Training Module _ Soil & Material
Training Module _ Soil & Material
HIGHWAY PROJECTS
by:
BARNALI ROY, JGM/HW
8/10/2023 Emp No. : 10876 1
INTRODUCTION
Soil & Material Investigations are very important
component of any DPR project of Highway.
It involves:
Soil investigations for embankment/subgrade;
Material Investigations for pavement and structures.
Subgrade is the founding layer of road pavement. The wheel
load on the top of pavement is finally transferred to the
underlying subgrade. It is very important to assess strength
of soil to be used as subgrade/embankment.
Similarly, materials used for construction of pavement layers
(subbase, base and surface course) need assessment of their
suitability for use.
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OBJECTIVE
• TO ASSESS THE STRENGTH OF SUBGRADE SOIL FOR DESIGNING OF
PAVEMENT.
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SOIL & MATERIAL INVESTIGATIONS
The work involves:
1.Desk Study;
2. Reconnaissance Survey;
3. Sub-grade Investigation along the existing road by digging trial
pits;
4.Borrow area investigations for borrowing earth for construction of
new embankment/subgrade;
5. Investigation for road construction materials which includes finding
out potential sources of construction materials within the vicinity of the
project area, collection of representative samples in sufficient quantity,
6.assess their suitability
Investigation for use in road
of Manufactured construction;
Materials like cement, steel, bitumen, HT
strands.
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CODES & STANDARDS TO BE FOLLOWED:
IS Codes:
i) IS: 2720 (Part 1,2,3,4,5,6, 8, 16)
ii) IS: SP:36 (Part – 1 & 2)
iii) IS: 2386 (Part-1,2,3,4,5)
IRC Codes:
i) IRC:SP-19
ii) IRC:75
iii) IRC:121
MoRT&H Specifications for Road & Bridges
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DESK STUDY
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RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY
•Collect the information about the borrow areas within the economic
lead from the project road;
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EXISTING SUBGRADE INVESTIGATION
Field Investigations:
Existing sub-grade investigations are done along the
existing road through trial pits;
Trial Pit
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Study and record the existing pavement compositions of
three sides of the pit and make average of them;
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DCP CBR Test (TRL Road Note 31)
DCP CBR test is an in-situ test to have a preliminary idea of the strength
of the subgrade. Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) is an instrument
designed for rapid in-situ measurement of strength of the subgrade
material. Reading of penetration of the cone through the layer for each
blow is recorded.
DCP CBR
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DCP - CBR Relation as per ASTM D 6951-03
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Laboratory Testing:
Following laboratory tests are performed on subgrade samples collected from
trial pit:
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Laboratory Test Results Sample:
Grain Size Distribution Atterberg Limit Laboratory CBR
Silt ( Soaked (%)
Sand Clay Plastici FDD DCP CBR
Location Type of Gravel 0.075 Liquid Plastic NMC MDD
(4.75 to (< ty (mg/m3 OMC (%) as per
(Km) Soil (>4.75 to Limit Limit (%) (mg/m3 97%
0.075 0.002 Index ) (%) FDD TRL,UK
mm) 0.002 (%) (%) ) MDD
mm) mm) (%)
mm)
91+500 ML 0 9 85 6 24 19 5 19.73 1.61 - - - - 8
92+000 ML/CL 0 17 79 4 23 17 6 10.35 1.83 2.01 8.6 4.3 1.7 5
92+500 ML 2 13 78 7 22 17 5 6.35 1.62 - - - - 28
93+000 ML 0 12 82 6 23 19 4 6.9 1.84 - - - - 10
93+500 CL 0 3 91 6 26 19 7 20.54 1.63 - - - - 17
94+000 ML 0 4 90 6 24 NP - 2.86 1.85 1.92 11 4.8 4.7 8
94+500 CL 1 4 86 9 27 19 8 4.84 1.98 - - - - 10
95+000 ML/CL 0 4 90 6 24 18 6 9.55 1.74 - - - - 13
95+500 ML/CL 2 13 81 4 25 19 6 8.59 1.58 - - - - 10
96+000 ML/CL 3 6 85 6 24 18 6 10.29 1.88 2.01 9 5.8 4.9 17
96+500 CL 0 4 89 7 26 19 7 4.94 1.65 - - - - 10
97+000 ML 2 18 76 4 24 19 5 7.73 1.85 - - - - 13
97+500 ML 0 2 92 6 22 17 5 7.58 1.96 - - - - 13
98+000 ML/CL 2 7 87 4 24 18 6 15.95 1.58 1.95 11.3 2.9 2.1 10
2+200(BY) CL 1 6 87 6 27 19 8 - - - - - - -
4+200(BY) CL 0 4 89 7 26 19 7 - - - - - - 5
