Soil Mechanics-I

Topic : In-Situ Tests

Lecture-2
by
Dr. Sarah Tahsin Noor

1
In-Situ Tests
 Standard Penetration Test
 Cone Penetration Test
 Field Vane Shear Test
 Permeability Test
 PS-Wave Logging
 Pressuremeter Test

2
 In-Situ Tests

Static Tests Dynamic Tests

(Push In Type) (Driving Type)

Borehole Cone Field Vane Dynamic

Cone Standard
Load Penetration Shear
Penetration Penetration
Test Test Test
Test Test

3
 Standard Penetration Test
The most common Method of obtaining Information on

The Degree of Compactness of Soil

4
Standard Penetration Test
 Measurement : Blow Counts
 Obtain SPT N-Value

SPT Correction
 Hammer Efficiency
 Overburden Pressure Correction
 Rod Length Correction
 Borehole Diameter Correction
 Sampler Correction

Rotary Boring Machine

5
6
Difference between the Terms Drilling and Boring

 Drilling
 A process for removing material from a workpiece in order to
create a hole
 Boring
 A process of enlarging a hole that has already been made by
another process (such as drilling).
 In short, boring is a secondary finishing operation

7
Borehole Diameter
 ? Range of Borehole Diameter for SPT?

 Depending on the Test Equipment

 Boring is required for the following tests:
 Pressuremeter
 PS-Wave Logging
 Magnetic Survey

8
Application of ‘Boring Method’ in Construction

Use of
Tunnel
Boring
Machine

Reference: TOHO Drilling, Japan

9
10
Placement of Drilling Machine

11
In Japan
SPT in
Bangladesh
SPT in Bangladesh
(Video Clip)

Automatic Drop Hammer

Casing Pipe: 1m (Min.)

12
 SPT Hammer
 Anvil Shaft

 Weight (140 lb)

 Lifting and Dropping Mechanism of

the Weight
• Auto Trip Mechanism
• Drop Height : 762 mm (30’’)

Auto Trip Mechanism

 Consists of a Finger and Spring Arrangement
 Releases the Weight at a given Point
13
 Drilling Plan
 The Quality of Borehole depends on
 Type of Drill Bit
To be
 Bit Size Decided
 Drilling Fluid

Factors to be Considered in
Planning Drilling Operation Boring Method Driller

Borehole Diameter
• 150 mm India
Depth of Casing Flushing/ • 67-75 mm Japan
Borehole
Boring Diameter Pipe for Drilling
unsupported Medium
soil (Fill)
14
Drilling Fluid
 What are the Functions of Drilling Fluid?
 Cooling of Drilling Bit
 Reducing Friction at the Drilling Point
 Removal of Cuttings
 Keep the Borehole Stable/ Resist Borehole Collapse
 Prevent the Loss of Water from Borehole
 Drilling Fluids used in Boring Operations

 Bentonite Mud
 Foam  Clear Water is used
during Sampling

15
16
Sampler
 Types of Sampler
 Split Spoon Sampler (ASTM Standard SPT Sampler)
 Hydraulic Piston Sampler
 Maizer/Denison Sampler
 Open Drive Sampler

 Choice of Sampler
 depends on Soil Type

17
ASTM Standard SPT Sampler
Split Spoon Sampler

• Disturbed Sample

Sampler Dimensions
Outer Diameter = 50.8 mm
Inner Diameter = 38.1 mm
Length = 32’’

18
Samplers for Undisturbed Sampling
 Hydraulic Piston Sampler
 Soil Type : Soft Soil

 Maizer Sampler (alternate name,

Denison Sampler / Super Denison
Sampler
Hard Clay
Dense Sand

19
Open Drive Sampling
 Thin Walled Sampler
 The Sampling Tube of Hydraulic Piston Sampler
 Alternate name Shelby Tube

 Thick Walled Sampler

 Presently not recommended

Inserted in ground by driving

Highly Disturbed Sample
In Remote place

20
Use of Liner in Sampler
 Liner : Tube
 Liner Material:
 Plastic (Commonly used)
 Transparent Fibre Glass)

 ASTM Standard SPT Sampler

 May be used with or without liner

 Hydraulic Piston Sampler

 Preferred to be used without Liner

 Maizer Sampler
 Must be used with Liner
21
Sample Storage

 Disturbed Sample
 in Plastic Bottle and Plastic Bag

 Undisturbed Sample:
 Inside the Liner/Tube sealed at both ends
 Avoid Vibration

22
Classification of Soil based on SPT N-Value
Sand/Silt Clay
Relative Density SPT N-Value Soil Consistency SPT N-Value
Very soft 0 to 2
Very Loose 0 to 4
Soft 2 to 4
Loose 4 to 10
Soft 2 to 4
Medium Dense 10 to 30
Medium Stiff 4 to 8
Dense 30 to 50
Stiff 8 to 15
Very Dense >50 Very Stiff 15 to 30
Hard >30

23
Assignment No. 1
 Formula to Convert SPT N-values for Hammer Efficiency Correction
[with Reference]

24
Assignment No. 2
 List the Tables and Equations Correlations to prediction Soil Parameters
based on SPT N-Value
 List of References
 Submit the reference materials too.
 MSWord File Name: Your Registration Number
 File Name of Reference Material: Your Registration Number-a; Your
Registration Number-b, ………….

25
Assignment No. 3
I. Calculate Equivalent SPT for 50/275
• What does it mean?

II. How do you round SPT N-values?

26