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UNIVERSIDAD TECNOLOGICA DE PANAMA

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

COURSE: GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING

TOPIC:

SITE INVESTIGATION
I-SEMESTER

2016

1. THE PRELIMINARY SITE INVESTIGATION

Description: The preliminary site investigation takes place in two

steps: paper study and a site visit.

1) The paper study consists of obtaining documents related to the site

information and history.

2) The site visit consists of going to the site, taking notes and photos of
the site conditions, including the behavior of other projects in the
vicinity. The site conditions include general topography, rig access,
geologic features, stream banks exposing the stratigraphy, land use,
water-flow conditions, and possibility of flood.

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1. NUMBER AND DEPTH OF IN-SITU BORING TEST

REP-PANAMA requires the minimum boring test based on the

following equation:

N G AE 2
Where:
N: minimum number of borings
G: geological factor
A: structure area in thousands of m2
E: factor depending of the type of structure

GEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS G STRUCTURE E

Uniform Soil 0.7 1 to 2 levels 1.5
Variable 1.0 3 to 9 levels 3.0
Excessively Variable 1.3 10 to 19 levels 4.0
Note: The G factor is related to the geological 20 levels or above 5.0
conditions find on site at the end of the study;
therefore, this parameter can be re-evaluated
during the site investigation.

2. SAMPLING

Purpose: the objetive in samplig a soil or rock deposit is to obtain

samples that have the least amount of disturbance.

This disturbance can come from:

1) Change in stress conditions

2) Mechanical disturbance of the soil structure

3) Change in water content and porosity

4) Chemical changes

5) Mixing and segregation of soil constituents

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2. SAMPLING

Common sampling methods: The two most common samplers are

the Shelby tube sampler for clays and silts, also called thin-wall steel
tube, and the split spoon sampler for sands and gravels.
The Shelby tube sampler

The split spoon sampler

2. SAMPLING
Description of the sampling methods:
The split spoon sampler
It is a thick-wall steel of 50.8 mm outside diam., 34.9 mm inside diam., about 0.6
m long).
It is made of two half tubes kept together at the top and the bottom by rings. A
core catcher in the bottom ring helps keep the sample in place upon retrieval.
The area ratio of the split spoon sampler is 112%. This is a high area ratio, so the
samples collected with a split spoon sampler are considered to be disturbed
samples.
The sampler is driven into the sand or gravel with a standard 623 N hammer
falling on an anvil at the top of the rods from a height of 0.76 m. This is called the
standard penetration test (SPT).
The driving process further contributes to the disturbance of the sample.
The sampler is brought back to the surface, the tube is opened, and the sample is
typically collected in glass jars.

D02 D12 / 4 D02

AR 2
1
D /41 D12

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2. SAMPLING
Description of the sampling methods:

The Shelby tube sampler

It has a 76.2 mm outside diam., 73 mm inside diam., 0.9 m long.

The area ratio for the Shelby tube is 9%. This is a very low area ratio, so
samples taken with the Shelby tube are considered undisturbed.
The tube is pushed into the silt or clay at a steady pace under one continuous
push.
The tube is then pulled out of the soil and the sample stays in the tube by
friction.
At the surface, the sample is extruded, wrapped and sealed to prevent
moisture loss, and then shipped to the laboratory for testing.

D02 D12 / 4 D02

AR 2
1
D /41 D12

2. GRAUNDWATER LEVEL VS PHREATIC SURFCE

Definition and measurements methods:
The term 'phreatic surface' indicates the location where the pore water pressure is
under atmospheric conditions (i.e. the pressure head is zero). The phreatic surface is
the line where the water would rise in a pipe (not an open borehole) connected to a
point in the ground.
The water table is the surface where the water pressure head is equal to
the atmospheric pressure (where gauge pressure = 0). The groundwater level is the
level to which the water rises in an open borehole.

Briaud, 2013.

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3. IN-SITU TESTING: STANDARD PENETRATION TEST (SPT)

3. IN-SITU TESTING: STANDARD PENETRATION TEST (SPT)

MAYNE, P., CHRISTOPHER, B., & DEJONG, J. (2002).

Na
Nb
Nc

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3. IN-SITU TESTING: STANDARD PENETRATION TEST (SPT)

Description of the test: consists of driving a split spoon sampler

into the soil using a standard 623N hammer (m=63.5 kg) falling from
a height of 0.76 m onto an anvil at the top of the rods.

Na= is the number of blows necessary to drive the split spoon

sampler the first 0.15 m into the soil.

Nb= is the number of blows necessary to drive the split spoon

sampler the second 0.15 m into the soil.

Nc= is the number of blows necessary to drive the split spoon

sampler the third 0.15 m into the soil.

The reported final value of blows/0.3 m is N=Nb+Nc .

Na is considered to be a set of seating blows.

