MALAWI: SOIL PROFILES

Soil Index Engineering Excavation

Class Properties Properties Condition

very strong compact rock mass ≥ 90 % rocky, A

1 strong
tough
bearing pressure
perm. ≥ 1000 kN/m²
rock mass ≥ 6 m,
top layer rock debris,
Hard Rock
sound ult. ≥ 2000 kN/m² drilling
homogenous uplift capacity pneumatic hammer
durable shear friction resistance chiseling
no penetration advance ult. ≥ 200 kN/m² comp. restricted blasting
RQD > 0.6 and uniaxial strength > backfill 18 KN/m³
5 MN/m² rock density 25 kN/m²

weak fractured rock ≥ 50 % blocks ≥ 1.0 m A

2 medium tough
very weak
large boulders
very hard and
and boulders ≥ 0.2 m,
rock debris,
Soft Rock
fractured cemented soil pickaxe
fissured bearing pressure chiseling
weathered perm. ≥ 500 kN/m² pneumatic hammer
SPT > 50 N/30 ult. ≥ 1000 kN/m² restricted blasting
DPL > 100 N/10 uplift capacity
CPT > 10 MN/m² ult. frustum angle 30°
RQD < 0.5 comp. backfill 18 kN/m³

compact granular and < 50 % blocks< 1.0 m and B

3 very dense
medium dense
cohesive soil
rel. density Dr ≥ 0.5
cobbles < 0.2 m,
rock debris,
Good Soil
hard consistency lc ≥ 1.0 gravel and sand,
very stiff bearing pressure silt and clay,
semi solid perm. ≥ 250 kN/m² water below
SPT 18 5 N/30 ult. ≥ 400 kN/m² foundation bottom,
DPL 30  10 N/10 uplift capacity pick
CPT 5  1 MN/m² ult. frustum angle 20° spade
comp. backfill 16 kN/m³ auger
excavator core part only

loose granular and occasional boulders, B

4 firm
stiff
cohesive soil
rel. density Dr ≥ 0.4
rock debris,
gravel and sand,
Poor Soil
SPT 10  3 N/30 consistency lc ≥ 0.8 silt and clay,
No Water
DPL 15  5 N/10 bearing pressure water below
CPT 3.0  0.7 MN/m² perm. ≥ 150 kN/m² foundation bottom,
ult. ≥ 250 kN/m² formwork at pad,
uplift capacity strutting of excavation,
ult. frustum angle 10° spade
comp. backfill 16 kN/m³ shovel
excavator

very loose granular and occasional boulders, C

5 medium firm
soft
cohesive soil
rel. density Dr ≥ 0.3
gravel and sand,
silt and clay,
Poor Soil
subsoil water consistency lc ≥ 0.6 water above
With Water
SPT 5  2 N/30 bearing pressure foundation bottom,
DPL 8  3 N/10 perm. ≥ 100 kN/m² water pumping,
CPT 1.5  0.5 MN/m² ult. ≥ 150 kN/m² formwork at pad,
uplift capacity strutting of excavation,
ult. frustum angle 5° shovel
comp. backfill 10 kN/m³ excavator
extremely loose granular and gravel and sand, C
6 very soft
subsoil water
cohesive soil
rel. density Dr ≤ 0.2
silt and clay,
pit and organic soil,
Very
SPT 2  1 N/30 consistency Ic ≤ 0.5 water above
Poor Soil
With Water DPL 3  2 N/10 bearing pressure foundation bottom,
CPT 0.5  0.3 MN/m² perm. ≥ 50 kN/m² water pumping,
ult. ≥ 80 kN/m² formwork at pad,
uplift capacity strutting of excavation,
ult. frustum angle 0° shovel
comp. backfill 10 kN/m³ excavator