Geotechnical Investigations - Correlations

CE524L
Geotechnical Investigations and
Foundation Design

Till now…
 Boring and Drilling methods
 Sampling
 Quantification of sample Disturbance
 Requirements of Undisturbed samples
 Various types of Samplers
 Various disturbances while soil sampling
 Handling, labelling and sealing of samples
 Laboratory tests
 Field tests
Ameratunga et al. 2016

Variability of soil
parameters
 Soil Types

Slide from Ramaiah, 2020

 Grain size distribution curves

Slide from Ramaiah, 2020

Typical values for bulk and saturated unit weights

 Consistency of fine grained soils – Atterberg limits
-Strength

PI or IP

Slide from Ramaiah, 2020

Plasticity Chart (Holtz, 2010)

 Identification of expansive soils

Slide from Ramaiah, 2020

Based on Atterberg limits and Activity

Slide from Ramaiah, 2020

 Activity > 1
very high swell potential
Expansive or Reactive clays

Slide from Ramaiah, 2020

Sediment volume methods

Slide from Ramaiah, 2020

 Sediment volume methods

Slide from Ramaiah, 2020

Based on swell potential from oedometer method

Slide from Ramaiah, 2020

Permeability

Flow parallel to the layers

Flow perpendicular to the layers

Variation of permeability with surcharge

Consolidation behavior
– Compression index

Consolidation behavior –
Coefficient of volume compressibility mv

Coefficient of volume
compressibility mv typically varies in
the range of 0.01–2.0 MPa-1
 Some Correlations with Standard Penetration Test
Results

after Bowles, 1995

Variation of ϕ with N and σo/pa
(after DeMello 1971)

Kulhawy and Mayne (1990 )

Some Correlations with Cone Penetration Test
Results

v
For cohesive soils
Some Correlations with Dilatometer Test Results
Frequency and Depth of
Borings
Proposed site for a
multi-storey
shopping complex

120 m

Proposed site for a

multi-storey
shopping complex

120 m
 trial pit

Proposed site for a

multi-storey
shopping complex

120 m

 The number of bore holes and/or trial pits depends

on:
 Extent of the site and nature of the structures
 The known variability in Soil stratification
 Type and size of the project
 Budget for site investigation
 Foundation loads
 Geology of the site
proposed building
 Purpose of boring
 Typically spaced at 40-60 m for non-residential
buildings
 Locate the bore holes where the loads are expected
Slide from Prof. Martin Fahey, The University of Western Australia

Slide from Prof. Martin Fahey, The University of Western Australia

 Exploration program should be planned so that the
maximum amount of information can be obtained at
minimum cost
 Sometimes, it may be more economical to provide a
conservative foundation design than to expend large sums
on an elaborate exploration and testing program
 Over conservative design in the absence geotechnical
information or in the presence of such information (for
more safety) not recommended
 Erratic Soil sites – some level of conservative design even
with extensive investigation

 Small structures are sometimes designed without site

exploration; however, the practice is not recommended
 Condition of the adjacent structures is an indication, but
certainly no guarantee, that a site is satisfactory
 Often sites can be quite hazardous from demolition of
previously existing structures and backfilling of former
basements during landscaping
 Number of borings should be sufficient so that reliable model of
subsurface conditions can be established
 Disposition and spacing of borings and trial pits should me
maintained
 As to reveal major challenges in thickness
 Depth or properties of strata over base area of structure and its
surroundings

NO RIGID RULES… Use Intelligence and Commonsense..

BUT Minimum requirement as per local codal provisions

(IS-1892: Code for Subsurface Investigations of Soil)

Number of Boreholes/Other Field Tests (IS 1892)

 Small building area (<100m2) structures with light loading intensity
and which are not very sensitive to settlement
 One borehole or test-pit at the centre of the area
 For a compact/dense building site covering an area of about 0.4
hectare (4000 m2)
 One borehole or test-pit at the centre
 One borehole at each corners
 Large project
 Depends on geological features and variation of strata
 Boreholes at grid spacing of 50 m
 Minimum two bore holes
 Combination of borehole and sounding tests
 For structures having dynamic loading
 Minimum two borehole along with cyclic plate load test (CPLT)/cross hole
shear test/seismic resistivity test (SRT) shall be carried out independent of their
dimension and loading intensity.
 For buildings a minimum of three borings, where the
surface is level and the first two borings indicate regular
stratification, may be adequate.
 Five borings are generally preferable (at building corners
and center), especially if the site is not level.
 Additional borings may be required in very uneven sites or
where fill areas have been made and the soil varies
horizontally rather than vertically
 A single boring may be sufficient for an antenna or
industrial process tower base in a fixed location with the
hole made at the point

