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Foundation Engineering: CE-2086 Habtamu F. 2012

The document discusses site investigation for foundation engineering projects. Site investigation involves acquiring geological and geotechnical data that could impact construction. Key objectives are selecting suitable foundation types and depths, evaluating load capacity, estimating settlements, and identifying potential issues. Methods include desk studies, site reconnaissance, subsurface exploration via boreholes, and standard penetration tests (SPT) to obtain samples and measure resistance. SPT involves driving a split-barrel sampler into the ground using a hammer and measuring blows to advance it.

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Shita Alemie
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32 views15 pages

Foundation Engineering: CE-2086 Habtamu F. 2012

The document discusses site investigation for foundation engineering projects. Site investigation involves acquiring geological and geotechnical data that could impact construction. Key objectives are selecting suitable foundation types and depths, evaluating load capacity, estimating settlements, and identifying potential issues. Methods include desk studies, site reconnaissance, subsurface exploration via boreholes, and standard penetration tests (SPT) to obtain samples and measure resistance. SPT involves driving a split-barrel sampler into the ground using a hammer and measuring blows to advance it.

Uploaded by

Shita Alemie
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Foundation Engineering

CE-2086
Habtamu F.
2012
Lecture 2
Site Investigation
• Definition
– Site investigation is the process by which geological,
geotechnical, and other relevant information which might
affect the construction or performance of a civil
engineering or building project is acquired.
– Soil and rock are created by many processes out of a wide
variety of materials. Because deposition is irregular, soils
and rocks are notoriously variable, and often have
properties which are undesirable from the point of view of
a proposed structure.
– As a result geotechnical problems therefore occur and
require geotechnical parameters for their solution.
Site Investigation
• Objective of Site Investigation
– Selecting the type and depth of foundation suitable for a
given structure
– Evaluating the load bearing capacity of the foundation
– Estimation the probable settlement of the structure
– Determine potential foundation problems(e.g. expansive
soils, collapsible soils, sanitary land fills etc)
– Determining the location of the water table an its fluctuation
– Prediction of lateral earth pressure for structures like retaing
walls
– Establishing construction methods for challenging sub soil
conditions
Site Investigation
• Approach to Site Investigation
– Desk study
• Collection of preliminary data and Information
– Reconnaissance
• Visual inspection of the site
– Sub surface exploration
• Sinking bore holes, collecting soil samples, Laboratory
testing and Field testing
Methods of Investigation
• Exploratory Boring
– Auger Boring
• Manual Boring
• Machine Boring
– Wash Boring
– Trench
– Pit Excavations
How deep and How wide should
exploratory boring be made?
• According to the ASCE(1972)
follow the following steps
– Determine the net increase in effective
stress, ,at the foundation with Depth
as shown
– Estimate the variation of the vertical
effective stress, ,with depth
– Determine D=D1 at which the effective
stress equals 1/10th of q (estimated stress
on the foundation)
– Determine D=D2 at which
– Choose the smaller of the two depths as
the minimum exploratory depth unless
bed rock is encountered.
How deep and Hoe wide should
exploratory boring be made?
• Approximate spacing of Bore holes are given
as;
Other Rules of thumb
Field Tests
Standard Penetration Test(SPT)
• The standard penetration test (SPT) is performed during the
advancement of a soil boring to obtain an approximate
measure of the dynamic soil resistance, as well as a
disturbed drive sample (split barrel type).
• The SPT involves the driving of a hollow thick-walled
tube into the ground and measuring the number of
blows to advance the split-barrel sampler a vertical
distance of 300 mm (1 foot).
• A drop weight system is used for the pounding where a
63.5-kg (140-lb) hammer repeatedly falls from 0.76 m (30
inches) to achieve three successive increments of 150-
mm (6-inches) each.
Standard Penetration Test(SPT)
Standard Penetration Test(SPT)
• The first increment is recorded as a “seating”, while the
number of blows to advance the second and third increments
are summed to give the N-value ("blow count") or SPT-
resistance (reported in blows/0.3 m or blows per foot).
• If the sampler cannot be driven 450 mm, the number of
blows per each 150-mm increment and per each partial
increment is recorded on the boring log.
• For partial increments, the depth of penetration is recorded
in addition to the number of blows.
• The test can be performed in a wide variety of soil types, as
well as weak rocks, yet is not particularly useful in the
characterization of gravel deposits nor soft clays.
Standard Penetration Test(SPT)
• The fact that the test provides both a sample and a number is
useful, yet problematic, as one cannot do two things well at
the same time.
• The SPT is conducted at the bottom of a soil boring that has
been prepared using either flight augers or rotary wash
drilling methods.
• At regular depth intervals, the drilling process is interrupted
to perform the SPT.
• Generally, tests are taken every 0.76 m (2.5 feet) at depths
shallower than 3 meters (10 feet) and at intervals of 1.5 m
(5.0 feet) thereafter.
Standard Penetration Test(SPT)
• The limitation of SPT is difficulty to reproduce results.
• To avoid such a problem it was standardized to some
energy ration, Er
Standard Penetration Test(SPT)
• The standard blow count N70’ is given by

• To change the standard value to other values

• The SPT N Value can be correlated with other


engineering properties of soil. For instance

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