GENERAL TECHNICAL NOTES

FOR SITE INVESTIGATION WORKS

MALAYSIAN SITE INVESTIGATORS ASSOCIATION

Compiled by MSIA
From references and contributors

APPENDIX A – GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN CRITERIA FOR ROAD WORKS

APPENDIX B - LIST OF LABORATORY & INSITU TESTS

APPENDIX C – LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS / SYMBOLS

APPENDIX D - APPLICABILITY OF COMMON FIELD OR INSITU TESTS

APPENDIX D1- SCOPE OF SI AND SI METHODS

APPENDIX E – COMMON SAMPLERS

APPENDIX F - LIST OF STANDARD SIZES OF DRILLING RODS. CORE BITS & CASING

APPENDIX G – QUALITY OF SAMPLES (AFTER ROWE)

APPENDIX H - GUIDELINES FOR PREPARATION OF SUMMARY OF SCOPE OF SI WORKS

(DESIGN OF SCOPE OF SI FOR ROAD PROJECTS)

Figure 1 - FLOW-CHART FOR SI WORKS

 APPENDIX A

GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN CRITERIA FOR ROAD WORKS

DESIGN COMPONENT MODE OF FAILURE MINIMUM DESIGN MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE MOVEMENTS
FACTOR OF LIFE
SAFETY (durability
of materials)

VERTICAL LATERAL DIFFERENTIAL

1. Unreinforced Slopes 1.1 Local & global stability 1.20 75 yrs Analysis should be according to GEOTECHNICAL MANUAL FOR SLOPES
(cut & fill slopes) (1984), GEO Hong Kong
1.2 Bearing (fill) 2.0

2. Reinforced or treated 2.1 Local & global stability 1.50 75 yrs

slopes (not on soft (cut & fill slopes)
ground) 2.2 Bearing (fill) 1.5

3. Permanent Anchors 3.1 Tensile Resistance 2.0 75 yrs Geo Spec 1 (1989), GEO Hong Kong
3.2 Resistance at Soil BS 8081
Grout Interface 3.0
3.3 Creep/corrosion

4. Rigid Retaining 4.1 Overturning 1.8 75 yrs 15 mm along 15 mm along 1:150

Structures 4.2 Sliding 1.6 face of wall face of wall along face of wall
4.3 Overall Stability 1.5 Geoguide 1 (1983), GEO Hong Kong
4.4 Bearing 2.0

5. Reinforced fill walls/ External Stability 1:100

structures BS 8006 120 yrs ±5mm per metre height ±15mm from reference alignment along face of wall

Internal Stability

6. Individual Foundation 6.1 Shaft Resistance 2.0 75 yrs 12 mm along axis of pile
Piles (mainly under axial at pile head at design load.
loads) 38 mm or 10% pile size
at pile head at twice design load.

6.2 Base Resistance 2.0 BS 8004

7. Individual Foundation Ultimate lateral 2.5 75 yrs 12 mm along axis of pile 12 mm perpendicular to axis of
loads (mainly under lateral & Resistance at pile head at design load pile at design load
bending loads perpendi-
cular to axist of pile) BS 8004

8. Pile group Block Bearing Capacity 2.0 75 yrs 12 mm at Working Load 10 mm

BS 8004

9. Piles as retaining As for 4, 6 & 7 above As for 75 yrs

structures individual As 4 above for rigid retaining structures
foundation BS 8004
piles

10. Embankment on Soft 11.1 Bearing (short term) 1.4 75 yrs - Total post construction settlement < 400 mm
Ground 11.2 Local & global slope 1.2 - 5 years post construction settlement < 100 mm (or 10% of estimated ultimate settlement)
stability (long term) (For embankment within 10 m from bridge abutment, the above settlement criteria should be reduced to 15%).
 APPENDIX B

LIST OF LABORATORY & INSITU TESTS

1. Soil Classification Tests: BS 1377: Part 2: 1990

Moisture content, Liquid limit, Plastic limit, Plasticity index, linear shrinkage, particle size distribution.
(These tests are from disturbed samples such as split spoon samplers (SPT), bulk samples, etc.).