104+000 CL 3 12 79 6 27 19 8 3.33 1.89 1.94 11.7 2.8 2.9 20
104+500 ML 0 18 78 4 24 19 5 17.54 2 - - - - 8
105+000 ML/CL 0 12 82 6 25 19 6 3.71 1.76 - - - - 8
105+500 CL 0 7 87 6 27 19 8 4.64 1.67 - - - - 8
106+000 CL 0 8 86 6 26 18 8 7.61 1.61 1.79 12.5 3 2.5 17
106+500 CL 0 4 90 6 27 19 8 4.22 1.59 - - - - 17
107+000 CL 0 6 87 7 26 19 7 4.22 1.71 - - - - 10
107+500 CL 2 11 78 9 32 22 10 3.97 1.59 - - - - 17
108+000 ML 1 9 87 3 25 NP - 9.08 1.56 1.94 12 4.8 4.5 20
108+500 CL 0 4 89 7 30 21 9 5.34 1.76 - - - - 22
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109+000 ML 1 7 88 4 27 NP - 6.8 1.58 - - - - 8 13
Interpretation of Test Results
From laboratory test results following interpretations to be
done:
Find out the relative compaction level and compare the soaked
CBR at FDD and 97% MDD.
If CBR at 97% MDD is much more than that at FDD and the
relative compaction level is less, then loosening and re-
compaction of existing subgrade may be recommended;
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If CBR of subgrade at 97 % MDD is too less (less than 5%),
treatment of subgrade or subgrade replacement is required;
Subgrade Replacement
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Replacement of subgrade with sand or other suitable material
like pond ash – sand mix in specified ratio can be used in case
suitable borrow area is not available within near vicinity of the
project corridor ;
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INVESTIGATION ALONG NEW ALIGNMENT
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Hand Auger Boring along Realignment/New alignment/ Bypass
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Laboratory test requirements on Auger Boring Samples:
•Grain size analysis (IS: 2720 part IV-1975), double hydrometer method;
•Natural moisture content (IS: 2720 part II-1973) and dry density;
• C and φ from unconsolidated, undrained (UU) triaxial test (IS: 2720 part XI-
1971), bulk density, void ratio and moisture content before/after UU test
should be determined for cohesive soil.
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INVESTIGATIONS OF BORROW AREA
Generally barren land / open areas within the vicinity of
project road are selected for borrowing earth for constrcution
of embankment / subgrade. Investigation of borrow areas
involves:
The extent of borrow areas shall be such that the requirement of earth work in
filling may be fulfilled.
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Details of Borrow area shall be collected in the following format:
NAME OF PROJECT:
QUARRY/BORROW AREA DETAILS
Name of Quarry/Village:
Sample No:
1. Type of Material: 2. Quarry is Government/Private & Name:
3. Lead Distance: 4. Description of Material:
5. Quantity of Material (L= B= D= V=
6. Puprose of using material
a. Basic cost of material = b. Tax= c. Royalty=
Reported By: Checked By:
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Flow Chart of Borrow Area Investigations
Desk Study
Collection of
Digging borrow pit Borrow Area Laboratory Tests
Samples
Recommendation
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Borrow Pits:
Generally, test pits are dug at 200 m interval. It may vary depending upon
the change of soil type as per visual observations;
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After collection of sample from borrow pit the same is
labelled as following manner:
i) Sample No.
v) Type of Sample
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PHOTOGRAPHS OF BORROW PITS & SAMPLES
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SCHEMATIC PRESENTATION OF BORROW AREA
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Laboratory Tests of Borrow Area Samples
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Laboratory Tests Results of Borrow Area Samples:
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Interpretation of Test Results of Representative Samples of
Borrow Areas:
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INVESTIGATIONS OF QUARRIES
•Quarry Investigation involves identification of potential
sources of materials like Coarse Aggregates, Fine Aggregates,
Gravel/ Moorum etc.;
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• Representative samples are collected in accordance with IS:
2340.
