GARU BRIDGE SITE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0

FOUNDATION INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE BRIDGE AT GARU ............. 1

1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 1

1.2 Fieldwork ..................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Percussion Drilling (Soft Boring) in Soft Ground .......................................... 1

2.0

Subsurface Conditions .............................................................................. 2

2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 2

2.2 Surficial Soil Profile ..................................................................................... 2
2.3 Country Rock .............................................................................................. 3
2.4 Groundwater Conditions ............................................................................. 3

3.0

ESTIMATION OF FOUNDATION PARAMETERS ...................................... 4

3.1 Allowable Bearing Capacity Estimation for footings on Granular ................ 4

4.0

Foundation Depth and Type ...................................................................... 4

APPENDIX A LOGS & LOCATION OF BOREHOLE AT GARU ......................... 5

APPENDIX B RESULTS OF ALLOWABLE BEARING CAPACTY ..................... 8

APPENDIX C SITE PHOTOGRAPHS ................................................................ 10

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1.0

FOUNDATION INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE BRIDGE AT GARU

1.1
Introduction
Foundation investigation has been carried out at proposed River site found in the
Upper East Region.

The River crossing was located at Garu.

1.2
Fieldwork
The fieldwork was carried out between 23rd January and 25th January,
2010. To facilitate the attainment of the requirement of the fieldwork, and also
ensure compliance with the requirements of soil sample recovery and
performance of specified field tests such as standard penetration tests and
recovery of undisturbed clayey/compressible soils, a 1-ton mobile cable
percussion boring rig was used to undertake subsoil investigation.

1.3

Percussion Drilling (Soft Boring) in Soft Ground

Percussion drilling in soft ground involved the drilling of two (2No.) boreholes at
Garu. One borehole was drilled at each approach.
The various depths attained in soft ground and decomposed rock are shown in
Table 1 of Appendix A. Sampling and in-situ testing were carried out in the
boreholes in accordance with project specifications.
All boreholes in soft ground were deemed to have attained refusal when a total
of 50 blows have been applied during any one of the three 0.15m (6-ins)
sampler advancement during SPT. The final depths of the boreholes ranged
from 9.6m in BH 1 to 10.0m in BH 2. . Duration for chiseling in each borehole
averaged two (2) hours.

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Table 1: Drilling Depths

Garu
Depth in Soft
Ground

Borehole

(Percussion
Drilling)

Depth in Rock
(Chiselling with
California Hammer)

Total
Depth

B1

8.6m

1.0m

9.6m

B2

9.6m

0.4m

10.0m

2.0

Subsurface Conditions

2.1
Introduction
This section present the results of the field activities and samples recovered as
part of the investigations.

2.2
Surficial Soil Profile
The boreholes sunk at the site revealed the following ground
conditions;

Table 2: Stratigraphy of Site

Garu
Stratum

Thickness

Soft, moist greyish/ brown silty 1.0m 3.0m

Average SPT N
11

sandy CLAY
Very loose, moist, greyish/ brown 3.0m 8.6m

15

clayey silty SAND

Very dense moist greyish/dark 8.6m 10.0m
brown

silty

sandy

refusal

GRAVEL

(Weathered Granite)

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Surficial soils were mainly sand with a heterogeneous mixture of loose to

medium, occasionally yellowish/dark/brown/grey silty sand with clay and very
dense sandy gravel.
Logs of borehole are presented in Appendix A.

2.3
Country Rock
Bedrock of weathered Granite belonging to the Middle Precambrian granitic
rocks, with minor belts of Birrimian rocks was encountered in all locations
drilled. It was chiselled at all borehole locations. The geological map indicates
that granite was to be expected along the project corridor. At Garu the material
actually chiseled is greyish, dark brown weathered rock.

2.4
Groundwater Conditions
Groundwater was encountered in all boreholes drilled at the site and it occurred
at depths range of between 2.7m in BH1 and 1.7m in BH2.
At the project corridor, the major rainy season occurs from mid August to
October. Groundwater levels are normally expected to peak at mid September
to mid October and be at lowest in mid December to mid April. Seasonal
fluctuation in groundwater level is dependent on several factors notable are;
geology, rainfall amount, topography, catchment area size, groundwater
abstraction and recharge rates, surface drainage and land-use characteristics.

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3.0

ESTIMATION OF FOUNDATION PARAMETERS

3.1

Allowable Bearing Capacity Estimation for footings on Granular

Soils/Weathered Rock

The results obtained for N may be used to estimate bearing capacity for
granular soils of weathered granite formations. This is done in conjunction with
estimated width (B) of footing, and this is read off in the relationship established
by Terzargi and Peck curve for soils, ultimate bearing pressure in kN/m
Qult

2
N
B 0.3
B
0.08

The detailed results of allowable bearing capacity have been given in Table 3
of Appendix A.

4.0

Foundation Depth and Type

At the Garu bridge site, a foundation depth range of between 8.6m 10.0m
should be adopted, this depth will be mainly in the competent weathered
rock horizon.
It is therefore recommended that a design bearing capacity of 500
750KN/m2 be used and footings placed at least between 8.6.0m 9.6m. At
that footing depth, either piles or caissons is to be used.

