Geotechnical Investigation

SCOPE OF WORK:

GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION FOR BRIDGES & ROADS

The Geotech Consultant shall carry out proper detailed geotechnical investigation required for river bridges
and other structures as specified, 150 mm / NX size vertical boreholes in soil and rock, laboratory testing of the
sample collected from site from the reputed laboratory (either of the firm or as decided by the engineer in-
charge) of soil, rock & water samples as required for preliminary/Detailed design of bridges and submission of
reports thereof. The Geotech Consultant shall also incorporate the results of geotechnical investigations into the
report to be submitted. Geotech consultant shall carryout entire site activities in close coordination with design
consultant (DC) and Client should be kept informed. DC shall be responsible for providing all initial data in
terms of Bore hole locations (co-ordinates) and Geotech consultant shall work in close liaison with DC. All
important decision making regarding bore depth, termination, shifting of machine etc including site constraints
shall be decided in close coordination with client/DC and shall be brought to the notice of Client on
daily/weekly basis.

For the sake of clarity, the Geotech Consultant shall carryout proper Geotechnical Investigation in respect of all
structures involved in the project and carryout tests in a reputed laboratory as per the prescribed standards of
testing methods and prepare a report in this regard. The Geotechnical Investigation so done should lead/help
the Design Consultant to prepare proper designs including deploying value engineering concept to optimize
designs.

The geotechnical investigation work includes:

i) 150 mm dia., bore holes to be made in all kind of soil including laterite, gravel and cobble
and Bore holes shall be continued for depth as specified in annexure or 3.0 m inside hard
rock (as per termination criteria given in this document) whichever is earlier. Drilling in hard
rock shall be done by NX size diamond drilling bits.

ii) Conducting Standard Penetration Test at every 3.0 m interval starting from first sample at
1.5m depth or at the change of stratum as per IS: 2131.

iii) Collection of disturbed, undisturbed soil sample and water samples and carrying out various
laboratory testing as per relevant IS codes.

iv) Collection of rock core samples and carrying out various laboratory testing as
per relevant IS codes.
 v) Preparation of bore logs, location plan of boreholes, various test results, curves and
calculations on computer by using suitable Software.

vi) Submission of draft report in 3 copies and final reports in 5 hard copies and one soft copy
including details of recommendation of suitable type of foundations with the Safe Bearing
Capacity/Pile capacity for various depth/Pile length & Dia and other important
recommendations along with specific requirements from DC.

vii) The bore holes provided in approaches of grade separated structures are meant for RE
wall/retaining wall designs. The recommendation of SBC shall duly take care of settlement
criteria for RE walls.
.
SPECIAL TECHNCIAL SPECIFICAITONS TO BE FOLLOWED ARE AS UNDER:-

Drilling of boreholes is required to be carried out in accordance with specifications of relevant codes
of Bureau of Indian Standards as given below:

IS: 4078 Code of practice for indexing & storage of drill cores. IS:

2131 Method for standard penetration test.

IS: 1892 Code of Practice for sub surface investigation for foundations. IS: 6926

Diamond Core drilling site investigation for river valley projects.

IS:5313 Guide for core drilling observation.

IS: 4464 code for practice for presentation of drilling information and core description in
foundation investigation.

IS:5529 (Part – I & Part- II) Code of practice for in – situ permeability tests in overburden and rock
respectively.

And any of other relevant codes & specifications as decided by Engineer in charge. However it is
reiterated that the above list is only for guidance and the firm is responsible and shall furnish the list
of specification that are followed (Or required to be followed) in the above investigation.
FOLLOWING TEST SHALL BE CARRIED OUT FOR THE SAMPLES COLLECTED FROM SITE:

Geotech Consultant shall note that all laboratory tests shall be conducted in the reputed laboratory or
the laboratory approved by the Engineer in charge by using approved apparatus complying with the
requirements and specifications of Indian standards. If the samples is tested in their laboratory then
adequacy of the laboratory then adequacy of the laboratory must be certified by the engineer in
charge.
a) Conducting Standard Penetration Test at every 3.0 m interval starting from first sample at
1.5m depth or at the change of stratum as per IS:2131.

b) Collection of disturbed, undisturbed soil samples and water samples and carrying out various
laboratory testing as per relevant IS codes in consultation with Engineer-in- charge.

c) Test on Undisturbed and disturbed Samples

- Visual and Engineering Classification
- Sieve Analysis and Hydrometer Analysis
- Liquid, Plastic and Shrinkage limits
- Specific Gravity
- Chemical Analysis
- Swell Pressure and Free Swell index determination

d) Test on Undisturbed Samples

- Bulk Density and Moisture Content

- Unconfined Compression Test
- Box Shear Test (in case of sand)
- Triaxial Shear Tests: (depending on the type of soil and field conditions on
undisturbed or remoulded samples)
i) Unconsolidated undrained
ii) Consolidated Undrained Test with the Pressure Measurement of Pore
water.
iii) Drained Consolidation Test.

e) Tests on rock Samples

- Visual classification
- Moisture content, porosity and Density
- Specific gravity
 - Unconfined compression test (both saturated and at in-situ water content)
- Point load strength index.

f) Chemical analysis of sub – soil include determination of PH value, carbonate, sulphate (both
SO3 and SO4) chloride and nitrate contents, organic chemicals matter, salinity and any other
chemicals harmful to the foundation material. The Contents in soil shall be indicated as
percentage (%).

The lab test report should clearly indicate the following properties of soil and rock:-

2.1.3.1 For soil

i) Engineering properties of Soil
ii) Soft pockets if any under the hard founding strata.
iii) The geological features like type of rock, fault, fissures etc.
iv) Ground water table.
v) Artesian condition, if any
vi) The depth and existence of scour.
vii) The bearing capacity for foundation.
viii) Probable settlement and probable differential settlement of the foundation.
2.1.3.2 For Rock
i) Engineering properties of Rock
ii) Depth of rock strata and its variation over a site.
iii) The location and extent of rock layer and other weak features.
iv) Whether isolated boulder or massive rock formation.
v) Extent and character of weathered zone.
vi) Joint frequency in the rock.

Borehole Locations:
Refer Annexure-1 for Bore hole details.

The termination criteria in case of rock shall be as given below:

CR > 75 and RQD >50.

The bore hole shall be terminated after 3m depth upon achieving said criteria. In case above criteria is not met,
then full borehole depth shall be achieved. The same shall be done in consultation with design consultant and
client.
Following Points must be included / taken care while preparing Geoetch Report / Lab testing.

1.0 Strata that has been categorized as rock then following test results is required for that strata.

- Unconfined compression test (both saturated and at in-situ water content)

- Point load strength index.

2.0 In case of river/nalla bridge, Non-scourable strata shall be clearly defined in the report and silt factor up to
non scourable strata must be mentioned in the report (Either in Soil or Scourable Rock).

3.0 In case of Pile foundation, Vertical, Uplift & horizontal capacity for 1.0m dia. & 1.2m dia. shall be
included in the report along with Depth of fixity.

4. In case of Open foundation, if required, SBC with Ground Improvement shall be recommended in the
report.

5. In case of pile foundation, Modulus of subgrade (Spring constant at 1.0m interval) below scour level (In
case of MJB & MNB) / Ground level (In case of flyover & VUP) to Pile termination level needs to be provided
as annexure of report.

6. Clearly define the liquefiable strata in the report from GL.

7. BH GL needs to be mentioned in the report instead of 0.000 or 100.00m RL.