Sand Quarry
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Laboratory Tests of Aggregate samples:
• Gradation;
• Bulking of Sand;
• Fineness Modulus;
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Deleterious Constituents. 34
Laboratory Test Results Sample of Coarse Aggregates
Laboratory Test Results
Material Soundness
Quarry Name Sample ID No
collected AIV LAV WA Stripping with Sodium
Sulphate
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Laboratory Test Results Sample of Fine Aggregates
Laboratory Test Results Grading
Zone
Material Deleterious
Quarry Name Sample ID No Fineness As per IS:383
collected Bulking (%) Constituent
Modulus (%) (Table 4)
(%)
4.2 4.56 Zone III
Betwa river Coarse Sand UL&LRS-001 2.25
3.8 2.82 Zone II
Betwa river Coarse Sand UL&LRS-002 2.34
2.7 0.92 Zone III
Ganga Ghat Fine Sand UL&LRS-003 1.85
5.2 4.18 Zone I
Kabrai Coarse Sand UL&LRS-012 4.03
Zone I
Gora Machiya UL&LRS-017 3.09 7.5 4.25
Coarse Sand
GSB Quarry
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If natural GSB material is not available, then Crushed
aggregates as per requirement may be used as GSB.
Liquid Limit and Plasticity Index of GSB material shall be less than
25% and 6 respectively
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INVESTIGATIONS OF OTHER CONSTRUCTION
MATERIALS
Water:
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Laboratory Tests
Generally ph value, sulphate and chloride content of water
samples are determined in the laboratory.
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Water having ph value above 6 can be used for construction.
Water having sulphate content less than 400 mg /litre and
chloride content 500mg/ litre may be used for RCC and pre-
stressed concrete construction purpose.
The remaining ash falls down at the bottom of the furnace which
is called bottom ash. When fly ash and bottom ash are mixed and
disposed
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in the form of slurry to pond is called pond ash. 42
If thermal power plant exists within 100 km radius of the project
road, the fly ash/pond ash produced shall be used for construction.
During material investigation samples shall be collected from the
source and perform tests as per IRC:SP-58.
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Sample Test Results of Flyash
FLY ASH-
2/Triveni 100 100 100 98 97 97 96 88 55 0 25.00 1.24 0.05 31o NP 19.00 0.0
Chai khand
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INVESTIGATION FOR HIGH EMBANKMENT
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For filling of embankment borrow area investigations are
required which has already discussed.
No. of boreholes
If the extent of embankment is within one km, then at least three
boreholes are done. Where extent of high embankment is more
than one km number of borehole shall be one per km in
staggered manner.
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Depth of boreholes
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Embankment Fill Material Investigations
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iii) Optimum Moisture Content and Maximum Dry Density
Relationship by Heavy Compaction;
iv) CBR (Soaked for 4 days);
v) Free Swell Index (for LL>50%);
vi) Shear Parameter (Direct Shear for non cohesive soil &
Unconsolidated Undrained Tri axial Shear test for cohesive
soil)
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USE OF CONSTRUCTION & DEMOLITION
(C&D) WASTE MATERIAL IN ROAD
CONSTRUCTION
Wastes generated during construction; demolition & renovation
works can be used in road construction after processing to avoid
difficulties in disposal of the same.
Advantages of Using C&D Materials in Road Construction
Mitigates shortage of raw material supply;
Easily available near the project sites resulting in reduction of carrying cost
of materials;
Conservations of natural sources of sand and stone aggregate quarries;
Saving land for disposal of huge C&D wastes and thus saving
environment.
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Physical Properties of Processed C&D Material
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Engineering Properties of Processed C&D Material (Finer
than 6.3 mm size)
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Use of C&D Wastes in Embankment Construction
• Particle size shall not exceed 75 mm. If it is not possible to crush the same
to 75 mm , the maximum size can be allowed up to 300mm;
• Due to presence of voids in compacted C&D waste, vegetation cannot
grow and chance of erosion , thereby embankment failure takes place.
• Side slope shall be covered with good earth with minimum thickness of
500 m upto embankment height 1m.
• Cover thickness may vary from 1.5m to 2.0m for embankment height more
than 3.0 m;
• Crushed C&D material has higher range of angle of internal friction
(φvalue) but it shall be limited to 40 degree for stability analysis.
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