Assignment 1 Foundation Engineering

To measure CLO 2 fulfilment

Name : Antonio Christopher Paramaarta

NPM : 191317696

Type of Soil Investigation

Disadvantages and Advantages of each Soil Investigation
Summary

 Geophysical Methods
It’s a non destructive techniques used to provide spatial information on soils, rocks and
hydrological and environmental conditions.
There’s some methods in Geophysical Methods:
1. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR)
It’s also called georadar, is high-resolution, high frequency electromagnetic
wave technique for imaging soils and ground structures. It use antenna to transmit
and recover radar pulses generated by pulse generator. Then the pulse returned to
produce images of soil profile. GPR produces continuous-resolution images of the soil
profile. GPR resolution decreases with depth.
2. Seismic Surveys
Seismic investigations utilize the fact that surface waves travel with different
velocities through different materials. The subsurface interfaces determined by
recording the magnitude and travel time seismic waves, essentially compression
waves, a point on some distance from the source of the waves.
In seismic reflection tests, the travel times of waves reflected from subsurface
interfaces are measured by geophones.
Geophones are motion-sensitive transducers that convert ground motion to
electric signals. The travel times are correlated to depth, size, and shape of the
interfaces.
Seismic refraction surveys are very similar to seismic reflection surveys except
that refraction waves are measured and the source geophone is placed at a greater
distance.
Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) is used to map spatial
changes in low-velocity materials. A soil profile interpreted from MASW.
To get information on the stiffnesses of soil layers, crosshole seismic tests are used.
Downhole seismic tests are used to detect layering and the strength of the layers. The
seismic source is located on the surface and geophones are located in a borehole.
3. Electrical Resistivity
Electrical resistivity measurements can be used for identification and
quantification of depth of groundwater, detection of clays, and measurement of
groundwater conductivity. Soil resistivity, measured in ohm-centimeters (ohm-cm),
varies with moisture content and temperature changes. In general, an increase in soil
moisture results in a reduction in soil resistivity.
 The method of measuring subsurface resistivity involves placing four
electrodes in the ground in a line at equal spacing, applying a measured AC current to
the outer two electrodes, and measuring the AC voltage between the inner two
electrodes. Electrode spacings of 0.75, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, and 12.0 m are typically used for
shallow depths (10 m) of investigations. The depth of investigation is typically less
than the maximum electrode spacing.

4. Other Geophysical Methods of Geotechincal Engineering

 Gamma density, measures electron density and can be used to estimate
the total soil density or porosity.
 Neutron porosity measures hydrogen density. It is used for porosity
estimation below the groundwater level.
 Sonic-VDL measures the seismic velocity. It is useful to measure soil
stiffnesses and to detect bedrock elevation.
 Micro gravity is used to detect changes in subsurface densities and is
particularly good at detecting cavities. A gravimeter is used at discrete points
on the earth’s surface to detect small changes in gravity (Gravity Anomalies).
 Test pits
A pit is dug by hand using shovels or with a machine such as a backhoe. This method can
provide excellent shallow-depth soil stratigraphy.
 Hand or power augers
These are tools used to quickly create a hole about 100 mm to 250 mm in diameter in the
ground. You can inspect the soil and take undisturbed samples for lab tests.
 Wash boring
Water is pumped though a hollow rod that may or may not be equipped with a drill bit to
remove soil from a borehole. The washings can be used to estimate the soil types.
 Rotary Rigs
These are mechanical devices used to drill boreholes, extract soil samples, and facilitate in situ
tests.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Methods Advantages Disadvantages

Geophysical  Nondestructive  No soil samples
 Quick  Limited design parameters
 Relatively inexpensive  Site may not have enough real
 Provide stratigraphy, groundwater, estate to conduct tests
and relative wetness adequately
 Provide subsurface geologic  Much of the information is
information with which plan detailed qualitative
soils investigations
Test Pits  Cost-effective  Depth limited about 6 m
 Provide detailed information on  Deep pits uneconomical
stratigraphy  Excavation below
 Large quantities of disturbed soils are groundwater and into rock
available for testing difficult and costly
 Too many pits may scar site
and require backfill soils
  Large blocks of undistributed
samples can be carved out from the
pits
 Fiels tests can be conducted at the
bottom of the pit
Hand Augers  Cost-effective
 Not dependent on terrain
 Portable
 Low headroom required
 Used in uncased holes
 Groundwater location can easilybe
identified and measured
Power Augers  Quick
 Used in uncased holes
 Undisturbed samples can
be obtained quite easily
 Drilling mud not used
 Groundwater location can easilybe
identified
Wash Boring  Can be used in difficult terrain
 Low equipment costs
 Used in uncased holes
Rotary Drills  Quick
 Can drill through any type of
soil or rock
 Can drill to depths of 7500 m
 Undisturbed samples can easily be
recovered
 Groundwater location can
easily
be identified and measured
 Labor-intensive
 Undisturbed samples can be
taken only for soft clay
deposits
 Cannot be used in rock, stiff
clays,dry sand, or caliche soils
 Depth limited to about 15 m;
at greater depth drilling
becomes difficult and
expensive
 Site must be accessible to
motorized vehicle
 Depth limited to about 30 m
 Slow drilling through stiff clays
and gravels
 Difficulty in obtaining accurate
location of groundwater level
 Undisturbed soil samples
cannot be obtained
 Expensive equipment
 Terrain must be accessible to
motorized vehicle
 Difficulty in obtaining location
of groundwater level
 Additional time required for
setup and cleanup