Guidelines for boring layout

Depth of borings
 Similar to layout, no rigid rules
 Two major governing points:
 The magnitude and distribution of load imposed by structure
 Zone of soil affected by foundation bearing pressures
 Boring up to Significant Depth (about 2B)

 Excess vertical stress (Δσv) caused by fully loaded foundation ≈ 0.1σv

 σv  Net imposed vertical stress at the foundation case level

 Nature of subsurface conditions
 Min. depth of exploration
 Below the zone of seasonal moisture variation
 ~1.5 m for ordinary soils
 ~3.5 m for expansive soils

 In case of floating foundations

 Need not go below base of foundation

Depth of Investigation

Slide from Prof. Martin Fahey, The University of Western Australia

 For important (or high-rise) structures
 Extend one or more of the borings to bedrock or to competent
(hard) soil regardless of depth
 At least one of the borings for an important structure terminate
into bedrock if there are intermediate strata of soft or
compressible materials
 Each site must be carefully considered with engineering
judgment in combination with site discovery to finalize the
program and to provide an adequate margin of safety

IS 1892
Unless bedrock is encountered first,

Unless bedrock is encountered first,

D = 2X
Guidelines for selecting number of investigation
locations and depths of investigation

Manual on Subsurface Investigations (NCHRP, 2019)

Manual on Subsurface Investigations (NCHRP, 2019)
Guidelines for minimum number, location, and
depth of exploration points (adapted from AASHTO, 2014)

30 - 60 m

30 m
3m

3m

6m

30 m

3m

3m 3m

90 m

90 m

FHWA NHI-16-072
Required Types of Samples and Sampling Frequency
 Disturbed samples (DS) are used to conduct index tests for
(i) classifying soil and rock, (ii) developing stratigraphy, and (iii) identifying
problematic soil or rock conditions.
 Undisturbed samples (UDS) are used
 To run performance tests that are required to measure specific design
parameters for fine-grained soils
Required sampling frequency for each type of sample varies depending on the
variability of the subsurface conditions at the site, the type of project feature being
investigated, and the required design properties.

 Two DS per 1.5 m interval in the top 3 m

 One DS per 1.5 m interval for depths from 3 - 30 m
 One DS per 3 m interval for depths greater than 30 m
 One UDS in each layer of fine-grained soil
 For layers of fine-grained soil thicker than 3 m, one UDS for every
3 to 6 m Manual on Subsurface Investigations (NCHRP, 2019)

 Cohesionless Soil Sampling

 nearly impossible to obtain undisturbed samples
 thin-walled piston samplers in medium- to fine-grained sands
 by freezing the soil
 Primarily to get unit weight and relative density

 Disturbed Sampling of ALL Soils

 Undisturbed Sampling in Cohesive Soils

Assignment (due date: 7 days from today)
 Collect various IS codes on Geotechnical Lab tests and field tests
and summarize in a Table with the following
 Test name
 Reference IS Code
 Parameters obtained from the test along with the units
 Any equations specified in the codes
 Review IS 1892 code and report salient features and your
observations.

Last Class…
 Frequency and Depth of borings
 Optimizing the overall project cost
 Spacing and number of borings
 Depth of borings
 For different structures
 Different foundations..
 IS 1892, NCHRP 2019 recommendations…
 Requirements of samples and sampling frequency
 DS
 UDS
Basic Requirements of a Good Geotechnical
Investigation (IGS-TC04-GI-Manual-2016)
 Quality control enforcement at the site as well as in the laboratory through the supervision by a
qualified Geotechnical Engineer of the investigating agency.
 Presence of internal quality assurance procedures and controls by the investigation agency.
Suitable QA/QC procedures in line with the standard specifications and the project
specifications shall be developed by the agency.
 Continuous training to the site and laboratory investigation team.
 Regular maintenance of testing tools and equipment.
 Effective co-ordination between different agencies.
 Right planning of geotechnical investigation.
 Appropriate specifications and selection of right procedures and tests.
 Adequate budget for geotechnical investigation.
 Selection of investigation agency based on a prequalification criteria.
 Realistic time schedule for geotechnical investigation.
 Presence of a suitable legal framework for fixing responsibility on erring agency, ex. client,
consultant, geotechnical investigation agency, etc.
 Well-defined limits of liability for each of the stakeholders (client, project consultant,
investigation agency, etc.) on costs and time delays due to any shortcomings in their work.
 Awareness among the clients and project consultants on the importance of quality
Geotechnical Investigations.

