This series of lecture slides are to be used only with Muni Budhu Soil Mechanics Fundamentals, 1 st Ed.

, WILEY Blackwell, John Wiley & Sons, Oxford, UK . Copyright 2015

1

LECTURE 11: SOILS INVESTIGATION (CONTD),

LAB AND IN SITU TESTS AND SOILS REPORT

BOOK CHAPTER: 3
SECTION: 3.5 -3.7

Developed by: Professor Muniram Budhu

Email: muni@yourlabs.com info@yourlabs.com
 2

Budhu Learning outcomes

Specify laboratory tests.

Know the popular field tests , their use and
limitations.
Know key parts of a soils report.
 3
Budhu Importance

Various in situ and lab tests are available to determine the physical and
mechanical properties of soils.
You need to be able to specify appropriate tests for field and lab
investigations.
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Budhu Key terms
SPT is the standard penetration test.
CPT is cone penetrometer test.
N is the number of blows for the last 304-mm penetration of an SPT sampler.
Soil sensitivity (St) is the ratio of the intact strength to the disturbed strength.
qc is cone tip resistance.
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Budhu Soils lab tests

Purpose: to characterize Disturbed samples such as from a

standard sampler are usually used for
the physical and visual inspection and for tests to
determine the physical properties such as
mechanical (strength and plasticity and grain size and shape.
deformation) properties. Undisturbed samples such as from a thin-
walled sampler are used for both
Design parameters for physical and mechanical properties.
foundations, retaining walls Test results, especially those that relate
to the mechanical properties, are strongly
and slopes affected by sampling, handling,
transportation, and sample preparation
Suitability of soils as disturbances
construction materials
You will learn about tests and equipment in later chapters
 6

Budhu Lab tests

Laboratory tests are needed to

classify soils Laboratory tests can be
to determine strength, settlement, and divided into two classes.
stiffness parameters for design and
construction. Class I tests are tests to
Lab tests allow for better control of the determine the physical
test conditions applied to the soil than in properties
situ tests.
Class II tests are used to
Laboratory test samples are invariably
disturbed, and the degree of disturbance determine the mechanical
can significantly affect the test results. properties.
Sufficient care must be taken to reduce You will learn about these tests
testing disturbances. Laboratory tests can and how to interpret the results
be divided into two classes:
in later chapters of this
textbook.
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Budhu
Summary of Laboratory Tests to Determine Physical Properties
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Budhu
Summary of Laboratory Mechanical Tests
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Budhu Field or in situ test

In situ tests are used to identify Vane shear test (VST)

soils at a site and to provide soil
parameters for design Standard penetration test (SPT)
Quick results Cone penetrometer test (CPT)
Cost effective
Pressuremeter test (PMT)
Interpretation of results are
based on correlations with lab Flat plate dilatometer (DMT)
tests
Decision
In situ tools to be used
Frequency and location of tests
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Budhu In situ tests

Common Others
Vane shear test (VST) Pressuremeter (PMT)
Standard penetration Flat plate dilatometer
test (SPT) (DMT)
Cone penetrometer test
(CPT)
 11

Budhu Vane shear test (VST)

Undrained shear
strength of fine-grained
soils
Sensitivity
Tmax
St
Tr
Tmax = maximum torque
Tr = residual torque
 12

Budhu SPT

Soil type, density, strength and

stiffness correlated to N (correlation
is generally weak).
Correct N

Ncor CRSBE N
where CR, CS, CB, and CE are correction
factors for rod length, sampler type,
bore hole diameter, and rod energy
correction, respectively. Additional
correction factors will be discussed later
 13

Budhu SPT

The SPT is very useful for Test performance errors include

determining changes in stratigraphy faulty method of lifting and dropping the
and locating bedrock. hammer
improper cleaning of the bottom of the
You can inspect the soil in the split borehole before the test commences
spoon sampler to describe the soil not maintaining the groundwater level, if
profile and extract disturbed one is encountered.
samples for laboratory tests. These errors give N values that are not
The SPT is simple and quick to representative of the soil.
perform. SPT tests are unreliable for coarse
gravel, boulders, soft clays, silts, and
The equipment is widely available mixed soils containing boulders, cobbles,
and can penetrate dense materials. clays, and silts.
 14

Budhu Correction of SPT N values

The rod energy ratio is the A composite correction factor, CRSBE

ratio of the energy delivered CRSBE CR CSCBCE
to the split spoon sampler to
the free-falling energy of the Correction factors
CR - rod length
hammer. The corrected N CB - sampler type and bore hole
values are denoted as N60 diameter
and given as CE - energy correction
(another is CN for overburden
pressure. Will discuss later.)
ER
N 60 N r NCE The corrected N value is
60
Ncor CRSBE N
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Budhu Correction factors for SPT

Correction
factor Item Correction factor
CR Rod length (below CR 0.8; L 4 m
anvil) CR 0.05L 0.61; 4 m L 6 m
CR 0.0004 L2 0.017 L 0.83; 6 m L 20 m
CR 1; L 20 m
L rod length
CS Standard sampler CS 1.0
U.S. sampler without CS 1.2
liners
CB Borehole diameter:
65 mm to 115 mm CB 1.0
(2.5 in. to 4.5 in.)
152 mm (6 in.) CB 1.05
200 mm (8 in.) CB 1.15
 16

