University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines

Civil Engineering Department

GEOTECHNICAL
ENGINEERING (SOIL
MECHANICS)

Subsurface Exploration

By: CE Faculty
Subsurface Exploration
Braja Das (2016)
“The process of identifying the layers of deposits that underlie a proposed structure and
their physical characteristics is generally referred to as subsurface exploration”

Murthy, V. (2007)
“The field and laboratory investigations required to obtain the essential information on
the subsoil is called soil exploration or soil investigation”

Araro, A. (2004)
“Subsurface explorations are done for obtaining the information about
subsurface conditions at the site of proposed construction. It is essential for the design of
structures and for planning construction techniques”
Subsurface Exploration
Subsurface explorations consist of
determining
(a)the profile of the natural soil deposits at the site,
(b) taking the soil samples,
(c) determining the engineering properties of soil
(d) it includes in-situ testing of the soils.
Subsurface Exploration
Site investigations are generally done to obtain the information that is useful
for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) To select the type and depth of foundation for a given structure
(b) To determine the bearing capacity of soil
(c) To estimate the probable maximum and differential settlements
(d) To establish the ground water level and to determine the properties of
water
(e) To predict the lateral earth pressure against retaining wall and
abutments
(f) To select suitable construction techniques
(g) To predict and solve potential foundation problems
(h) To ascertain the suitability of the soil as a construction materials
(i) To investigate the safety of the existing structures and to suggest the
remedial measures.
Planning a subsurface exploration programme
A sub-surface exploration programme depends:
a. Type of the structure to be built
b. Variability of the strata at the proposed site
c. Cost of the investigation and the entire project

Small house in an already Small house is to be built in an

built-up area newly developed area

It would, therefore, be more desirable to invest some amount on sub-

surface exploration than to overdesign the building and make it costlier.
Planning a subsurface exploration programme
Cost

Increasing variability of soil The site underlain in a uniform

strata deposits

Aim of investigation:
To get the maximum information that is
useful in the design and construction of the
Cost Cost
project at the minimum cost
 STAGES IN SUB-SURFACE EXPLORATIONS
1. SITE RECONNAISSANCE
- It includes a visit to - It helps in deciding future programme of site
site and to study investigations, scope of work, methods of
the maps and other exploration to be adopted, types of samples to
relevant records be taken and the laboratory testing and in-situ
testing.
 STAGES IN SUB-SURFACE EXPLORATIONS
1. SITE RECONNAISSANCE
The information about the following features is obtained in
reconnaissance:

a. general topography of the site b. Existence of settlement cracks

 STAGES IN SUB-SURFACE EXPLORATIONS
1. SITE RECONNAISSANCE
The information about the following features is obtained in
reconnaissance:

c. Evidence of landslides, creep d. Stratification of soils from deep

of slopes and shrinkage cracks cuts
 STAGES IN SUB-SURFACE EXPLORATIONS
1. SITE RECONNAISSANCE
The information about the following features is obtained in
reconnaissance:

e. Location of high flood marks f. Depth of ground water (wells)

 STAGES IN SUB-SURFACE EXPLORATIONS
1. SITE RECONNAISSANCE
The information about the following features is obtained in
reconnaissance:

g. Existence of springs, swamps h. Drainage pattern

 STAGES IN SUB-SURFACE EXPLORATIONS
1. SITE RECONNAISSANCE
The information about the following features is obtained in
reconnaissance:

i. Vegetation existing at the site j. Existence of underground water

mains, power conduits, etc
 STAGES IN SUB-SURFACE EXPLORATIONS
2. PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION

The aim of a preliminary exploration is to determine the depth,

thickness, extent and composition of each soil stratum at the site.

