineering Consulting Bureau (E.C.B.) has tested the
samples provided by the drilling team.

2.2. SAMPLING:
During the drilling, three types of soil samples were collected; these
are as follows:
(a) The disturbed samples (D): - which were collected from the cutting
of the auger during the excavation process and at specified depth.
(b) The undisturbed samples (U): - which were obtained using thin
Shelby tubes of 100 mm in diameter 600 mm in length.

(c) the (SS) samples: which were obtained from standard split spoon
sampler used in a standard penetration test (S.P.T.) that performed at
different intervals depending on the stratification of the soil.

2.3 TESTING:
The tests performed on each type of the three different soil samples
are as follows:
As a rule, undisturbed samples (U) were used for strength and
compressibility tests, in addition to classification and chemical tests.
Whereas, disturbed (D) or (SS) samples as available were mainly used for
physical and geotechnical analysis of soil as well as chemical tests.

3. LABORATORY TESTS

The obtained samples were tested according to the procedure and

recommendations of the American Society for Testing and Materials

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(ASTM) or the British Standards (BS) whichever is appropriate. The test

program of the samples includes the followings:

3.1 CLASSIFICATION TESTS:

 Sieve and Hydrometer Analysis,

 Natural water content,
 Atterberge limits,
 Specific gravity, and
 Wet and dry unit weights.

3.2 SHEAR STRENGTH AND COMPRESSIBILITY TESTS:

 Unconfined compressive strength test.
 One-dimensional consolidation test.

3.3 CHEMICAL TESTS:

 Sulphate Content (SO3-2) %.
 Total Soluble Salts (T.S.S.).
 Organic Matter Content (ORG.) %.

All the previously stated test results are included in the Tables at
appendix (B).

4. FIELD TESTS: -
The test consists of driving the standard split barrel sampler of
dimensions of (680 mm. length, 30 mm. inside diameter and 50 mm.
outside diameter) a distance of 460 mm. (18") into the soil at the bottom
of the boring. This is done by using 63.5 kg (140 Ib) driving mass or
hammer falling free from a height of 760 mm (30"), then counting the

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number of blows to drive the sampler the last 305 mm (12 ") to obtain the
N number (neglecting the number of blows for the upper 150 mm.).

5. CONCLUSIONS: -
5.1 SUBSOIL PROFILE: -
Depending on the results of the laboratory tests and the field
observation and from the log of boring, it can be noted that the soil
profile consists of subsequent layers of sandy silty clay mixtures with
appreciate amount of calcium carbonate. Some rock formations have
been noticed during the drilling process; such rocks are coincidently,
encountered with the drilling rig and turns out soil samples that contains
some rock floor which reduces the consistency limits at the rock location,
however, such rocks are increasing the soil stability that concerns the
constructions at the project.
In addition, the chemical test results that obtained from the soil
indicate that there are no serious problems regarding the constructions of
such projects. However, the inclination of the proposed site must prompt
the designer to take special precaution so as to prevent the potential land
slide.

5.2 UNDER GROUND WATER: -

In spite of that no clear signs were indicated regarding the ground
water table at the time of the 15 m. depth of borings carried out during
Feb. 2010. It was observed from pervious borings at nearby areas that the
water table is appears at depths over 15 m below the Natural Ground
Surface. Therefore, special attention must be taken for the consolidation
settlement calculations.

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6. RECOMMENDATIONS: -
6.1 BEARING CAPACITY ANALYSIS
The upper 0.5 m of the soil is not suitable to be a bearing layer
because of the significant amounts of soluble salts and organic materials;
(the designer had to set up the foundations at 2.0 m or more deeper).
No information was provided about the design loads subjected to
the foundations. Therefore, the allowable bearing capacity of the
foundations may be governed by the permissible settlement of the
structure.
1. Based on S.P.T. results, the allowable bearing capacity for a square
column footings of (1.5 to 2.0 m) at an assumed depth of (1.0 m) below
the natural ground surface and due to an average N-value /0.30 m
penetration at the footing stress influence zone can be calculated
according to Peck-Hansen-Thornberen equation as follows: -
- Lower limit of allowable bearing capacity for the N-value of 23 which
was obtained for the borehole No. 1 at depth of 3.0 m.
q all  10.5 N   10.5 x 23 x0.7  169 kN/m2.

> 17 ton/m2.
Taking in consideration that the minimum N-value, that involved in
the equation above, may validates the bearing capacity in the whole
project.
2. Bearing capacity calculation based on the settlement equation on

qB
clay   E I for  = 0.025 m settlement tolerance accepted
u

for rectangle and strip foundations of width of 2.5 m and I = 0.10, then

0.025 Eu 0.025 x1450

q all    145 kN/m2
BI 2.5 x 0.1

= 14.8 ton/m2.

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3. However, the allowable bearing capacity for the same foundation

width on clay under F = 0 condition can be estimated by Terzaghi's
bearing capacity equations as shown below
Terzaghi bearing capacity equation:
qall = 5.7 Cu / 3

= 5.7x (73 to 82)/3 = 138.7 to 155.8 kN/m2.

= 14.2 to 15.9 ton/m2.

Such slight fluctuation in the bearing capacity values is rather

normal because of the deep layer of clayey soil observed during the
boring.

Therefore, 14.0 ton/m2 allowable bearing capacity for the

proposed structure can be proposed.

4.2 TYPE AND DEPTH OF FOUNDATION

1. Such moderate allowable bearing capacity of the soil at the
project area can be considered normal and doesn't reflecting any
problem since, the type of the loads for the constructions of the
project are classified as four to six storey buildings, so no additional
precaution to be taken in the design or the achievement of the
foundations. The following types of foundation can be suggested:
A. Mat (Raft) foundation not less than 1.0 m depth at depth of at
least 2.5 m. below natural ground surface.
B. Square column footings of dimensions not less than 2.5x2.5 m
and depth not less than 1.5 m. below natural ground surface the
footing should be integrated with a reinforced concrete tie beams

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in order to reduce the settlement effect and to reduce the potential

landslide effects.
2. Because of that the moderately steep inclination of the proposed
site the cuts, the placement, and the land preparing for the
construction of the residential building must follow the criteria in the
figure below.

Building
C C
C must be greater than 5 m. B

D must be greater than 2xB 63°

Building
D

63°

point of intersection of the

stress effect

Figure showing the placement of the construction due to the cut for

the site.

6.3 TYPE OF CEMENT TO BE USED IN FOUNDATIONS

According to the chemical tests conducted to the soils of the project,
the following precautions can be awarded: -
(i) Using Sulphate resisting cement plus adequate protective
coating in the foundations concrete works.
(ii) Minimum cement is suggested to be 330, 370, 420 kg/m3
with nominal maximum size of aggregate 40, 20, 10 mm
respectively.
(iii) Maximum free water cement ratio is 0.45.

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