SOIL INVESTIGATION

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 LECTURE SEQUENCE

1. Objectives of soil investigation

2. Various method soil investigation
3. Their advantages and
disadvantages
 INTRODUCTION
• An engineer must posses a reasonably accurate
information about soil conditions, its arrangement
and physical properties before he is in a position
to design a foundation.
• The field and laboratory investigation required to
get this essential information are known as soil
investigation.
• Exploratory that provide more specific
information regarding the general character and
the thickness of the individual strata. (drill holes,
lab test, etc.).
 DEFINITION
• Def.1: a means of obtaining data regarding the properties and
characteristics of sub-soils by providing samples for testing or providing
a means of access for visual inspection

• Def.2 : to provide a picture of the nature and disposition of the soil strata
below the level of the ground and to obtain samples of the soils in the
difference strata for subsequent laboratory tests and examination

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 OBJECTIVE

•To find out the suitability of the site for the

proposed project
•To determine an adequate and economic
foundation design
•To find out the difficulties that may arise
during the construction period
•To estimate the bearing capacity of the soil
at various depths
 OBJECTIVE

•To estimate the behavior of settlement likely

to occur as result of the applied load
•To determine the suitable construction
methods in particular (eg. by knowing the
water level)
•To find out if there are any harmful chemicals
or gases present in the soil
 EXTENT OF
SOIL INVESTIGATION
• size and type of the proposed structure

• nature of the site

• the availability of local geological information

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FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE
SELECTION OF SOIL INVESTIGATION
METHODS
• character of the ground • availability of equip. and
personnel

• character of the site • availability of water supply

• cost of the methods

• existence of building or other
structure

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 COST OF
SOIL INVESTIGATION

• cost variables

• cost distribution
• cost benefit

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 Extent of Exploration
The method of soil investigation are as follow:
• Small works
- trial pits up to 3m deep,

• Medium to large scale works

- borings up to 30m deep, plate bearing test.

• Very large scale works (dam, power station)

- a combination of deep boring, pits and in-situ
examinations from headings and shafts
Spacing Of Points Exploration

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 Depth Exploration
• A simple rule is that the boring should be 3m for each storey of
a building.
• For heavy embankments and dams etc. the depth should not be
less that twice the height.
• In deep cuttings the boring should be taken 2 to 3m below
bottom of the excavation.
 METHODS OF
SOIL INVESTIGATION
 Excavation
1. shallow trial pits  In situ field test
2. deep trial pits
1. vane test
 Boreholes 2. standard penetration test
1. hand auger boring
3. Dutch or cone
2. mechanical auger boring
penetrometer test
 Geophysical surveys and Other 4. loading test
Techniques (plate bearing test)
1. seismic
refraction/reflection
2. electrical resistivity
3. magnetic

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 Early stage soil
investigation
• It is simple and economical (provide general data of
soil condition ie: soil formation profile and load
resistance level)
• Normally for small projects, e.g. school, mosque
• Also used to determine the next method which
required more specific type of investigation
• Proba JKR / Proba Mackintosh is one of the method
beside the trial pits and hand auger.
 Shallow Trial Pits

• most economical form of investigation in shallow depths (up to 3.00m

deep)

• the pits are dug out either by local labour or by machine

• plan size of a pit depends on method of excavation (normally 1.20m x

1.20m at distances of 20.00m apart in either direction)

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• should be kept clear of the position of the actual foundations

• should be in the vicinity of important structures such as heavily-loaded

walls or columns

• best method for investigating back filled areas and sites of variable
natural deposits

• pit should be backfilled after examination, sampling and testing have

been completed

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Trial pits / open test pit
Trial pits / open test pit
Trial pits / open test pit
 Deep Trial Pits / Shafts

• usually excavated using large power – driven augers or backhoe

• auger of 1.00m in diameter are used

• the maximum depth is up to the water table

• the sides of shafts should be supported if men were to work from inside

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Advantages

i. soils and rocks can be exposed and examined in - situ

ii.shows changes in strata more clearly (inclination of strata)

iii.irregularities can be noted

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iv. in dry conditions, the pits allow hand - cut samples to be taken
(minimising disturbance of the sample & maximising conditions
for accurate testing)

