De La Salle University -Manila

Department of Civil and Engineering

FOUNDEN
Site Exploration and
Characterization; Part II

Jonathan Rivera Dungca, D.Eng.

Associate Professor
Chapter 4: Site Exploration and
Characterization; Part II

“Subsurface material properties

cannot be specified; they must be
deduced through exploration.”

Charles Dowding (1979)

 In-situ Testing
 When it is difficult to obtain
“undisturbed” samples
 Cohesionless soils, Sensitive clays
 In-situ Test Methods
 Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
 Cone Penetration Test (CPT)
 Vane Shear Test (VST)
Standard Penetration Test (SPT)

 140 lb (63.5 kg) Hammer

 30in (76 cm) free fall
 Drive sampler over 18 inches
 Record no. of blows per each 6 inch
penetration
 SPT blow count=blows for 2nd 6 inch
penetration + blows for 3rd 6inch
penetration
 Standard Split Spoon
Sampler

 Thick wall (0.25in) cylinder

 Sampling tube is split along the length
 Hammered into the ground
Standard
Split
Spoon
Sampler
Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
Types of SPT Hammers
SPT:
Automatic
Trip Hammer
Corrections to SPT blow Counts

Factors affecting SPT blow count:

 Hammer Efficiency (See Table 4.3)
 Borehole diameter (See Table 4.4)
 Type of sampler (See Table 4.4)
 Rod length (See Table 4.4)
SPT Correction Factors
E mC BCSC R N
N 60 
0.60

 hammer efficiency (Em) …. Table 4.3

 bore hole diameter (CB)…….Table 4.4.
 sampler correction (CS) ……Table 4.4
 rod length (CR) ………Table 4.4
 SPT Overburden Correction
2
2000 lb / ft
( N1 ) 60  N 60 (Customary )
 z

100 kPa
( N1 ) 60  N 60 (SI)
 z
Use of SPT Data
 To Determine Relative Density, Dr
 From AASHTO Chart
 From Eq. (4.3) p.122
 To determine 
 From Figure 4.11 (p.123)
 To determine C
 From AASHTO Chart
Cone Penetration Test
(CPT)
 Originally Developed in Netherlands 1930s
 Further developments in 1950s
 “Dutch Cone”
 ASTM D 3441
 Types of CPT devices
 mechanical cone
 electric cone
 piezocone
Mechanical
Cone
Electrical
Cone
Cone Penetrometer
CPT Truck
Crawler Type CPT Truck
CPT Truck;
Interior
Cone Penetration Test (CPT)
 Measures:
 Cone Resistance, qc
 Sleeve Resistance, fsc
 Typical CPT results

Cone resistance, qc, is the total force acting on the cone

divided by the projected area of the cone

Cone side friction, fsc, is the total frictional force acting on

the friction sleeve divided by the surface area (150cm2)
Typical CPT
Data
Use of
CPT
Data
 CPT Versus SPT
 CPT: Advantages over SPT
 provides much better resolution,
reliability
 versatility; pore water pressure,
dynamic soil properties
 CPT: Disadvantages
 Does not give a sample
 Will not work with soil with gravel
 Need to mobilize a special rig
 Vane Shear Test