- It is in the form of a few borings or test pits using cone

penetrometers and sounding rods to obtain information
about the strength and compressibility of soils.
 STAGES IN SUB-SURFACE EXPLORATIONS
3. DETAILED EXPLORATIONS

To determine the engineering properties of the soils in different strata

It includes an extensive boring programme, sampling and testing of the

samples in a laboratory

Field tests:
- Vane shear tests Conducted to determine the
- Plate load tests properties of soil in natural state
- Permeability tests
 STAGES IN SUB-SURFACE EXPLORATIONS
3. DETAILED EXPLORATIONS
For small projects
For complex projects:
where the strata are
- Bridges
uniform
- Dams
- Multi-storey buildings

“detailed investigations may not be

required and generally the design is
“detailed investigations” based on the data from reconnaissance
and preliminary exploration”
 Sampling in soil
Soils met in nature are heterogeneous in character with a mixture
of sand, silt and clay in different proportions.

Classify:
Soil with particle size
coarser than 0.075mm
Coarse-grained soil

Soil with particle size finer

fine-grained soil
than 0.075mm
 Sampling in soil

Sampling

Undisturbed Disturbed
Sampling Sampling
 Sampling in soil

Disturbed Samples Undisturbed Samples

Are representative samples which Are those that represent the in-situ
contain all the constituents in their condition of the soil in all respects,
proper proportions, but the structure such as structural arrangement of
of soil is not the same as in the in- particles, water content, density and
situ conditions stress conditions.
The various laboratory tests that can The various laboratory tests that can
be conducted on such soil samples be conducted on such soil samples
are: are:
1. Mechanical properties 1. Shear strength
2. Atterberg limits 2. consolidation
3. Specific gravity 3. in-situ density and water content
4. Chemical analysis 4. permeability
 Sampling in soil

The amount of sampling depends on:

a. Time constraint
b. Topography
c. Cost factors
d. Reason for sampling
 Sampling in soil
How to Collect Disturbed Soil Samples
Basic geotechnical investigations include using a backhoe
to create a test pit where you collect soil from the
bucket or using hand augers to collect a sample from a
vertical boring. You can use drill rigs to collect disturbed
samples from great depths. Collection tools such as split-
spoon samplers, Shelby tubes and macrocore push
samplers are used in conjunction with the drill rig or a
direct-push rig to collect the sample after the rig
reaches the desired depth.
 Sampling in soil
How to Collect Undisturbed Soil Samples
Engineers use drill rigs to collect undisturbed soil samples at depth.
Common sampling tools include
a. long split-spoon samplers,
b. piston samplers and
c. a pitcher barrel sampler.

Piston samplers are thin-walled tube samplers that collect undisturbed samples in
soft soil. The piston samples do not work well in gravel, sand or lithified
sediments. Like the piston sampler, a pitcher barrel sampler is pushed into the
soil to collect the undisturbed sample. These methods produce the best
undisturbed samples possible; however, engineers must remember to inspect the
sample for signs that the soil was disturbed during collection, especially near the
top and bottom of the sample. Engineers will disregard the disturbed portions of
the sample during testing.
 Exploratory Borings in the Field

HAND OPERATED AUGERS

✓ depth of about 10 m
✓ Suitable for all types of soil above the water
table but suitable only in clayey soil below
the water table
✓ A string of drill rods is used for advancing the
boring
✓ Diameter of the holes normally vary form 10
to 20cm
✓ Not suitable in very stiff to hard clay nor in
granular below the water table
✓ Not practicable in denses and nor in sand
mixed with gravel even if the strata lies above
Hand Auger the water table.
 Exploratory Borings in the Field

✓ Fligths act as a crew conveyor to bring the soil to

POWER DRIVEN AUGERS the surface
✓ Used in all types of soil including sandy soils below
the water table but is not suitable is the soil is
mixed with gravel, cobbles, etc.
✓ The central stem may be hollow or solid. A hollow
stem is sometimes preferred since standard
penetration tests or sampling may be done
through the stem without lifting the auger from its
position in the hole. Besides, the flight of augers
serves the purpose of casing the hole. The hollow
stem can be plugged while advancing the bore and
the plug can be removed while taking samples or
conducting standard penetration tests. The drilling
rig can be mounted on a truck or a tractor. Holes
(a) Plugged while advancing the auger
(b) plug removed and sampler inserted
may be drilled by this method rapidly to depths of
to sample soil below auger 60m or more.
 Exploratory Borings in the Field

