SUBSOIL EXPLORATION
Module-1
MAIN OBJECTIVES
Determination of,
Nature of Soil deposit
Depth and Thickness of soil strata
Horizontal extent of soil deposit
Depth of GWT and its fluctuations
Engineering properties of soil
Insitu soil properties
SUB SOIL EXPLORATION
The process of collection soil data for the
assessment soil properties at a site through
series of laboratory and field investigation is
collectively called Sub-soil Exploration
Enables the engineers to draw soil profile
indicating the sequence of soil strata and
the properties of soil involved.
INTRODUCTION
WHAT?
Attempt at understanding the subsurface conditions
such as:
Soil and rock profile
Geological features of the region
Position and variation of ground water table
Physical properties of soil and rock
Contamination, if any
General data of adjacent structures, hydrological
data, topography, soil maps, seismicity, etc.
Engineering properties of soil
INTRODUCTION
WHY?
To determine the type of foundation required
for the proposed project at the site, i.e.
shallow foundation or deep foundation.
To make recommendations regarding the
safe bearing capacity or pile load
capacity.
Ultimately, it is the subsoil that provides
the ultimate support for the structures.
INTRODUCTION
HOW?
The three important aspect are planning,
execution and report writing.
Planning
To minimize cost of explorations and yet give
reliable data.
Decide on quantity and quality depending on type,
size and importance of project and whether
investigation is preliminary or detailed.
FAILURES
LEANING TOWER OF
PISA AND SINKHOLES
INTRODUCTION
Execution:
Collection of disturbed
and/or undisturbed samples
of subsurface strata from
field.
Conducting in-situ tests of
subsurface material and
obtaining properties directly or
indirectly.
Study of ground water
conditions and collection of
sample for chemical analysis.
Geophysical exploration, if
necessary.
Laboratory testing on samples
INTRODUCTION
Report writing:
Description of site conditions – topographic
features, hydraulic conditions, existing
structures, etc. supplemented by
plans/drawings.
Description of nature, type and
importance of proposed construction
Description of field and lab tests carried out.
Analysis and discussion of data collected
Preparation of charts, tables, graphs, etc.
Calculations performed
Recommendations
INTRODUCTION
A complete site investigation will consist of:
Preliminary work
Collecting general information and already existing
data such as study of geologic , seismic maps, etc. at
or near site.
Study site history – if previously used as quarry,
agricultural
land, industrial unit, etc.
Site Reconnaissance: Actual site inspection.
To judge general suitability
Decide exploration techniques
INTRODUCTION
Exploration
Preliminary Investigations: Exploratory borings or
shallow test pits, representative sampling,
geophysical investigations, etc
Detailed Investigations: Deep boreholes,
extensive sampling, in-situ testing, lab testing,
etc.
Depth and spacing: In general, depth of investigation
should be such that any/all strata that are likely to
experience settlement or failure due to loading.
Spacing depends upon degree of variation of surface
topography and subsurface strata in horizontal
direction. Refer to Alam Singh.
METHODS OF SOIL EXPLORATION
Exploration methods
Direct Methods Semi Direct In Direct Methods
Borings
• Auger Sounding or
•Auger and shell penetration
Test pits/Trial
• Wash Boring Tests and
pits, Trenches
•Percussion Geophysical
drilling methods
• Rotary Drilling
TEST PITS
Depth upto 3m
Uneconomical at greater depths.
Supports are required at greater depths.
Especially in case of weak strata
Problems with GWT and the same should be
lowered
Open type Exploration
Soils are investigated in natural condition
Soil samples are collected for determining
strength and Engineering properties
WALLS OF THE TEST PIT INDICATE FOUR LAYERS
(1) CLAYEY SILT (2) SANDY SILT (3) CLEAN
SAND (4) SANDY GRAVEL
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Stratigraphy and Finds
Layer Soil Soil Colour Finds
L1 Sandy soil Gray 7.5YR 5/1 Modern Rubbish (filled soil)
L2 Sandy soil Pinkish white 7.5YR 8/2 Modern rubbish (filled soil)
L3 Sandy soil Reddish yellow 7.5YR 7/6 Modern rubbish (filled soil)
L4 Sandy soil Gray 7.5YR 6/1 Modern rubbish (filled soil)
L5 Loamy soil Reddish yellow 5YR 6/6 Nil (original decomposed soil)
L6 Loamy soil Reddish yellow 5YR 6/8 Nil (original decomposed soil)
L7 Loamy soil, with Light red 2.5YR 6/8 Nil (original decomposed soil)
some
decomposed
bed rock texture
Test Pit Wall Photograph Test Pit Wall Drawing
Western Wall Section Western Wall Section Drawing
EXCAVATED TEST PIT
BORING
Drilling a hole into the soil strata upto
specified depth is known as boring
1. Auger boring
2. Auger and shell boring
3. Wash boring
4. Percussion drilling
5. Rotary drilling
AUGER BORING
Drilling is made using a device called Soil
Auger
Hand operated (upto 3 to 5m) and Power
Driven (Greater than 5m)
Advancement is made by drilling the auger
by simultaneous rotating and pressing it into
the soil
Dry and unsupported bore holes
When the auger gets filled with soil same,
it is taken out and the soil sample
collected
SOIL AUGERS
SOIL AUGERS
AUGER AND SHELL BORING
Casing is provided in case of weak strata
First the casing is driven and then the auger
Boring rig is used for power driving (hand rig for
depth upto 25 m)
Soft rocks are broken using chisel bits
Sand pumps are used in the case of sandy
soils.