Geotechnical Investigation Reports

 The data collected during desk studies and different field
and laboratory investigation procedures are presented in
standard formats with all the necessary information that
would help to complete the interpretation
 May be in Three forms:
 Geotechnical Investigation Factual Report (GFR)
 Geotechnical Investigation Interpretative Report (GIR)
 Geotechnical design Report (GDR)
 However, many times they may be together???
Contents of Geotechnical Investigation (Factual)
Report (GFR)
 Brief description of the project and structures IGS-TC-04, 2016
 The purpose and scope of geotechnical investigation
 The authorization for conducting such investigation
 Geographical and geological brief of the project site along with Seismic details
 A map showing the investigation area and relevant features of the land and the project and
also Layout of the investigation points along with GPS locations
 Brief procedures of the investigation in the field and laboratory
 The dates of field and laboratory investigations.
 Complete investigation data in the prescribed formats and forms, including important
observations during investigation such as ground water table conditions, observations in the
nearby water sources, water / drilling mud loss during boring and drilling, collapse of
boreholes, pre-boring requirements for CPT, etc.
 Interpreted sub-soil sections in relevant directions, preferably in relation with the proposed
structures.
 Design Parameters relevant to the facility being constructed
 A comment on the adequacy of investigation in establishing the vertical and horizontal
variability in the subsoil conditions.
 A justified suggestion for additional geotechnical investigation for establishing the subsoil conditions may be
given in the factual report.

Geotechnical Investigation Interpretative Report (GIR)

 Shall be prepared by a qualified and experienced geotechnical
engineer.
 The data from desk study and the entire data from the investigation
are critically reviewed and analysed to arrive at geotechnical models
that are suitable for the design of foundation suitable for the
structures envisaged in the project.
 Shall provide all necessary references and typical calculations
used in arriving at such geotechnical model.
 Shall provide typical use of the model for arriving at the safe
design loads on different forms of foundation
 suitability of different ground improvement schemes if found
relevant in the project site
 various options of foundation types suitable with respect to the
existing sub-soil conditions.
 Shall comment upon the suitability of the site under
expected seismic activities and recommend remedial /
mitigation procedures
 suggest additional investigation, if required for complete study
 Shall provide an executive summary based on which the
geotechnical designer can act upon to complete the design
recommendations for the foundation for different
structures in the project.
 shall clearly stipulate the adequacy or inadequacy of the
available investigation data in the formulation of various
geotechnical models recommended in the report.
 The factual report shall be annexed to the interpretative
report.

Geotechnical Design Report (GDR)

 Shall be prepared by an experienced geotechnical engineer
with adequate experience in the type of foundations and
geohazards expected in the project
 Site/ project specific that provides the input such as the
type of suitable foundation, design capacities considering
the serviceability limits applicable to different structures,
etc. for the use by a design engineer
 Report shall provide all supporting calculations along with
procedures for establishing the design capacities and the
criteria for interpretation and acceptance based on the
project or code requirements
 Shall include aspects of all the possible geo-hazards and
their remediation and mitigation procedures
 A Typical Borehole-Log
Tirupati, Chittoor
dist

Krishna palem, East Godavari dist

 Other reports…
 http://seci.co.in/web-
data/docs/Soil%20investigation%20report%20of%2
0Graphics%20Designers(1).pdf
 https://ghtc-
india.gov.in/Content/TRI/Geo_Technical_Report.pdf
GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS
 QUALITY OF INVESTIGATION
 High quality is the very basis for excellence in practice.
 In spite of detailed standard specifications (IS-codes), the
range of practices vary very widely in the country
 For field investigations, most primitive to fairly
sophisticated equipment are in use
 Unfortunately, in majority of cases the practice is nearer to
the primitive.
 Similarly laboratory testing practices vary widely, with
little or no standardization.

 Assignment
 Collect Typical soil report in your town/city and Provide your
observations upon thorough review.