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CE 366 - SITE INVESTIGATION (Problems & Solutions) : Depth of Exploration

1) The depth of exploration required for a 30x50m, 15-storey building is 33m from ground level based on De Beer's rule. 2) A cone penetration test was conducted. Soil was classified as sandy silt to clay with depth. Undrained shear strength at 5.5m was estimated as 16.7 kPa. Angle of shearing resistance at 7.5m was estimated as 41 degrees. 3) For a 2x2m footing at 2m depth, the average corrected SPT N-value from 1-6m depth is 11 blows/0.3m based on overburden correction.

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361 views9 pages

CE 366 - SITE INVESTIGATION (Problems & Solutions) : Depth of Exploration

1) The depth of exploration required for a 30x50m, 15-storey building is 33m from ground level based on De Beer's rule. 2) A cone penetration test was conducted. Soil was classified as sandy silt to clay with depth. Undrained shear strength at 5.5m was estimated as 16.7 kPa. Angle of shearing resistance at 7.5m was estimated as 41 degrees. 3) For a 2x2m footing at 2m depth, the average corrected SPT N-value from 1-6m depth is 11 blows/0.3m based on overburden correction.

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brianmanson78
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© © All Rights Reserved
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1

CE 366 SITE INVESTIGATION (Problems & Solutions)


DEPTH OF EXPLORATION
Find the depth of exploration from ground level for the 30x50m, 15 storey
building
B=30m

ground surface
=20

q=200 kN/m2

Df=5m

z
D

1
2

1/10 p0

Depth of exploration should reach such a depth where vertical stress increase due to weight of
the structure would approximately be equal to the 10% of the initial effective overburden
pressure:
De Beers rule
p =

1 '
P0 = p
10

200 x30 x50(kN )


(30 + D)(50 + D)

1 ' 1
P0 = (20( D + 5))
10
10

200x30x50
1
= x 20(D + 5)
(30 + D)(50 + D) 10
D=28m
depth of exploration, z =28+5=33m from ground level

CONE PENETRATION TEST (CPT)

Plot the cone penetration test data (CPT) including friction ratio FR of table given below.

Indicate the soil classification by depth.

Estimate undrained shear strength at depth 5.5m assuming the cone factor Nk=18.

Estimate angle of shearing resistance of the soil () at depth 7.5m using the graph given.

Assume an average =16.5 kN/m3 to GWT at depth 3m, and sat=19.8 kN/m3 for below GWT.
q
Note that ; FR= s x100
qc
Depth(m)
qc(MPa)
qs(kPa)
0.5
1.86
22.02
1.5
1.16
28.72
2.5
2.28
24.89
3.5
0.29
12.44
4.5
0.38
15.32
5.5
0.40
14.74
6.5
6.90
28.72
7.5
9.20
26.81
8.5
8.45
43.09
9.5
9.50
34.60

Solution :
qc(MPa/kPa)

qs(kPa)

FR(%)

Soil Classification

0.5

1.86 / 1860

22.02

1.1

Sandy silt to clayey silt

1.5

1.16 / 1160

28.72

2.48

Clayey silt to silty clay

2.5

2.28 / 2280

24.89

1.09

3.5

0.29 / 290

12.44

4.29

Clay

4.5

0.38 / 380

15.32

4.03

Clay

5.5

0.40 / 400

14.74

3.69

Clay

6.5

6.90 / 6900

28.72

0.42

7.5

9.20 / 9200

26.81

0.29

8.5

8.45 / 8450

43.09

9.5

9.50 / 9500

34.60

Depth(m)

0.51

Sandy silt to clayey silt

Sand to silty sand


Sand
Sand to silty sand

0.36

Soil classification is obtained by using Fig. 2.15 in lecture notes.

Plot of the Cone Penetration Test data (CPT) ;

Sand

Estimate undrained shear strength at depth 5.5m assuming the cone factor Nk=18.
Cu =

qc p o
; Po = total overburden
Nk

Po= 3x16.5 + 2.5x19.8= 99 kPa


d=16.5 kN/m3 ; sat=19.8 kN/m3

Cu =

400 99
= 16.7 kPa
18

(at depth 5.5m)

Estimate at depth 7.5m

From Fig. of Po v.s qc provided above; (Po= effective overburden)


Po= 3x16.5 + 4.5(19.8-9.8) = 94.5 kPa
qc= 9.2 MPa

=41o

5
STANDARD PENETRATION TEST (SPT)

Referring to Table given below

Estimate the N value you would use for a footing which is 2x2m in dimensions and located
at 2m depth.