2. Chemical & Electro-chemical Tests: BS 1377 Part 3: 1990

Organic matter content, Mass loss on ignition, Sulphate content of soil and ground water, Carbonate
content, Chloride content, Total dissolved solids, pH value, Resistivity and Redox potential.

3. Compaction-related Tests: BS 1377: Part 4

(These tests are from bulk samples)

3.1 Dry density - moisture relationship (2.5 kg/4.5 kg hammer)

- Soil with some coarse gravels
- vibrating method
3.2 Moisture condition value (MCV)
3.3 CBR tests

4.* Compressibility, Permeability and Durability Tests: BS 1377: Part 5

4.1 1-D consolidation test

4.2 Swelling and collapse tests
4.3 Permeability by constant head
4.4 Dispersibility

5.* Consolidation & Permeability Tests in Hydraulic Cells &

with pore pressure measurements: BS 1377: Part 6

5.1 Consolidation Properties using hydraulic cell

5.2 Permeability in hydraulic consolidation cell
5.3 Isotropic consolidated properties using triaxial cell
5.4 Permeability in a triaxial cell

6.* Shear Strength Tests (Total Stress) BS 1377: Part 7

6.1 Lab vane shear

6.2 Direct shear box (small)
6.3 Direct shear box (large)
6.4 Residual strength
6.5 Undrained shear strength (UU)
6.6 Undrained shear strength (multi loading)

7.* Shear Strength Tests (Effective Stress) BS 1377: Part 8

7.1 CIU with pore pressure measurement

7.2 CD with pore pressure measurement

8. Insitu Tests: BS 1377: Part 9

Field Density (cone, sand replacement & balloon), CBR, SPT, Plate Bearing, Vane shear (Acker,
Geonor, cylindrical), DS (Static Dutch Cone), Piezocone Test, etc.

* These tests are from undisturbed samples (thin wall samplers, piston samplers, Mazier samplers, block
samples etc).
 APPENDIX C

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS/SYMBOLS

ACEM = Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia

ASTM = American Society For Testing And Meterials
BS = British Standard
BQ = Bills of Quantities
Cc = Compression Index
Cv = Coef. of Consolidation
C1 = Effective Cohesion
Cu = Cohesion
CBR = California Bearing Ratio
CIDB = Construction Industry Development Board
CU = Consolidated Undrained Triaxial Test
CD = Consolidated Drained Triaxial Test
CIUC = Consolidated Undrained Compression Triaxial Test With Pore Pressure
Measurement (Effective stress)
CIUE = - Ditto - extension
CkoUC = Consolidated Undrained Compression At Ko Conditions
DB = Deep Boring (rotary drilling)
DS = Deep Sounding (Static Dutch Cone Penetrometer)
GL = Ground Level
HA = Hand Auger
HMLC = 65 mm Triple Tube Core Barrel (DCMA)
IEM = Institution of Engineers Malaysia
JKR = Jabatan Kerja Raya
LL = Liquid Limit
M/C = Moisture Content
Mv = Coef. of Compressibility
MHB = Motorized Hand Boring (Wash Boring/Percussion Drilling)
MS = Malaysian Standard
NW = N Size Casing (101.6 mm diam)
NMLC = 52 mm Triple Tube Core Barrel (DCMA)
P.Eng = Professional Engineer registered with Board of Engineers Malaysia
pH = Acidity Index
PL = Plastic Limit
PI = Plasticity Index
Pc = Effective Preconsolidated Pressure
RL = Reduced Level
RQD = Rock Quality Designation
R/r = Recovery Ratio
SI = Site Investigation
SPT = Standard Penetration Test
TNW = 61 mm Double Tube Core Barrel (Atlas Copco)
UU = Unconsolidated Undrained Test gives undrained shear strength (total stresses)
UCS = Unconfined Compression Strength
WT = Water Table
 APPENDIX D

APPLICABILITY OF COMMON FIELD OR INSITU TESTS

FIELD TESTS Soil Soil Rock SOIL TYPE SOIL PARAMETERS

type Profile H.Rock S.Rock Gr Sand Silt Clay Peat Ø Cu Mv Cv K

1. Penetrometer

1.1 JKR Probe X C X X C B B B B X B X X X

1.2 SPT A B X B B A A A A B B X X X
1.3 DS (CPT) B A X X B A A A A C B C C X
1.4 Piezocone (CPTU) A A X X A A A A A B B A A B
1.5 Flat Dilatometer B A X X C A A A A B B C C X
1.6 Resistivity Probe C C X X C A A A A B C X X X

