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•FACULTY OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY APPLIED DESIGN AND FINE ART

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

PROGRAM: BACHELOR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING.
COURSE UNIT: ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
COURSE CODE: CIV2202
ENGINEERING GEOLOGICAL SITE INVESTIGATION

LECTURER: MR. BYAMUKAMA DAN

GROUP ONE
GROUP MEMBERS

ROM JACOB CLIFFORD 2023/A/KCE/2233/F

WAYA ANTHONY WILLIAMS 2023/A/KCE/2244/F
TURYAMUREEBA FELIX 2023/A/KCE/2207/F
GOLIDRA INNOCENT 2023/A/KCE/2723/F
INTRODUCTION
Knowledge of the sub-surface is imperative for design & construction of
foundations for engineering structures
The satisfactory design and construction of an engineering structure
can be accomplished only when the character of the soil or rock, on
which or with in which it is to be built is known.
Definition of site investigation
 Site investigation deals with collecting all necessary information for
safe and economic design, construction and maintenance of civil
engineering structures, environmental management, or extraction/
development of resources.
FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING STRUCTURES SUCH AS:

• Buildings, industrial and offshore foundations.

• Reservoirs, fills and embankments.
• Slopes.
• Roads, airports and industrial pavements.
• Bridges.
• Retaining structures.
• Tunnels and underground space facilities.
• For Mining and resource development.
• For Environment: waste containment systems and site remediation.
• For Military engineering: recent developments.
Site investigation involves the appraisal of the general
subsurface conditions by analysis of information gained by
methods such as;

 Geological and geophysical surveys,

 drilling boreholes, sampling, in-situ testing,
 laboratory testing of samples of the subsurface
materials, groundwater observations, visual inspection,
and local experience.
The purpose of site investigation is to:

• Assess the suitability of a site for the proposed structure

• Evaluate the impact of construction on existing site conditions
and existing site conditions on proposed construction
• Anticipate what can be expected during construction
• Develop criteria for design and construction based on site
specific physical parameters
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7 SOIL INVESTIGATION

• The scope of a soils investigation depends on the type, size, and importance of the structure,
the client, the engineer's familiarity with the soils at the site, and local building codes.
Structures that are sensitive to settlement such as machine foundations and high-use buildings
usually require a thorough soils investigation compared to a foundation for a house.
• Some local building codes have provisions that set out the extent of a site investigation. It is
mandatory that a visit be made to the proposed site. In the early stages of a project, the
available information is often inadequate to allow a detailed plan to be made.
• A site investigation must be developed in phases. Phases of a Soils Investigation: The soil
investigation is conducted in phases. Each preceding phase affects the extent of the next phase.
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PHASES OF A SOIL INVESTIGATION

8

• Collection of available information such as a site plan, type, size, and importance of the structure, loading conditions, previous
geotechnical reports, topographic maps, air photographs, geologic maps, hydrological information and newspaper clippings.
• Preliminary reconnaissance or a site visit to provide a general picture of the topography and geology of the site. It is necessary that
you take with you on the site visit all the information gathered in Phase I to compare with the current conditions of the site. Here
visual inspection is done to gather information on topography, soil stratification, vegetation, water marks, ground water level, and
type of construction nearby.
• Detailed soils exploration. Here we make a detailed planning for soil exploration in the form trial pits or borings, their spacing and
depth. Accordingly, the soil exploration is carried out. The details of the soils encountered, the type of field tests adopted and the
type of sampling done, presence of water table if met with are recorded in the form of bore log. The soil samples are properly
labeled and sent to laboratory for evaluation of their physical and engineering properties.
• Write a report. The report must contain a clear description of the soils at the site, methods of exploration, soil profile, test methods
and results, and the location of the groundwater. This should include information and/or explanations of any unusual soil, water
bearing stratum, and soil and groundwater condition that may be troublesome during construction.
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9 STEPS INVOLVED IN SUB SOIL INVESTIGATION

• Site Investigation
• Soil Exploration (Boring Holes)
• Collection of Soil Samples
• Conducting the in-situ tests
• Study of Ground water conditions and Collection of water sample for chemical analysis
• Geophysical Exploration
• Preparation of Drawings, Charts, etc
• Analysis of Data Collected
• Preparation of Report
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10 EXPLORATION METHODS

• Trial pits or test pits

• Boring
• Probes (in situ test) and geophysical methods
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THE METHODS AVAILABLE FOR SOIL

11 EXPLORATION MAY BE CLASSIFIED AS FOLLOWS

• Direct methods ... Test pits, trial pits or trenches

• Semi-direct methods ... Borings
• Indirect methods ... Soundings or penetration tests and geophysical methods
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12 THE DIRECT METHOD

The direct method of soil exploration usually consists of sinking a borehole at a predetermined location to
the required depth by a method suitable for the site and to obtain fairly intact samples of soils from every
stratum encountered or at suitably selected depths. The samples obtained are utilized to get necessary
information about the soil characteristics by means of laboratory tests.
Trial pits or test pits
• Applicable to all types of soils
• Provide for visual examination in their natural condition
• Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples can be conveniently obtained at different depths.
• Depth of investigation: limited to 3 to 3.5 m.
.