Disadvantage:
Whenever the casing is to be extended, the
auger has to be withdrawn which hinders the
quick progress of the work.
WASH BORING
Below GWT. May not be used for soils mixed with gravel and
boulders
Initially, the hole is advanced for a short depth by using an auger.
Then a casing pipe is pushed in and driven with a drop weight.
The driving may be with the aid of power.
A hollow drill bit is screwed to a hollow drill rod connected to a rope
passing over a pulley and supported by a tripod.
Water jet under pressure is forced through the rod and the bit into the
hole.
This loosens the soil at the lower end and forces the soil- water
suspension upwards along the annular surface between the rod and the
side of the hole
This suspension is collected in a settling tank.
Soil particles are allowed to settle down and water
is allowed to overflow into a sump which is then
recirculated
Very disturbed sample is obtained. Hence cannot
be used for determining engineering properties.
whenever a soil sample is required, the chopping bit
is to be replaced by a sampler.
The change of the rate of progress and change of
colour of wash water indicate changes in soil
strata.
TYPICAL SET UP FOR WASH
BORING
PERCUSSION DRILLING
A heavy drill bit called ‘churn bit’ is suspended
from a drill rod or a cable and is driven by
repeated blows.
Water is added to facilitate the breaking of stiff
soil or rock.
The slurry of the pulverised material is bailed
out at intervals.
• Disadvantages
Cannot be used in loose sand and is slow in plastic
clay.
The formation gets badly disturbed by impact.
ROTARY DRILLING
Suitable for rock formations.
A drill bit, fixed to the lower end of a drill rod, is
rotated
by power while being kept in firm contact with the
hole.
Drilling fluid or bentonite slurry is used under
pressure which brings up the cuttings to the
surface.
Even rock cores may be obtained by using
suitable diamond drill bits.
Disadvantage
Not used in porous deposits as the consumption of
drilling fluid would be high.
INDIRECT METHODS
Sounding or penetration Tests
and
Geophysical methods
SPT “IS: 2131-1986—
STANDARD PENETRATION TEST”.
Generally used for cohesionless soils
To determine relative density , angle of
shearing resistance, UCC
A bore hole is made using drilling tools and
a hammer of weight 63.5 falling from the
height of 750 mm at the rate of 30
blows/minute
After reaching the specified depth, the drilling
tool is replaced by a split spoon sampler to
collect soil sample.
First 150 mm penetration is taken as seating
drive and the no. of blows required for that
penetration is discarded
No of blows required for next 300mm
penetration after seating drive is taken as
standard penetration number (N)
No of blows greater than 50 are taken as
refusal and the test is discontinued
Corrections are applied to the observed N
value
SPT CORRELATIONS FOR CLAYS
This method is also used to skin friction
values which is used to determine the
length of the piles
The cone is pushed only by thrust and not
by driving
In order to find out the cone resistance ,
the cone alone is pushed
Later the cone and sleeve is pushed
together to find out the combined
frictional and point resistance of the
cone.
Hydraulic gauges are used for
measuring pressure developed
Frictional resistance = Combined
resistance –
Cone resistance
Modified Cone penetrometer is known as
Refined Dutch Cone
Cone penetration resistance is
denoted as qc in kN/m2
Unlike SPT, this method is also suitable
for clayey deposits
Unsuitable for gravels and dense sand.
For such soil dynamic Cone
penetration is used
POINT CONE RESISTANCE VS
SPT CORRELATION
Type of Soil Qc (kN/m2)
V
s SPT ‘N’
Gravel 800 to 1000
Sands 500 to 600
Silty sands 300 to 400
Silts and clayey silts 200
CONE AND FRICTION
ASSEMBLY FOR SCPT
CONE USED FOR
SCPT
TYPICAL TEST SET UP FOR
SCPT
GEOPHYSICAL METHODS:
The stratification of soils and rocks can be determined by
geophysical methods of exploration which messures
changes in certain physical characteristics of these
materials,for example density,magnetism,electrical
resistivity,etc.
The following two geophysical methods are commonly used:
(i)Seismic refraction method
(ii)Electrical resistivity method
(i)Seismic Refraction Method:
The seismic refraction method is based on the principal that
seismic waves have different velocities in different types of
soil.
The seismic refraction method is more suited to shallow
exploration for civil engineering purposes.
ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY METHOD
ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY METHOD
The electrical resistivity d is given by
ℓ=2*3.142*D*V/I
ℓ=mean resistivity (ohm/m) D=distance
between electrodes (m)
V =potential drop between two inner
electrodes (volts)
I=current applied between two outer electrodes
(Amperes)
Limitations:
(i)The methods are capable of detecting only the strata
having different electrical resistivity.
(ii)The services of an expert in the field are needed.
BORE LOGS
1
4
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