CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY

University Town, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon

College of Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering

CE 34.1 Geotechnical Engineering 1 – Laboratory

SOIL SAMPLING AND PREPARATION

Activity 2

Submitted by:
Guilbert C. Fajardo Jr.
BSCE 3A

Submitted to:
Engr. Ma. Catherine Q. Arca
CE34.1 Instructor

Date performed:
September 20, 2021

Due date:
September 23, 2021

GUILBERT C. FAJARDO JR DATE DUE:

ACTIVITY NO: 2
Student SEPT. 23, 2021
ENGR. MA. CATHERINE Q. ARCA SOIL SAMPLING AND PREPARATION SCORE: Th 7:00 am
CE 34.1 Instructor Title – 10:00 am
 I. Background of the Experiment

The knowledge of the ground conditions is a crucial foundation for the planning and construction of building and
infrastructure projects which include various types of structures such as foundations, excavation pits, land
reclamation, beach nourishment, and etc. For this purpose, soil sampling is performed to obtain information and
understand the characteristics such as the physical properties underneath.

Soil samples are generally categorized as either disturbed or undisturbed. A disturbed sample is one in which the
soil structure has been altered to the point where testing of structural properties of the soil will not be reflective of in-
situ conditions, and only properties of the soil grains will be representative of in-situ conditions. For disturbed samples,
properties such as water content, classification, and compaction can only be accurately identified. An undisturbed
sample is one in which the condition of the soil in the sample is close enough to that of the soil in situ to enable tests
of structural properties of the soil to be approximated. Undisturbed soil samples are used to determine the
permeability, density, shear strength, consolidation, and other engineering characteristics.

II. Purpose of the experiment

The purpose of this experiment is to collect a representative sample of soil, and have a profound
understanding of soil sampling and preparation for soil testing practices

III. Equipment Used

1. Core sampler (Improvised)

2. Cling Wrap
3. Ziploc
4. Steel tape
5. Shovel
6. Digging bar
7. Nylon thread and Nails

IV. Schematic diagram

The following is the schematic diagram for soil sampling conducted.

TEST HOLE UNDISTURBED CORE SAMPLER CLING WRAP ZIPLOCK BAG

SOIL SAMPLING

DISTURBED SHOVEL

1m by 1m by 1.5m Soil samples Tool used to obtain To seal For storage

GUILBERT C. FAJARDO JR DATE DUE:

ACTIVITY NO: 2
Student SEPT. 23, 2021
ENGR. MA. CATHERINE Q. ARCA SOIL SAMPLING AND PREPARATION SCORE: Th 7:00 am
CE 34.1 Instructor Title – 10:00 am
 V. Procedure

The activity took place at P-5, Catumbalon, Valencia City. The location was on a high ground nearby rice
fields. The open-pit method was used to obtain soil samples by digging a test hole. The litters from the surface were
removed to clear the area selected for the test hole. Before excavation, an area of 1 meter by 1 meter was measured
and marked on the ground using a nylon thread and nail to serve as a guide for excavation. A shovel and digging bar
were used to excavate a test hole until it reaches 1.5 meters below the natural ground line. After a depth of 1.5 meters
was reached below the ground line, undisturbed sample was taken using an improvised core sampler (Steel pipe with
sharpened edges) with 2’ (50mm) diameter. The core sampler was pushed cautiously against the soil to obtain the
undisturbed soil sample. The obtained undisturbed soil sample was then sealed using cling wrap by wrapping around
the core sampler. The sealed undisturbed soil sample was then placed on the ziplock bag without any air inside and
properly sealed. Three undisturbed was secured and stored properly. For the disturbed soil sample, the soil sample
was gathered on a stockpile of soil excavated from within 1-1.5 meter depth on the test hole. The disturbed soil
sample was then placed on the ziplock bag up to full capacity without any air inside and properly sealed. Three fully-
packed disturbed samples were secured and stored properly.