Advantages
• Cost effective
• Provide detailed information of stratigraphy
• Large quantities of disturbed soils are available for testing iv) Large blocks of undisturbed samples
can be carved out from the pits v) Field tests can be conducted at the bottom of the pits
Disadvantages
• i) Depth limited to about 6m ii) Deep pits uneconomical
• iii) Excavation below groundwater and into rock difficult and costly iv)Too many pits may scar site
and require backfill soils.
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14 SEMI DIRECT METHODS –BORING

• Boring: Making or drilling bore holes into the ground with a view to obtaining soil or rock samples from
specified or known depths is called „boring‟ The common methods of advancing bore holes are: Auger
boring, Wash boring, rotary boring and Percussion boring.
Exploratory borings
• Boring is carried out in the relatively soft and un-cemented ground (engineering „soil‟) which is normally
found close to ground surface. The techniques used vary widely across the world.
Location, spacing and depth of borings It depends on:
i. Type of structure
ii. Size of the structure
iii. Weight coming from the General guidelines for location and depth of bore holes.
.

Boreholes are generally located at:

• The building corners.
• The center of the site.
• Where heavily loaded columns or machinery pads are proposed..
• At least one boring should be taken to a deeper stratum, probably up to the bedrock if
practicable other borings may be taken at least to significant stress level.
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16 GUIDELINES FOR DEPTH OF INVESTIGATION:

• At least one boring should be taken to deeper stratum, probably up to the bedrock if practicable.
• Borings should penetrate at least 3 m into rock.
• Other borings may be taken at least to significant stress level.
• In compressible soils such as clays, the borings should penetrate at least between I and 3 times
the width of the proposed foundation or until the stress increment due to the heaviest
foundation load is less than 10%, whichever is greater.
• In very stiff clays, borings should penetrate 5-7 m to prove that the thickness of the stratum is
adequate.
• Borings must penetrate below any fills or very soft deposits below the proposed structure.
• The minimum depth of boreholes should be 6 m unless bedrock or very dense material is
encountered.
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17 METHODS OF BORINGS

• Auger boring:-Augers are used in cohesive and other soft soils above water table. They may either be
operated manually or mechanically. Hands augers are used up to a depth up to 6 m. mechanically operated
augers are used for greater depths and they can also be used in gravelly soils. Augers are of two types: (a)
spiral auger and (b) post-hole auger.
• Auger and shell boring:- cylindrical augers and shells with cutting edge or teeth at Iower end can be
used for making deep borings. Hand operated rigs are used for depths up to 25 m and mechanized rigs up
to 50 m. Augers are suitable for soft to stiff clays, shells for very stiff and hard clays, and shells or sand
pumps for sandy soils. Small boulders, thin soft strata or rock or cemented gravel can be broken by chisel
bits attached to drill rods. The hole usually requires a casing.
.

• Wash boring:-Wash boring is a fast and simple method for advancing holes in all types of soils.
Boulders and rock cannot be penetrated by this method. The method consists of first driving a
casing through which a hollow drilled rod with a sharp chisel or chopping bit at the lower end is
inserted. Water is forced under pressure through the drill rod which is alternatively raised and
dropped, and also rotated. The resulting chopping and jetting action of the bit and water
disintegrates the soil. The cuttings are forced up to the ground surface in the form of soil-water
slurry through the annular space between the drill rod and the casing. The change in soil
stratification could be guessed from the rate of progress and colour of wash water. The samples
recovered from the wash water are almost valueless for interpreting the correct geotechnical
properties of soil.
.

• Percussion drilling:-In this method, soil and rock formations are broken by repeated blows
of heavy chiesel or bit suspended by a cable or drill rod. Water is added to the hole during
boring, if not already present and the slurry of pulverised material is bailed out at intervals.
• Rotary boring:- Rotary boring or rotary drilling is a very fast method of advancing hole in
both rocks and soils. A drill bit, fixed to the lower end of the drill rods, is rotated by a suitable
chuck, and is always kept in firm contact with the bottom of the hole. A drilling mud, usually
a water solution of bentonite, with or without other admixtures, is continuously forced down
to the hollow drill rods. The mud returning upwards brings the cuttings to the surface. The
method is also known as mud rotary drilling and the hole usually requires no casing.
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20 SOIL INVESTIGATION IS REQUIRED FOR THE FOLLOWING

PURPOSES –

• To know the allowable bearing capacity of foundation for proposed building.