SHELL AND AUGER METHOD

✓ Shell (also called as sand bailer) is a heavy
duty pipe with a hard cutting edge and a flat
valve which opens only inside. The length of
the shell ranges from 1 to 3m or more
depending on the weight required for cutting
the soil. The weight ranges from 30 to 60kg
or more.
✓ Very useful even in dense sandy deposits or
stiff to hard clay soils or even sandy soil
mixed with gravel.
 Exploratory Borings in the Field

WASH BORING
✓ Its purpose is tor drill holes only and not to
make use of the disturbed washed materials
for analysis. Whenever, an undisturbed
sample is required, the boring is stop, and
the chopping bit is replaced by a sampler.
The sampler is pushed into the soil at the
bottom of the hole and the sample is
withdrawn.
✓ It is very convenient method provided the soil
is either sand, silt or clay. Not suitable for
the soil mixed with gravel or boulders.
 Exploratory Borings in the Field

ROTARY DRILLING
✓ Rotary drilling is a procedure by which rapidly
rotating drilling bits attached to the bottom of
drilling rods cut and grind the soil and advance
the borehole.
✓ Rotary drilling can be used in sand, clay, and
rocks (unless they are badly fissured).
✓ Water or drilling mud is forced down the drilling
rods to the bits, and the return flow forces the
cuttings to the surface.
✓ Boreholes with diameters of 50 to 203 mm (2 to 8
in.) can easily be made by this technique.
✓ The drilling mud is a slurry of water and
bentonite. Generally, it is used when the soil that
is encountered is likely to cave in.
 Exploratory Borings in the Field

PERCUSSION DRILLING
✓ Used for making holes in rocks, boulders and
other hard strata.
✓ The heavy chisel is alternately lifted and dropped
in a vertical hole.
✓ Advantages: It can be used for all types of
materials and useful for drilling holes in glacial
tills containing boulders
✓ Disadvantage: the material at the bottom of the
hole is disturbed by heavy blows of the chisel.
✓ It is not possible to get good quality undisturbed
samples.
✓ More expensive
✓ Difficult to detect minor changes on the
properties of the strata penetrated
 Exploratory Borings in the Field

CORE DRILLING
✓ Used for drilling holes and for obtaining rock
cores.
✓ It may be done using either a diamond studded
bit or a cutting edge consisting of chilled shot.
✓ The diamond is superior to the other type of
drilling but is costlier.
✓ The core barrel may consist of a single tube or a
double tube.
✓ A double-tube barrel gives a good quality sample
of the rock
 Soil Exploration Report
At the end of the soil exploration program, the soil and rock
samples collected from the field are subjected to visual
observation and laboratory tests. Then, a soil exploration
report is prepared for use by the planning and design office.
Any soil exploration report should contain the following
information:
1. Scope of investigation
2. General description of the proposed structure for which
the exploration has been conducted
3. Geologic conditions of the site
4. Drainage facilities at the site
 Soil Exploration Report
5. Details of boring
6. Description of subsoil conditions as determined from the
soil and rock samples collected
7. Groundwater table as observed from the boreholes
8. Details of foundation recommendations and alternatives
9. Any anticipated construction problems
10. Limitations of the investigation

The following graphic presentations also need to be attached to the

soil exploration report:
1. Site location map
2. Location of borings with respect to the proposed structure
3. Boring logs
4. Laboratory test results
5. Other special presentations
Soil Exploration Report
Soil Exploration Report
References

Araro, K. (2004). Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering. Standard Publishers Distributors,
Delhi

Das, B. (2016). Principles of Geotechnical Engineering (8th Edition). Cangage Learning, Boston,
USA

Murthy, V. (2007). Advanced Foundation Engineering. CBS Publishers and Distributors,

New Delhi, Bangalore

Murthy, V. (n.d). Geotechnical Engineering: Principles and Practices of Soil

Mechanics and Foundation Engineering