VI. Results

The three undisturbed and disturbed soil samples were successfully obtained from 1-meter by 1-meter by
1.5-meter open pit, right above the water table. By pushing the core sampler through the soil, it was able to obtain
undisturbed soil samples which were close enough to represent the soil in situ. It was sealed with cling wrap and
placed on a ziplock bag without any air inside to preserve the properties. For disturbed soil samples, it was obtained
from the stockpile of excavated soil from within 1 meter-1.5 meter depth by using a shovel and place into a ziplock
bag without air inside. The following shows the soil samples obtained from the test hole:

For the Undisturbed soil:

Undisturbed soil sample 1 Undisturbed soil sample 2 Undisturbed soil sample 3

For the Disturbed soil:

Three disturbed soil sample placed on ziplock bag

GUILBERT C. FAJARDO JR DATE DUE:
ACTIVITY NO: 2
Student SEPT. 23, 2021
ENGR. MA. CATHERINE Q. ARCA SOIL SAMPLING AND PREPARATION SCORE: Th 7:00 am
CE 34.1 Instructor Title – 10:00 am
 VII. Conclusion

Geotechnical soil sampling and preparation play a significant part in determining the engineering properties
of soil. Soil sampling is the stepping stone to obtain information and understand the characteristics such as the
properties of soil underneath. The open-pit method was used on this activity for soil sampling by excavating a test
hole since it is the most satisfactory method of obtaining in situ properties of soil. A depth of 1.5-meter was excavated
below the ground level. Below 1.5-meter on the ground, the soil is submerged to groundwater, therefore, a
groundwater table was located 1.5-meter below the ground level. The undisturbed soil was then managed to obtain
right above 1.5-meter depth or on the groundwater table. For the core sampler, a 2-inch diameter steel pipe was
innovated by sharping the edges of the pipe which enables it to cut through soils easily. The improvised core sampler
was then pushed through the soil in a rotating manner to minimize the factors that can alter the in situ properties of
the soil. The disturbed soil sample was taken in the stockpile of 1 to1.5-meters soil to be placed on the ziplock bag
easily. The ziplock is in full capacity of disturbed soil to fully cater to the following tests for the disturbed soil. Possible
sources of error might be from the procedure itself. Due to consecutive rainfall, the soil was penetrable but heavy to
carry when excavating. It might also be a possible source of error that disturbs the in situ properties of soil. In addition,
since the groundwater table was located during the excavation on 1.5-meter depth, and managed to obtain the
undisturbed samples right above the groundwater table, it might give a fraction of error in the properties of soil
obtained above it. In conclusion, soil sampling and preparation is crucial part of soil testing. Since the soil samples
describe the properties of the in situ soil, soil sampling and preparation must be conducted in the right way.

VIII. Reference

Department of Army: U.S. Army Corps of E. (2015). Geotechnical Investigations - Scholar’s Choice Edition. Scholar’s
Choice.

Chapter 4 (continued) - NHI-05-037 - Geotech - Bridges & Structures - Federal Highway Administration. (n.d.). U.S.
Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/engineering/geotech/pubs/05037/04c.cfm

2. Planning And Making A Soil Survey. (n.d.). FAO. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from
http://www.fao.org/fishery/docs/CDrom/FAO_Training/FAO_Training/General/x6706e/x6706e02.htm

IX. Appendices

A. Location

The activity was conducted on P-5, Catumbalon, Valencia City

GUILBERT C. FAJARDO JR DATE DUE:

ACTIVITY NO: 2
Student SEPT. 23, 2021
ENGR. MA. CATHERINE Q. ARCA SOIL SAMPLING AND PREPARATION SCORE: Th 7:00 am
CE 34.1 Instructor Title – 10:00 am
 B. Test Hole

A test pit was excavated with 1-meter by 1-meter and 1.5-meter depth

Groundwater table was located right on the 1.5-meter depth

C. Undisturbed soil sampling

Improvised 2-inches diameter core sampler

Undisturbed soil sample sealed with cling wrap

GUILBERT C. FAJARDO JR DATE DUE:

ACTIVITY NO: 2
Student SEPT. 23, 2021
ENGR. MA. CATHERINE Q. ARCA SOIL SAMPLING AND PREPARATION SCORE: Th 7:00 am
CE 34.1 Instructor Title – 10:00 am
 D. Disturbed soil sampling

Disturbed soil samples was placed inside the ziplock in full capacity

GUILBERT C. FAJARDO JR DATE DUE:

ACTIVITY NO: 2
Student SEPT. 23, 2021
ENGR. MA. CATHERINE Q. ARCA SOIL SAMPLING AND PREPARATION SCORE: Th 7:00 am
CE 34.1 Instructor Title – 10:00 am