• To know the depth and type of foundation for the proposed building.
• To know the allowable passive resistance for the foundation of proposed building.
• To know the type, grading and nature of soil.
• To know the ground water level.
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21 FACTORS AFFECTING QUALITY OF REPORT

There are other factors which can affect the quality of the investigation, recommendations and the engineering judgment.
Among those which may affect some engineers are:

• Uncritical acceptance of well-presented opinion, results of sophisticated (but not necessarily relevant) tests and over-
and unqualified respect for some specialists.

• Allowing site difficulties to dictate the investigation in an attempt to keep the investigation simple and cheap.

• Lack of recognition that piling and other foundation techniques can be used to economic advantage even on good sites.

• Lack of recognition that some fills, possibly upgraded by ground improvement techniques, can provide adequate and
economic bearing strata.

• Lack of appreciation that advances in structural design can accommodate relatively high settlements.

• Under-estimation of the importance of the designer, at least, visiting the site during the investigation or dismissal of trial
pits as unscientific or outdated.
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22 SEQUENCE OF REPORT

• Foundation reports follow the normal sequence of items of engineering reports in having a title,
contents list, and synopsis, and introduction, body of the report, conclusions and
recommendations. Lengthy descriptions of tests and similar matters are best dealt with in
appendices and the test results tabulated in the body of the report. The client tends to read the
synopsis and recommendations; the main and sub-contractors concentrate on the body of the
report and the design office on its conclusions and recommendations.
Cont.

Site description
• This, as far as possible, should be given on small-scale plans showing site location, access and surrounding
area. The proposed position of the buildings and access roads should be shown. The site plan should also show
the general layout and surface features, note presence of existing buildings, old foundations and previous
usage, services, vegetation, surface water, any subsidence or unstable slopes, etc.
• Written description of the site exposure (for wind speed regulations) should be given together with records of
any flooding, erosion and other geographical and hydrographic information.
• Geological maps and sections should, when they are necessary, be provided, noting mines, shafts, quarries,
swallow holes and other geological features affecting design and construction.
• Photographs taken on the site, preferably color ones, can be very helpful and should be supplemented by aerial
photographs if considered necessary.
Cont.

The Ground Investigation

• Background study and location of holes. This should give a full account of the desktop study,
examination of old records, information from local authorities, public utilities and the like, and the field
survey. It should detail the position and depth of trial pits and boreholes, equipment used and in situ
testing and information.
• Boreholes, trial pits and soil profiles. This section will be mainly a visual presentation of the logs and
profiles together with color photographs of the trial pits. Where possible, written information should be
given in note form on the soil profiles.
• Soil tests. This should list the site and laboratory tests drawing attention to any unusual, unexpected or
special results. The results of the tests should be tabulated, for ease of reference, and diagrams of such
information as particle size distribution, pressure–void ratio curves and Mohrs circles should be given.
Cont.

Results:
• This must give details of ground conditions, previous use of site, present conditions, ground water
and drainage pattern. The tests must give adequate information to determine the soils bearing
capacity, settlement characteristics, behavior during and after foundation construction and, where
necessary, its chemical make-up and condition.
Recommendations:
• This is both comment on the facts and also opinions based on experience; the difference should be
made clear. Since the discussion is usually a major part of the report it should be broken down into
sections for ease of reference and readability. The final section should give firm recommendations
on the foundation type or types to be adopted.
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26 OBJECTIVES OF SITE INVESTIGATION

• To access the general suitability of the site.

• To achieve safe and economical design of foundations and temporary works. iii.
To know the nature of each stratum and engineering properties of the soil and
rock, which may affect the design and mode of construction of proposed structure
and foundation.
• To foresee and provide against difficulties that may arise during construction due
to ground and other local conditions.
Cont.

• To find out the sources of construction material and selection of sites for disposal of water
or surplus material.
• To investigate the occurrence or causes of all natural and man made changes in conditions
and the results arising from such changes.
• To ensure the safety of surrounding existing structures.
• To design for the failed structures or remedial measures for the structures deemed to be
unsafe.
• To locate the ground water level and possible corrosive effect of soil and water on
foundation material
ALBUM
REFERENCES

1. Bell, F. G. (2007)
• Geology (2nd ed.) Butterworth-Heinemann