2 Vane Shear B C X X X X B A B X A X X X

3 PB Pressuremeter B B C A B B B A B X B B C X

4 SB Pressuremeter B B C B B B B A B B B B B B

5. Continuous Soil Sampling A A X B B A A A A C B B B C

Legends:-
A = suitable/useful
B = moderate
C = doubtful
X = not suitable
φ = effective frictional angle K = coef. of permeability
Cu = undrained strength
Mv = coef. of volume compressibility
Cv = coef. of consolidation
 APPENDIX D1
SCOPE OF SI & SI METHODS

Geophysical Geophysical Sounding Boring and Sampling Ground Loading

Fill Inspection/ Walk-Over Survey

survey Logging water Test
Boring and Rock-core

Pumping or Permeability Test

Dutch Cone Penetration Test

Variation in Ground Water

SI Method Seismic Electric soil sampling boring

Packer Test/Seepage
Flat Dilatometer Test

Pressuremeter Test
Plate/Loading Test

Horizontal Boring
In Situ Vane Test

Double or Triple Tube

Test Pit/Trench
P. Wave Refraction

S. Wave Refraction

JKR Probe

Continuous Foil
Reflection

Nucleonic

Hand Augering

Thin Wall Tube

Piezocon
PS Wave

Pressure
Velocity

Electric

Level
Horizontal

Horizontal
(DS)

SPT

Sampling

Inclined
Vertical

Vertical
Scope & purpose of SI
by type of road structure

Identify soil & rock weathering profile A A B A B B B A B A B

suitability of construction material survey A B B B B B A A A
subgrade investigation rock B B
Cut

(after excavation) soil B B B A B A

Stability rock A B B A B B B B A B
soil A B B B B B B B A B B B A B B A B B B B A B
Borrow Pit

Identify soil & rock weathering profile A B B B B B A B B A B

suitability of construction material survey A B B B B A A B A B

surface deposit A A B B B B A A B B A B B B B
Tunnel

rock property (strength, etc) A A B A A A B B A A B A B B A

geologic strata (fault, etc) A A B B B A A A A A B B A A A B B B A
see-page B B A A B B A B B A B B A B A
tulus B B A B B
mountainous sand gravel B B A B B
sandy soil B B B A B B
clayey soil B B B A B B B B
rolling/flat sandy soil B B B B B A B B
Fill

clayey soil B B B B B B A A B B
sandy soil A A A B A B B B A B
flat (soft) clayey soil A A A B A A B A A A B
peat A A A B A B B A A A B
foundation for pipe culvert, retaining wall (toe wall <2m) A B B B B A B A B B B B
structures with mountainous/rolling B B A B B B A B A
small-medium flat (general) B A B B A B B A B B A
scale flat (soft) B A B ** A B A A A
supporting strata B B A B A B B B A B A A
mountainous excavation B B A B A B A A A
Structure

structures /rolling large scale excavation B B A B A B A B A A A

with supporting strata B B B B A B B A B A B B A B A
large flat (general) excavation B B B B A B B A B A B B A B A A
scale excavation below water level B B B B A B B A B A A A A
supporting strata B A A A B A A B A B A
flat (soft) excavation B A A B B A A A B A A
excavation below water level A A B B A A A A B A

A : applicable
B : supplementary or may be applicable
 APPENDIX E
COMMON SAMPLERS

TYPE OF SAMPLERS REMARKS

1. OPEN DRIVE SAMPLERS 1. No piston; penetration by static thrust or

1.1 Split-spoon for SPT dynamic impact; suitable for almost all
1.2 Thin-wall sampler types of soils except gravelly soils or
1.3 Thick wall sampler hard/dense materials.
(50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 150mm).

2. THIN-WALL SAMPLER WITH 2. The most reliable sampler to procure

STATIONARY PISTON undisturbe soft to stiff cohesive soils; area
(50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 150mm) ratio is usually about 10%. The inside
clearance ratio shall be 0.5 to 1%. Mainly
for shear strength & consolidation tests.