Disadvantages

i. require shoring and pumping of pits in

water - bearing soils (sands)

ii. deep pits are costly to construct

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 Boreholes (hand auger boring)

• hand auger boring (depths of 6.00 - 9.00m) is relatively an economic

method of sub – surface investigation for soils which will stand
unsupported

• diameter of the boreholes is usually 150mm or 200mm as this allows

soil sampling tubes to be used without difficulty

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• backfilling should be done immediately after the investigation, sampling
and testing are completed

• poorly compacted backfill will cause settlement

• the best method is to refill the boreholes with cement grout (bentonite
grout)

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Soil Boring Methods

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Soft soils

i. unlined boreholes put down by hand by

means of a simple post-hole auger and
extension rods

i. the equipment consists of a clay or gravel

auger (100-150mmØ) screwed to a length
of barrel/rod which is then turned by
means of a three-piece handle

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Stiffer soils

i. hinged flap (upper end) of the drill allows loosened soil or stones
to rise upwards as boring proceeds

ii. the site cutters can be adjusted to cut a hole wider than the drill

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iii. in clay and other cohesive soils, air or water is admitted thus
preventing a vacuum below the drill as it is withdrawn and
facilitating its withdrawal

iv. alternatively, a cylinder attachment with hinged door can be fitted

to the drill

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Damp sand and soft rocks

i. special points can be fitted to facilitate boring

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Hard rocks

i. it must first be broken by means of chisel bits, raised and

dropped to break the rock

ii. drill or auger is used to extract the chips

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Dry sand

i. sand or wet sludge falling into the top of

the cylinder and then brought to the
surface

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‘Hand Auger’
‘Hand Auger’
 ‘Hand Auger’
•The most primitive method for making a hole in
the ground is the use of an auger.
•Generally, augers are employed in cohesive and
other soft soils above water-table.
•Although hand auger can be used for drilling
holes up to a depth of 30m but commonly they
are not used beyond the depth of 5m.
•Samples obtained from the soil brought up by
augers are completely disturbed and can be used
only for identification.
•Auger borings are fairly satisfactory for
highway, railroad and airport explorations at
shallow depths
 ‘Hand Auger’
Advantages
• It is simple, light, inexpensive and flexible equipment
• Small diameter to large diameter holes can be mad
• It is very efficient in medium soft to stiff cohesive soils and in
moist cohesionless soils with some apparent cohesion.
• Soil removed by the auger, though considerably disturbed,
generally suitable for positive identification which wash boring,
and percussion rotary drill do not offer.
• Soil profile and depths at which undisturbed sample should be
taken can be determined with greater accuracy by this method
than the other boring methods.
• Determination of free ground-water level is facilitated.
Disadvantages
• It is not well suited in very hard or cemented soil, very soft soil
and fully saturated cohesionless soils.
Proba JKR / Proba Mackintosh

• This is a dynamic penetrometer test used to check the consistency of the

subsoil. Mackintosh Probe which has 30° cone penetrometer while JKR
Probes has 60° cone penetrometer. This is a light dynamic test and the
cone is driven directly into the soil by driving a hammer 5 kg. Weight
dropping through a free height of 280mm. The probe is unable to
penetrate into medium strength soil and gravelly ground.
JKR Proba menggunakan mata kun 60° manakala Proba Mackintosh
menggunakan mata kun 30°.
HAMMER

ROD
Mata/kon yang
digunakan untuk
mengorek.
Penukul (Drop Hammer)
yang digunakan untuk
menghentak.
Penukul
disambung
pada rod.
Garisan putih
akan dibuat pada
rod setiap 3 inchi.
Penukul
diangkat dan
dilepaskan
secara bebas.
Penyambung rod
 Rod ke – 2 yang
disambung.

Penyambung
rod.

Rod pertama yang

sudah terbenam ke
dalam tanah.
Penyepit yang
digunakan untuk
menarik keluar rod
yang sudah terbenam
ke dalam tanah.

(Clamshell digger)
Penyepit dimasukkan
di tengah rod dan
kemudian rod akan
dikepit dan ditarik
keluar.