TOPIC 3

SITE AND SOIL INVESTIGATION

NORBAIZURA ABU BAKAR

AP114
 SITE INVESTIGATION

Definition:
Examination of the site to investigate the
effects of its features to the design and
construction of a building.
 SITE INVESTIGATION

Purpose:
Acquire a complete information or data of
the environment and ground condition to
enable a safe, practical and economical
design of the building.
 SITE INVESTIGATION
Site factors to be considered before designing a
building:

•Size and shape of site

•The general topography of the site

e.g: surface configuration, environment conditions,
adjacent property, trees and available access to or from site.

•The location of buried services – existing water supply,

electrical supply, telephone connection, access road.
 SITE INVESTIGATION

•Previous history and use of site

– previous activities on the existing land.

•Special features such as flooding, seasoning swelling etc.

•Sub-surface conditions that affect the building structure

cost. e.g : subsoil conditions, ground water level etc
 SOIL INVESTIGATION

Definition:
Obtaining data regarding the properties and
characteristic of subsoil by providing
samples for testing or providing a means of
access inspection.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION
Purpose:
• To access the general suitability of the site for the proposed
works.

• To enable an adequate and economical design to be

prepared.

• To foresee and provide against difficulties that may arise

during the construction due to ground and other local
authorities.

• To investigate the occurrence and causes of all natural

changes of subsoil condition.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION
Before planning soil investigation works, the
following studies should be carried out;

Geological map
Evaluate geological formation and typical characteristics.

Mining or tunneling records

To study may reveal records of previous existing works and soil
conditions.

Existing Utility Services

Investigate the existing utility services such underground TNB
cabling, water pipes, gas pipes etc.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION
Before planning soil investigation works, the
following studies should be carried out;
Weather Condition
To study the weather conditions such raining, flooding, seasoning
swelling etc.

Ground water condition

Investigate the level of ground water table.

Existing Building/Nearby Building

Study the existing building or nearby building to identify surrounding soil
condition.

Aerial Photographs
Analyse the geological conditions to identify the location of drainage path
and instability slopes.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION
FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION OF SOIL
INVESTIGATION METHOD
• It depends on the character of the ground such as the
topography, nature of ground surface and the surface water.

• Existing building or other structure

• Character of site

• Availability of equipment and personnel

• Cost of the method

• Availability of water supply

 SOIL INVESTIGATION
FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION OF SOIL
INVESTIGATION METHOD

• Its also depend on :

- Size of contract
- Type of proposed foundation
- Type of sample required
- Type of subsoil which may be encountered
 SOIL INVESTIGATION
TYPES OF SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
PROBA TRIAL HAND PROBA DEEP IN SITU DEEP
MACKINTOSH PITTING AUGER PENENTU BORING TEST SOUNDING

PRELIMINARY DETAIL
STAGE FIELD TESTING STAGE

SOIL
INVESTIGATION

LABORATORY
TEST

INDEX ENGINEERING
SOIL
PROPERTIES PROPERTIES
SAMPLING
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE

Primarily to obtain subsoil samples for identification, classification and

determining the subsoil’s characteristics and properties.

The common types of soil investigation during preliminary stages:

•Trial Pitting
•Probe Mackintosh/JKR Probe
•Hand Auger
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE

To obtain optimum building layout selected or confirmed, detailed soil

investigation can be planned for the critical areas of concern.

The common types of soil investigation during detail stages:

•Proba Penentu
•Deep Boring
•Auger
•Wash Boring
•Percussion Drilling
•Rotary Drills
•Deep Sounding
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
SELECTION OF SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD

As a general guide the most suitable methods in terms of investigation

depth are:-

i) Foundations up to 3.000 deep – trial pits

ii) Foundations up to 30.000 deep – borings
iii) Foundations over 30.000 deep – deep borings and in-situ
examinations from tunnels and/or deep pits.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE
TRIAL PITTING
The use of trial pits enables a visual inspection of the in-situ
soils conditions and strata boundaries can be determined
accurately.

Purposes :

• Usually is carried out to access the suitability as filling

material.
• Visual examination of subsoil strata, soil type and strength
which can not be shown by Proba Mackintosh.
• To determine the water level on site – to know the
durability of structure e.g : bakau pile as foundation.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE
TRIAL PITTING
Trial pits are limited to 4-5m depth; sides must be sloped at a
safe angle, stepped or shored.

Bulk (Disturbed) samples (about 50kg) are collected for lab

test – soil classification, compaction & CBR test.

Excavating is usually done by hand, but if a required depth

cannot readily be reached by hand, mechanical digging
equipment may be used.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE
TRIAL PITTING
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE
PROBA MACKINTOSH

Used to determine thickness of unsuitable material to be

removed and preliminary design.

Also used to verify the consistency of subsoil of medium

strength up to maximum of 15m deep

Known as JKR Probes. Designed by JKR in 1972 to allowable

bearing capacity.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE
PROBA MACKINTOSH
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE
PROBA MACKINTOSH
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE
PROBA MACKINTOSH

TEST PROCEDURE
• The probe consists of a cased screwed onto the lower end of the
rod.

• The rods are of 12 or 16mm diameter HY steel each of length

120cm.

• The rods are connected to each other by 25 mm outer diameter

couplings.

• These couplings provide the lateral support to the rods so as to

prevent buckling during driving.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE
PROBA MACKINTOSH

TEST PROCEDURE
• Driving is performed with a small hammer of 5 kg in weight and
falling vertically through a fixed height of 30 cm along a guide
rod.