3. DENISON SAMPLER 3. No piston; suitable for stiff to very stiff

(Double tube with thin wall tube) cohesive soil and sandy soil (SPT = 4-20);
open drive sampler

4. MAZIER SAMPLER 4. Triple tube sampler; usual core size 74mm

(74mm) diam & PW casing is required; air foam
drilling technique is preferred to procure
high quality undisturbed samples from
residual soils. Not suitable for gravelly
soils.

5. FOIL CONTINUOUS SAMPLERS 5. With stationary piston; suitable for minor

(DELFT 29mm, 66mm OR SWEDISH stratification ie sand seams because of
SAMPLER 68mm diam) continuous samples of 5 to 8m can be
procured.

Continuous samples for soil fabrics &

stratigraphical or profiling evaluation etc.

6. BLOCK SAMPLING 6. Blocks of soil (200 to 350mm cubes) cut

from test pits; Need careful sealing and
handling. Mainly for triaxial, shear box &
permeability tests.

7. ROTARY ROCK CORE SAMPLERS 7. Double tube core barrels for strong rock
(Grade 1 or 2): 30mm; 42mm; 54mm;
TNW, 61mm; T2-76, 62mm.

Triple tube core barrels for fractured rock;

HMLC, 52mm; HMLC, 64mm

Notes:
1. Std. sampler size (UK): 50, 75, 100, 150, 250 mm diam
Std. sampler size (US): 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2, 3, 4, 5 inches diam

2. Samples should be labeled, handled, transported and extruded carefully in accordance with BS 5930.
 APPENDIX F

LIST OF STANDARD SIZES OF DRILLING RODS.

CORE BITS & CASING

ASTMD2113
DCMA
E,A,B,N,H,P = 1 1/2", 2", 3", 4", 5"

TABLE 1 Core Bit Sizes

__________________________________________________
Outside Diameter Inside Diameter
_______________ _______________
Size Designation in mm In mm
__________________________________________________
Core size RWT 1.16 29.5 0.375 18.7 WF series (BS4019)
(mm) EWT 1.47 37.3 0.905 22.9 WT series (CDDA)
T2-76 62 EWG, EWM 1.47 37.3 0.845 21.4 WM series (DCMA)
Double TNW 61 AWT 1.88 47.6 1.282 32.5 Craelius T or K series
Tube T2-101 84 AWG, AWM 1.88 47.6 1.185 30.0 (Atlas Copco)
T6-101 79 BWT 2.35 59.5 1.750 44.5
BWG, BWM 2.35 59.5 1.655 42.0
NMLC 52 NWT 2.97 75.3 2.313 58.7
Triple HMLC 64 NWG, NWM 2.97 75.3 2.155 54.7
Tube 3C-MLC 76 2 3/4 x 3 7/8 3.84 97.5 2.69 68.3
C-MLC 102 HWT 3.89 98.8 3.187 80.9
HWG, ... 3.89 98.8 3.000 76.2
4 x 5 1/2 5.44 138.0 3.97 100.8
6 x 7 3/4 7.66 194.4 5.97 151.6
__________________________________________________
K3 - 76 48
Tb - 76 57
K3 - 86 58

TABLE 2 Casing Sizes

______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Size Designation Outside Diameter Inside Diameter Will Fit Hole Drilled with
_______________ _______________ Threads per in. Core Bit Size
in mm in mm
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
RW 1.144 36.5 1.19 30.1 5 EWT, EWG, EWM
EW 1.81 46.0 1.50 38.1 4 AWT, AWG, AWM
AW 2.25 57.1 1.91 48.4 4 BWT, BWG, BWM
BW 2.88 73.0 2.38 60.3 4 NWT, NWG, NWM
NW 3.50 88.9 3.00 76.2 4 HWT, HWG
HW 4.50 114.3 4.00 101.6 4 4 x 5 1/2
PW 5.50 139.7 5.00 127.0 3 6 x 7 3/4
SW 6.63 168.2 6.00 152.4 3 6 x 7 3/4
UM 7.63 193.6 7.00 177.8 2 ...
ZW 8.63 219.0 8.00 203.2 2 ...
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