3. IN-SITU TESTING: STANDARD PENETRATION TEST (SPT)

The test consists of driving a split spoon sampler into the soil using a
standard 623N hammer (m=63.5 kg) falling from a height of 0.76 m
onto an anvil at the top of the rods.

The N60 Value vs. The N Value

High energy loss due to friction

Low energy loss due to
friction

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3. IN-SITU TESTING: STANDARD PENETRATION TEST (SPT)

Design Value of N: the N value is often corrected to account for

influencing factors such as the energy level, the stress level, and the
presence of silt. Additional correction factors take into account the
length of the rods, the diameter of the borehole, and whether or not
the sampler has a liner.

E W h 63.5 kg 9.81 m / s 2 0.76 m 475J

Many correlations are based on the old data N60 *MANUAL MACHINES*.
Therefore, if a MECHANICAL MACHINE is used, correction is needed.

Emeasured ( J )
N 60 N measured
285 J

3. IN-SITU TESTING: STANDARD PENETRATION TEST (SPT)

Results:

Briaud, 2013.

Correction for energy level requires engineering judgment. It implies that

energy must be measure, something that is rarely done.
Correction stress levels are needed when using N1 to compute the friction angle
of the soil.

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3. IN-SITU TESTING: STANDARD PENETRATION TEST (SPT)

MAYNE, P., CHRISTOPHER, B., & DEJONG, J. (2002)

Advantages
1) Sampling Is Possible
2) Simple
3) Suitable in many soil types

Disadvantages
1) Sample Disturbance
2) Not applicable for soft clays and silty
soils
3) High Variability

3. SITE INVESTIGATION – CONE PENETRATION TEST (CPT)

MAYNE, P., CHRISTOPHER, B., & DEJONG, J. (2002)

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3. SITE INVESTIGATION – CONE PENETRATION TEST (CPT)

MAYNE, P., CHRISTOPHER, B., & DEJONG, J. (2002)

3. SITE INVESTIGATION – CONE PENETRATION TEST (CPT)

MAYNE, P., CHRISTOPHER, B., & DEJONG, J. (2002)

Advantages
1) Fast and continuous
profile.
2) Applicable for soft
soils.
3) Strong Theoretical
basis in interpretation.
Disadvantages
1) Required skill
operator to run
2) No soil sample can be
obtained.
3) Unsuitable for gravel
or boulder deposits.

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3. SITE INVESTIGATION – SEISMIC PIEZOCONE TEST

MAYNE, P., CHRISTOPHER, B., & DEJONG, J. (2002)

3. SITE INVESTIGATION – PRESSUREMETER TEST (PMT)

There are three types of pressuremeters: the preboring pressuremeter, the self-
boring pressuremeter, and the push-in or cone pressuremeter.

Briaud, 2013.

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3. SITE INVESTIGATION – PRESSUREMETER TEST (PMT)

MAYNE, P., CHRISTOPHER, B., & DEJONG, J. (2002).

3. SITE INVESTIGATION – PRESSUREMETER TEST (PMT)

The test result is an in-situ stress-strain curve that gives a number of useful soil
parameters: the modulus Eo, called the first load modulus; the pressure poh, found at
the beginning of the curve where the horizontal soil pressure is being reestablished; a
yield pressure py; and a soil strength called the limit pressure pL.

Briaud, 2013.

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3. SITE INVESTIGATION – PRESSUREMETER TEST (PMT)

MAYNE, P., CHRISTOPHER, B., & DEJONG, J. (2002)

Advantages
1) Theoretically sound in determination of
soil parameters.
2) Applicable for larger zone of soil mass
than any other in-situ test.
3) Develop complete stress vs strain curve

Disadvantages
1) It required a level of expertise .
2) Time consuming.
3) Delicate equipment.

4. SIMPLE FIELD EVALUATION OF STRENGTH

Briaud, 2013.

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5. EXAMPLE OF FIELD BORING LOG REPORT

5. EXAMPLE OF FIELD BORING LOG REPORT

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5. EXAMPLE OF FIELD BORING LOG REPORT

6. LABORATORY TESTING

→ Laboratory testing brings the problem of sample

disturbance . However, its application is valuable for the
understanding of some properties that can not be
determined using In-Situ Tests.

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6. LABORATORY TESTING
LABORATORY TESTS
→ Water Content & Unit Weight
→Atterberg Limits
→Relative Density
→Triaxial Test
→Resonant Column Test
→Direct Shear Test
→Permeability test
→Lab shear vane test
26/03/2016
IN-SITU TESTS
→Borehole Shear Test & Cross-Hole
Wave Tests
→PiezoCone Penetration Test
→Dilatomer Test
→Pressuremeter Test
→Step Blade Test
→Standard Penetration Test
→ Cone Penetration Test
→Field shear vane test
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