Assume the unit weight of both sands is 18.1 kN/m3 and 19.7 kN/m3 above and below ground
water table respectively. GWT is at 6m depth.
Depth(m)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Nfield
6
9
10
8
7
9
22
28
31

Soil Type
Coarse sand

Silty fine sand

Solution :

Depth(m)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Nfield
6
9
10
8
7
9
22
28
31

Soil Type

silty sand
corr. (N)
Coarse sand

Silty fine sand


19

22

23

P0(kPa) CN
18.1
36.2
54.3
72.4
90.5
108.6
118.3
128.0
137.7

2.00
1.63
1.33
1.15
1.03
0.94
0.90
0.86
0.83

Ncor.
12 (6x2.00)
15 (9x1.63)
13 (10x1.33)
9 (8x1.15)
7 (7x1.03)
9 (9x0.94)
17 (19x0.90)
19 (22x0.86)
19 (23x0.83)

Silty sand correction: When the test is carried out in very fine sand or silty sand below ground

water table, the measured N value, if greater than 15, should be corrected for the increased
resistance due to negative excess p.w.p.
N = 15+ (Nfield-15)

if Nf > 15

CN (overburden correction)

Ncor= N x CN
CN values are determined using equation 2.4 in Lecture Notes (p.2.22)

In order to estimate N value to be used in calculations for a foundation, the N values in depth
interval of 0.5B above and 2B below the foundation level should be considered. (B=foundation
width)
0.5B above 0.5x2= 1m above foundation level
2B below

2x2 = 4m below foundation level

Depth interval 1-6

N av =

12 + 15 + 13 + 9 + 7 + 9
= 11
6

7
PLATE LOAD TEST (FIELD LOAD TEST)

a. Footing on Clay (load test on clay)

The results of a plate load test in stiff clay are shown in the figure. The size of the test plate is
0.305mx0.305m. Determine the size of a square column footing that should carry a load of
2500 kN. (FS=2.0 ; Permissible settlement is 40mm)

Solution;

load (kN/m2)
500

1000

Cohesive Soil

(qult)ftg=(qult)test

Sftg= Stestx

10
15

B
b

*** Sftg and Stest are the settlements of ftg and plate
respectively, loaded with the same pressure

20
25

settlement (mm)

B = width of footing
b = width of plate

(qult)test= 700 kN/m2 = (qult)ftg

q all =

700
2500
= 350kPa
= 350 B = 2.7 m
FS = 2.0
BxB

S ftg =

350 x 5 2.7
x
= 31mm < 40mm
500 0.305

Stest under
350 kPa loading

Settlement calculation, however, is not very reliable; because it can not represent consolidation
settlement. Generally, bearing capacity criteria governs, not the settlement, in the design of
foundations resting on clays.

Coefficient of subgrade reaction: k =

q
(kN / m3) (k is the slope of q vs S graph, for more
S

information about k see Ordemir p. 28)

k test =

500
= 100000 kN / m 3 = 100 MN / m 3
0.005

b. Load test on sand

The results of a plate load test in a sandy soil are shown in the figure. Size of the test plate:
0.305mx0.305m. Determine the size of square ftg. that should carry a load of 2500 kN with a
max. settlement of 40mm.

Solution;
0

200

load (kN/m2)
400
600

800

Cohesionless Soils
settlement (mm)

10

(qult)ftg= (qult)testx
20

B
b
2

30

B(b + 0.3)
Sftg=Stest

b( B + 0.3)

40

B and b are in meters!!!

50

Q(kN)
2500

Assumed B

q=Q/B2 (kPa)

Stest

Sftg

156

5.2 (20x156/600) 17.7<40

278

9.3

30.2<40

2.5

400

13.3

41.7>40

2.6

370

12.3

38.9

2.55

384

12.8

40.4

Square column ftg. of 2.55x2.55m dimensions will be appropriate.

OR
2

S ftg

2500 20 B(0.305 + 0.3)


B = 2.56m
= 40 = 2 x

600 0.305( B + 0.3


B
Stest

qftg= qtestx

F .S . =

2.55
B
= 700 x
= 5852kN / m 2
0.305
b

5852
= 15.2
334

( settlement governs design)

Coeff .of subgrade reaction = k =

600
= 30 MN / m 3
0.020

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