TABLE 3 Drill Rods

______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Size Designation Rod and Coupling Outside Rod Inside Diameter Coupling Bore, Threads
______________________ ______________________ ____________________________
in mm in mm in mm per in
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
RW 1.09 27.7 0.72 18.2 0.41 10.3 4
EW 1.38 34.9 1.00 25.4 0.44 11.1 3
AW 1.72 43.6 1.34 34.1 0.63 15.8 3
BW 2.13 53.9 1.75 44.4 0.75 19.0 3
NW 2.63 66.6 2.25 57.1 1.38 34.9 3
HW 3.50 88.9 3.06 77.7 2.38 60.3 3
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
 APPENDIX G

QUALITY OF SAMPLES (AFTER ROWE)

Quality Properties Purpose Typical Sampling

Class Procedure

1 - Remoulded properties Laboratory data on Piston thin walled

- Fabric in situ soils sampler with water
- Water content (classification tests balance
- Density and porosity & engineering
- Compressibility & deformation properties) Mazier sampler with
- Effective strength parameters foam drilling
- Total strength parameters
- Permeability* Block samples
- Consolidation*

2 - Remoulded properties Laboratory data on Pressed or driven

- Fabric in situ insensitive thin
- Water content soils or thick walled
- Density and porosity sampler with water
- Compressibility and balance
deformation*
- Effective strength parameters* Mazier sampler
- Total strength parameters*

3 - Remoulded properties Fabric examination Pressed or driven

- Fabric A * 100% recovery. and laboratory data thin or thick walled
Continuous on remoulded soils samplers. Water
B * 90% recovery. balance in highly
Consecutive permeable soils.

4 - Remoulded properties Laboratory data on Bulk and jar samples

remoulded soils. (from SPT split
Sequence of strata samplers)

5 None Aproximate Washings (washed

sequence samples)
of strata only

* Items changed from original German classification (7th. Int. Conf. Soil Mech. Foundn.
Engng. Mexico 1969).
 APPENDIX H

GUIDELINES FOR PREPARATION OF SUMMARY OF SCOPE OF SI WORKS

(DESIGN OF SCOPE OF SI FOR ROAD PROJECTS)

Summary of Scope of SI Works with the following details should be given to the SI
Contractor:

1. Brief project description and objectives of SI.

2. SI Methods & Locations (Scope of SI Works)

- Types & methods SI & the brief quantities should be summarized & indicated
- Locations of SI shown on Drawings should be indicated

3. Criteria of Terminating Boreholes

Criteria of terminating boreholes or other SI methods should be clearly indicated, eg,

in Cut Areas, in fill areas (in soft ground/swamp and residual soil areas) and in
structure areas.

4. Field testing & sampling criteria

Types & frequency of various field testing & sampling should be specified.

5. Laboratory Testing

Types of lab testing & the selection criteria of samples should be specified.

6. Special requirements

Special requirements about SI methods, testing & sampling if any should be clearly
mentioned. Method Statement for SI methods & tests plus works programme shall be
submitted to the Designer at least 3 working days before commencement of SI works.

* Example of Scope of SI Works for road project is enclosed.

* Scope of SI works are based on “Guidelines for planning SI works for Road Projects”
 Project Initiation

Preliminary Engineering Assessment

• Project Brief
• Scope of Works
• Design Criteria
• Define Project Work Plan

Preliminary Project Appraisal

• Desk Studies
• Site reconnaissance
• Preliminary SI

• Identify likely geotechnical issues & problems

• Determine design parameters required
NOT
• Prepare SI programme & budget
OK
NOT
OK
Send SI proposal to client for
approval

OK
• Design or determine scope of SI in detail (see Appendix H)
• Preparation of tender/contract documents, BQ & Spec.

Audit by Expert

OK
• Execute SI works programme
• Determine scope of Lab tests
• Direct, supervise and monitor SI Works by Designer

Yes

Additional SI ?

NO
Prepare factual SI report (SI Contractor)

Prepare factual SI interpretative report by Designer

Detail Geotechnical Design

End

Fig 1: Flow-chart for SI works