 Originally developed by Swedish

Engineer, John Olsson in 1920s
 Now Standardized as ASTM D2573
 Specially suited for soft, sensitive
clays
 Quick test, used to determine
undrained shear strength
Vane Shear Test
 Drill test
hole
 Insert vane
 Rotate head
 Measure
torque
 Relate
resistance to
soil shear
strength
 Vane Shear Test
 Relationship between Su and applied
Torque:
6T f
Su 
7d 3
 Relationship between Su and applied
Torque (after correction factor):
6T f
Su 
7d 3
Pressuremeter
Pressuremeter Test
Flat Plate Dilatometer
 Flat Plate
Dilatometer
 Comparison of In-Situ
Test Methods
 Table 3.5
 Simplicity & ruggedness
 Ease of Testing
 Resolution
 Basis for Interpretation
 Types of Soils
 Equipment Availability
 Potential for Future Development
Comparison of In-Situ
Test Methods
Ex Situ vs. In Situ Testing
Ex-Situ (Laboratory) Tests
 ex-situ -- “out of  Moisture content
its original place”  Unit weight
 Laboratory testing  Sieve analysis
is the most  Atterberg limits
common method  Compaction
for measuring soil  Hydraulic
conductivity
and rock
 Consolidation
properties
 Direct shear
 Numerous  Triaxial shear
examples...  Unconfined
compression
Ex-Situ (Laboratory) Tests
Ex-Situ (Laboratory) Tests
Data Presentation
Data Presentation
Scope of Information
 Log of Boring
 Soil Test Boring
Records
 Test Pit Records
 Data Included
 Field
 Laboratory
 Software Based
Programs
Log of Boring
Required Information
 Drilling & Sampling Depths & Methods
 Field Test Data
 Drilling Notes
 Soil appearance, stratification
 “A complete record…”
 Pass/Fail
“If it’s not written down, it didn’t
happen...”
Data Presentation

Cross Sections
 Source is soil
boring logs
 Yields a 2D or
3D rendering
of the
subsurface
 Interpolation
 Extrapolation
 Guesswork
 Helps visualize
the subsurface
 Uncertainty vs. Risk

 More often than not, you develop

your exploration not to find out
the subsurface conditions of the
site, but to validate and refine
your assumptions of what you
believe are the likely subsurface
conditions at the site.
 The exploration becomes an
exercise
in reducing uncertainty / risk.
Economics
Balancing Cost & Risk
“The [scope of a subsurface exploration]
for any particular site is a difficult
problem which is closely linked with
the relative cost of the investigation
and the project for which it is
undertaken.”
VNS Murthy: Geotechnical Engineering: Principles and
Practices of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering
Geotechnical Investigation Proposal
 The proposal serves 2 functions:
 To outline the problem as it was
presented to the geotechnical engineer
and on which the recommendation will
be based; and
 To allow the client to compare costs,
timing, and other issues including
qualifications and method of approach to
a problem
Geotechnical Investigation Proposal
 A written proposal includes:
 A brief job description and location;
 Structural loads and other requirements
provided by the structural engineer
and/or architect; and
 Scope of work
Geotechnical Investigation Proposal
 A written proposal includes:
 tentative boring plan, testing program
and cost estimate
 Any unusual conditions that may be
anticipated based on the engineer’s
experience should be noted, not as a
“scare tactic” but as a gentle reminder of
the importance of having a competent
geotechnical investigation
Geotechnical Investigation Proposal
 Organization of the report
 Title page
 Executive Summary
1. General project description and location,
2. A few words to explain the geology and
primary geotechnical concerns (expansive
clay or random fill),
3. General recommendations that often will
include alternative approaches that can be
considered in relation to cost and feasibility
Geotechnical Investigation Proposal
 Organization of the report
 Body of the report
 Location and general description of the
project. This should include structural loads
and floor levels that form a basis for the
report
 Site geology and soils. (It is the essential
part that shows that the engineer knows
the territory)
 A map showing the boring locations
Geotechnical Investigation Proposal
 Organization of the report
 Body of the report
 Boring logs that include soil identification
and GWT, and usually will include SPT and
unconfined compressive strength data,
moisture contents and Atterberg limits,
engineering classification, gradation
 Cross section showing boring logs at their
proper elevations, geological identifications
and GWT.
Geotechnical Investigation Proposal
 Organization of the report
 Body of the report
 Additional test data and graphs, plotted
versus depth where appropriate
 Special considerations: a discussion of
ground water, quick conditions, slopes, and
landslides, expansive clay, collapsible soils,
liquefaction potential, sinkholes, mines,
hazardous wastes, and other potential
problems.
Geotechnical Investigation Proposal
 Organization of the report
 Body of the report
 Summary
 Conclusions and Recommendations
 Disclaimer: a legal clause indicating that
the interpretations and conclusions in the
report are based on the available data and
boring information, and cannot guarantee
conditions that may exist between the
borings. Usually prepared by an attorney.
Geotechnical Investigation Proposal
 Organization of the report
 Invoice for services. This often is mailed
separately out of consideration for the
client’s sensibilities