• The total number of blows required for the pointer to penetrate

a distance of 30 cm is recorded. Test is stopped when the
maximum depth:
a. Building less than 2 storey – is 9m or obtained 300 no. Of
driven/300mm (hard layer) whichever is obtained first.
b. Building 2 storey and above- is 15m or obtained 400 no. Of
driven/300mm (hard layer) whichever is obtained first
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE
PROBA MACKINTOSH
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE
HAND AUGER
 Used in soft to stiff cohesive soil above water table.

 Hand auger indicates type of soils & check ground water

level near Proba Mackintosh.

 To be used together with Proba Mackintosh.

 The auger has to be able to penetrate soil up to 4.5m –

6.0m from the surface of ground level.

 However, this method has limitation which it can not be

used for sandy soil and the sample of soil maybe will mixed
(disturbed sample).
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE
HAND AUGER
 The common type of auger used :

Post hole auger

Helical auger
SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE
HAND AUGER
Test Procedure:

• The auger is penetrating into soil by hand.

• Up to certain depth, pull out the auger and take out the soil,
so that it can be tested

• Repeat the same step for deeper ground level.

• Usually use together with probe to determine the type of

soil and ground water Depth below 5m
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – PRELIMINARY STAGE
HAND AUGER
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
PROBA PENENTU
 This method is done to ensure the soil area have done the
‘Proba Mackintosh’ test or not in preliminary stage.

This method is done by having all data from Proba
Mackintosh test to know the type and size of foundation to
be used on the site.

It also used to ensure the site condition is maintained until
the construction of foundation.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
DEEP BORING
This method is still carried out because it is cheap.

The purpose:
o To obtain disturbed and undisturbed samples
o It is quick to be done on site
o Data from lab test and field test then be collected and used
to determine the load bearing of foundation and friction on
pile.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
DEEP BORING
This method is still carried out because it is cheap.

The purpose:
o To obtain disturbed and undisturbed samples
o It is quick to be done on site
o Data from lab test and field test then be collected and used
to determine the load bearing of foundation and friction on
pile.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
DEEP BORING
Problem faced by using this method:
o It takes more time
o It needs more labour up to 8-10 people for a group of deep
boring.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
DEEP BORING
Type of deep boring;

i) Auger

ii) Wash Boring

iii) Percussion Drilling

iv) Rotary Drills

 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
DEEP BORING – AUGER/MECHANICAL AUGER
• Suitable for depths over 3.000 using a flight for Cheshire
auger

• A linear or casing is required for most granular soils and

may be required for other types of subsoil.

• Sampling Shells- suitable for shallow to medium depth

borings in all subsoil except rock.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
DEEP BORING – AUGER/MECHANICAL AUGER
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
DEEP BORING – WASH BORING
Combination between drilling bits and strong jet of water.

Used for big project with minimum construction period

(fast track project).

To be able to penetrate up to 20m deep.

Can reduced disturbance of the underlying soil stratum

The sample of soil maybe will mixed (disturbed sample)

from different soil stratum.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
DEEP BORING – WASH BORING
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
DEEP BORING – PERCUSSION DRILLIING
This set is applied for hard soil layers which contain rubble
and loose stones.

A depth of up to 5 meter.

Fast & simple sampling and ease of transportation.

Suitable for use in soil pollution, migration study, grain size

distribution, profile description and etc
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
DEEP BORING – PERCUSSION DRILLIING
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
DEEP BORING – ROTARYDRILLIING
These methods are employed where boreholes are
required into very dense gravel or bedrock.
Samples of bedrock are recovered in seamless plastic tubes
for subsequent logging by a suitably qualified engineer and
for laboratory testing.

 Rotary Drilling are divided into:

i) Mod Drilling
ii) Core Drilling
iii) Short Drilling
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
DEEP SOUNDING

Known as ‘static cone penetration test’

The Standard Penetration Tests aims to determine the SPT

and value, which gives an indication of the soil stiffness and
can be empirically related to many engineering properties.

The test is conducted inside a borehole.

A 'split spoon' sampler is attached to the bottom of a core

barrel and lowered into position at the bottom of the
borehole.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
FIELD VANE SHEAR TEST

Field Vane Shear Test is suitable to test very soft to firm

clay.
The field vane shear test is used only to obtained
‘undisturbed’ peak un-drained shear strength, and
remoulded un-drained shear strength thus sensitivity of the
soil.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
FIELD TESTING – DETAIL STAGE
FIELD VANE SHEAR TEST
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
LABORATORY TEST

Laboratory soils tests have limited usefulness, since the

samples that are taken represent only a small portion of soil
which must support the structure.

Most laboratory tests require undisturbed soils samples.

 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
LABORATORY TEST

Basic Properties
Colour, smell, nature moisture content, porosity, void,
reaction for soil identification description, classification &
correlations.

Index Properties
Particle size distribution, organic content etc. for soil
description, classification, & correlations with engineering
properties.

Index Properties
Particle size distribution, organic content etc. for soil
description, classification, & correlations with engineering
properties.
 SOIL INVESTIGATION METHOD
LABORATORY TEST

Engineering Properties
Shear strength, stiffness, compressibility, compaction/CBR,
permeability for analysis, and design.
Engineering properties can be obtained from in situ testing
and laboratory test on undisturbed samples.

Chemical Properties
Total dissolved salt sulphate & chloride contents; pH value for
corrosion & durability assessment of foundations.