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APPENDIX A

LOGS & LOCATION OF BOREHOLE AT GARU

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BOREHOLE LOG
PROJECT:

GARU

LOCATION:
BORING METHOD: Percussion Drilling

DATE : 23rd January , 2010

LOGGED BY: Ebenezer

ds1

ds2

(%) (%) (%)

48

52

30

94

10

90

17

82

89

10

87

13

34

17

56

pH Value

0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
2
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
5
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9
6
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
7
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
7.8
7.9
8
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6
8.7
8.8
8.9
9
9.1
9.2
9.3
9.4

(%)

Chemical
Tests
Cl- (mgl-1)

Type

Shear
Test
Cu (kN/m2)

Level*
(m)

N-value

Soil/Rock Description

Fines %

Sample

Consistency
Limits
nmc LL PI DFS
Sand %

OD

In-situ
Test

Gravel (%)

Symbol

Soil Profile

SO42- (mgl-1)

Borehole No.: 1

Soft moist greyish brown Sandy SILT

spt1

- Ground water
N=8

59

26

spt2

N=11

56

24

spt3

N=17

32

15

N=5

17

Very Loose Moist Reddish Brown SAND

With Gravel ( Alluvial Deposit )

spt4

non- plastic

spt5

N=4

spt6

N=5

spt7

N=17

19

85

N=>50

31

12

85

non- plastic

93

Soft moist greyish / dark brown

silty CLAY with sand

spt8

Soft moist greyish / dark brown

silty CLAY with sand

CPT

Very dense SAND

End of borehole

LEGEND
ds - disturbed sample
ud - undisturbed sample
spt - Standard Penetration Test Sample
CPT - Cone Penetration Test
N-value

nmc - natural moisture content

LL - Liquid Limit
PI - Plasticity Index
DFS - Differential Free Swell
- Ground water

Cu - Cohesion
- Coefficient of shear resistance
SO42- - Sulphate Content
Cl- - Chloride Content

Note
Hole chisseled for 2hours advancing 0.6m
Cone Test Performed at 9.3m. There was no penetration after 70 blows.

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BOREHOLE LOG
PROJECT:

GARU

LOCATION:
BORING METHOD: Percussion Drilling

DATE : 23rd January , 2010

LOGGED BY: Ebenezer

(%)

(%) (%) (%)

pH Value

0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
2
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
3
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
3.7
3.8
3.9
4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
5
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.8
5.9
6
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
7
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
7.8
7.9
8
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6
8.7
8.8
8.9
9
9.1
9.2
9.3
9.4
9.5
9.6
9.7
9.8
9.9
10

Soil/Rock Description

Chemical
Tests
Cl- (mgl-1)

Type

Shear
Test
Cu (kN/m2)

Level*
(m)

N-value

Fines %

Sample

Consistency
Limits
nmc LL PI DFS
Sand %

OD

In-situ
Test

Gravel (%)

Symbol

Soil Profile

SO42- (mgl-1)

Borehole No.: 2

Soft moist dark brown dark grey clayey

SILT
ds1

spt1

Soft moist yellowish brown , grey

sandy CLAY

42

16

39

61

- Ground water
N=11

37

21

34

66

N=5

21

88

44

56

spt2

spt3

N=3
non-plastic
Very loose wet brown coarse grained
SAND with silt

spt4

N=5

spt5

N=5

spt6

N=12

non-plastic

94

non-plastic

87

50

47

88

10

56

42

95

34

15

Soft wet greyish sandy SILT with clay

spt7

25

12

35

19

27

13

N=13

spt8

Soft to firm greyish / yellowish brown

clayey SILT

N=52

ds2

Very dense moist dark brown coarse

grained SAND with some gravel

spt9
N=52

End of borehole

CPT

N=>67

LEGEND
ds - disturbed sample
ud - undisturbed sample
spt - Standard Penetration Test Sample
CPT - Cone Penetration Test
N-value

nmc - natural moisture content

LL - Liquid Limit
PI - Plasticity Index
DFS - Differential Free Swell
- Ground water

Cu - Cohesion
- Coefficient of shear resistance
SO42- - Sulphate Content
Cl- - Chloride Content

Note
Hole chisseled for 2hours advancing 0.65m
Cone test performed at 10m. Penetration after 67 blows was 0.05m

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APPENDIX B

RESULTS OF ALLOWABLE BEARING CAPACTY

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Table 3:

Summary of Foundation Details at Borehole Locations

Okyereko
Garu

Location

BH 1

Foundation Soil

Very dense, moist, greyish micacious silty

Soil Thickness

Proposed Foundation

Allowable Bearing

Net Safe Bearing

Depth

Pressure

Pressure

9.6m

8.6m

1056kN/m

352 KN/m

10.0m

8.6m

1056kN/m

352 KN/m

GRAVEL (Weathered Granite)

BH2

Very dense, moist dark brown coarse grained

SAND with some gravel.

Assuming a factor of safety of 3

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APPENDIX C

SITE PHOTOGRAPHS

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Photograph of the Existing Bridge at Garu

Photograph of Drilling Rig being towed to Site

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Drilling at Borehole 1

Drilling at Borehole 2

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