Geotechnical Investigation

Geotechnical investigation
Geotechnical investigations are performed by geotechnical engineers or engineering geologists

to obtain information on the physical properties of soil earthworks and foundations for proposed
structures and for repair of distress to earthworks and structures caused by subsurface conditions.
This type of investigation is called a site investigation. Additionally, geotechnical investigations
are also used to measure the thermal resistivity of soils or backfill materials required for
underground transmission lines, oil and gas pipelines, radioactive waste disposal, and solar
thermal storage facilities. A geotechnical investigation will include surface exploration and
subsurface exploration of a site. Sometimes, geophysical methods are used to obtain data about
sites. Subsurface exploration usually involves soil sampling and laboratory tests of the soil
samples retrieved.
Surface exploration can include geologic mapping, geophysical methods, and photogrammetry,
or it can be as simple as a geotechnical professional walking around on the site to observe the
physical conditions at the site.
To obtain information about the soil conditions below the surface, some form of subsurface
exploration is required. Methods of observing the soils below the surface, obtaining samples, and
determining physical properties of the soils and rocks include test pits, trenching (particularly for
locating faults and slide planes), boring, and in situ tests. These can also be used to identify
contamination in soils prior to development in order to avoid negative environmental impacts.[1]
SOIL SAMPLING
Borings come in two main varieties, large-diameter and small-diameter. Large-diameter borings
are rarely used due to safety concerns and expense but are sometimes used to allow a geologist
or an engineer to visually and manually examine the soil and rock stratigraphy in-situ. Small-
diameter borings are frequently used to allow a geologist or engineer to examine soil or rock
cuttings or to retrieve samples at depth using soil samples, and to perform in-place soil tests.
Soil samples are often categorized as being either disturbed or undisturbed; however,
"undisturbed" samples are not truly undisturbed. A disturbed sample is one in which the structure
of the soil has been changed sufficiently that tests of structural properties of the soil will not be
representative of in-situ conditions, and only properties of the soil grains (e.g., grain size
distribution, Atterberg limits, compaction characteristic of soil , to determine the general
lithology of soil deposits and possibly the water content) can be accurately determined. An
undisturbed sample is one where the condition of the soil in the sample is close enough to the
conditions of the soil in-situ to allow tests of structural properties of the soil to be used to
approximate the properties of the soil in-situ. Specimen obtained by undisturbed method is used
to determine the soil stratification, permeability, density, consolidation and other engineering
characteristics.
Offshore soil collection introduces many difficult variables. In shallow water, work can be done
off a barge. In deeper water a ship will be required. Deepwater soil samples are normally variants
of Kullenberg-type samplers, a modification on a basic gravity corer using a piston (Lunne and
Long, 2006). Seabed samplers are also available, which push the collection tube slowly into the
soil.
SOIL SAMPLERS
Soil samples are taken using a variety of samplers; some provide only disturbed samples, while
others can provide relatively undisturbed samples.
 Shovel. Samples can be obtained by digging out soil from the site. Samples taken this
way are disturbed samples.
 Trial Pits are relatively small hand or machine excavated tranches used to determine
groundwater levels and take disturbed samples from.
 Hand/Machine Driven Auger. This sampler typically consists of a short cylinder with a
cutting edge attached to a rod and handle. The sampler is advanced by a combination of
rotation and downward force. Samples taken this way are disturbed samples.
 Continuous Flight Auger. A method of sampling using an auger as a corkscrew. The
auger is screwed into the ground then lifted out. Soil is retained on the blades of the auger
and kept for testing. The soil sampled this way is considered disturbed.
 Split-spoon / SPT Sampler. Utilized in the 'Standard Test Method for Standard
Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils' (ASTM D 1586[2]). This
sampler is typically an 18"-30" long, 2.0" outside diameter (OD) hollow tube split in half
lengthwise. A hardened metal drive shoe with a 1.375" opening is attached to the bottom
end, and a one-way valve and drill rod adapter at the sampler head. It is driven into the
ground with a 140-pound (64 kg) hammer falling 30". The blow counts (hammer strikes)
required to advance the sampler a total of 18" are counted and reported. Generally used
for non-cohesive soils, samples taken this way are considered disturbed.
 Modified California Sampler. in the 'Standard Practice for Thick Wall, Ring-Lined, Split
Barrel, Drive Sampling ofSoils1' (ASTM D 3550). Similar in concept to the SPT
sampler, the sampler barrel has a larger diameter and is usually lined with metal tubes to
contain samples. Samples from the Modified California Sampler are considered disturbed
due to the large area ratio of the sampler (sampler wall area/sample cross sectional area).
 Shelby Tube Sampler. Utilized in the 'Standard Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling
of Soils for Geotechnical Purposes' (ASTM D 1587[3]). This sampler consists of a thin-
walled tube with a cutting edge at the toe. A sampler head attaches the tube to the drill
rod, and contains a check valve and pressure vents. Generally used in cohesive soils, this
sampler is advanced into the soil layer, generally 6" less than the length of the tube. The
vacuum created by the check valve and cohesion of the sample in the tube cause the
sample to be retained when the tube is withdrawn. Standard ASTM dimensions are; 2"
OD, 36" long, 18 gauge thickness; 3" OD, 36" long, 16 gauge thickness; and 5" OD, 54"
long, 11 gauge thickness. ASTM allows other diameters as long as they are proportional
to the standardized tube designs, and tube length is to be suited for field conditions. Soil
sampled in this manner is considered undisturbed.
 Piston samplers. These samplers are thin-walled metal tubes which contain a piston at the
tip. The samplers are pushed into the bottom of a borehole, with the piston remaining at
the surface of the soil while the tube slides past it. These samplers will return undisturbed
samples in soft soils, but are difficult to advance in sands and stiff clays, and can be
damaged (compromising the sample) if gravel is encountered. The Livingstone corer,
developed by D. A. Livingstone, is a commonly used piston sampler. A modification of
the Livingstone corer with a serrated coring head allows it to be rotated to cut through
subsurface vegetable matter such as small roots or buried twigs.
 Pitcher Barrel sampler. This sampler is similar to piston samplers, except that there is no
piston. There are pressure-relief holes near the top of the sampler to prevent pressure
buildup of water or air above the soil sample. Appropriate soil sample for this sampler are
clay, silt, sand, partially weathered rocks.

Geotechnical Investigation

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Geotechnical investigation

Geotechnical investigations are performed by geotechnical engineers or engineering geologists

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