Budhu Correction factors for SPT

Correction
factor Item Correction factor
CE Equipment:
Safety hammer (rope,
without Japanese
throw
release) CE 0.7 1.2
Donut hammer (rope,
without Japanese
throw
release) CE 0.5 1.0
Donut hammer (rope,
with
Japanese throw CE 1.1 1.4
release)
Automatic-trip hammer
(donut or safety type) CE 0.8 1.4
 17

Budhu
Compactness of Coarse-Grained Soils Based on N Values

N Compactness
04 Very loose
410 Loose
1030 Medium
3050 Dense
> 50 Very dense
 Example: Correcting SPT Values
18

Budhu

The blow counts for an SPT test at a depth of 6 m in a coarse-

grained soil at every 0.152 m are 8, 12, and 15. A donut
automatic trip hammer and a standard sampler were used in a
borehole 152 mm in diameter.
(a) Determine the N value.
(b) Correct the N value for rod length, sampler type, borehole
size, and energy ratio to 60%.
(c) Make a preliminary description of the compactness of the
soil.
 19

Budhu Solution: SPT

Step 1: Add the last two blow counts.

N 12 15 27
Step 2: Apply correction factors.
Table on STP correction factors
CR = 0.05L + 0.61 = 0.91 for L = 6 m
CS = 1 for standard sample
CB = 1.05 for borehole diameter = 0.152 m
CE = 0.8 to 1.4 for automatic trip hammer; use CE = 1
= RSBE = 0.91 1.0 1.05 1 27 = 26
 20

Budhu Solution: SPT

Step 3: Describe the compactness.

From table, the soil is medium.
N Compactness
04 Very loose
410 Loose
1030 Medium
3050 Dense
> 50 Very dense
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Budhu CPT

Cone with a base area of 10 cm2 and

cone angle of 60 attached to a rod.
The thrusts required to drive the cone and
the sleeve into the ground at a rate of 2
cm/s are measured independently so that
the end resistance or cone resistance, qc,
and side friction or sleeve resistance, qsl,
may be estimated separately.
Piezocone (uCPT or CPTu) is a cone
penetrometer that has porous elements
inserted into the cone or sleeve to allow
for porewater pressure measurements.
 22

Budhu CPT

CPT results are average values of the soil CPT is quick to perform, with fewer
resistance over a length of about 10 cone performance errors compared with SPT.
diametersabout 5 diameters above the tip
plus about 5 diameters below the tip. It can provide continuous records of soil
In layered soils, the soil resistances measured conditions.
by the cone may not represent individual CPT cannot be used in dense, coarse-
layers, especially thin layers ( < 5 cone grained soils (e.g., coarse gravel,
diameters). boulders) and mixed soils containing
The cone resistance is influenced by boulders, cobbles, clays, and silts.
stress level, The cone tip is prone to damage from
soil density, contact with dense objects.
stratigraphy,
The more sophisticated uCPT and CPTu
soil mineralogy

usually require specialists to perform and
soil type to interpret the results.
soil fabric.
 23

Budhu Example: CPT

The tip resistance (qc) 0 50 100

qc (MPa)
150 200 250 300

from a CPT is shown.

0

Draw an equivalent 6

Depth (m)
composite distribution of
8

10

qc with depth. 12

14

How many distinct layers

16

18

are present based on the

equivalent composite
distribution?
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Budhu Solution: CPT

qc (MPa)
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
0

4
Approximately 9
6 distinct (strength)
layers
Depth (m)

10

12

14

16

18
 25

Budhu Key Points

A number of tools are available for soil

exploration. You need to use judgment as to
the type that is appropriate for a given
project.
Significant care and attention to details are

necessary to make the results of a soils

investigation meaningful.
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Budhu Soils report

A clear, concise, and accurate report of the site investigation

must be prepared. The report should contain at a minimum
the following:
A document (often a letter) authorizing the investigation.
A summary of the work done and recommendations (about
one page).
Scope of work.
Description of the site including geological and
hydrogeological conditions.
 27

Budhu Soils report

Details of the types of investigation conducted

soiland groundwater information including lab and
field test results
assumptions and limitations of the investigation

possible construction difficulties.

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Budhu Soils report

A log of each boring

should be performed by
the geotechnical field
personnel.
Boring log -summarize
the soil data.

Courtesy: Canadian Geotechnical Journal. Redrawn from Blanchet et al., 1980)

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Budhu Boring log information

Name of project and location, Depths at which samples or in situ

including street name. tests were conducted, with sample or
Location of boringstation and test numbers.
offset. Soil classification of each stratum.
Date boring was performed. Depth to water (if encountered).
Surface elevation.
Depth and thickness of each stratum,
with fill pattern to quickly identify
different soil types. A legend of the
fill pattern must be included in the
soils report.
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Budhu Soils report

Analysis and interpretation of the data collected.

Recommendations for design and construction, with
discussions of any special provisions.
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Budhu Summary

At a project site, the soils must be identified and

characterized through a soils investigation. Such an
investigation is done in phases and may include
geophysical investigations, boreholes, and field and
laboratory tests. At the completion of a soils
investigation, the client normally requires a carefully
written report.
 This series of lecture slides are to be used only with Muni Budhu Soil Mechanics Fundamentals, 1 st Ed., WILEY Blackwell, John Wiley & Sons, Oxford, UK . Copyright 2015
32

On your own:
1. Practice problem solving from textbook

NEXT LECTURE:
BOOK CHAPTER: 4
SECTION: 4.0 4.3

Developed by: Professor Muniram Budhu

Email: muni@yourlabs.com info@yourlabs.com