Topic 1:

Introduction
To Geotechnic
Introduction Introduction
To Geotechnic To Geotechnic

Code : CC304

Courses : Geotechnic 1

Presented by :
Norhazizi bin Abdul Muthalib
 Content :- Introduction to Geotechnic
1.1 Soil mechanics in general
• Identify soil mechanic in general.
• Define the engineering aspects of soil.
• Define the use of soil mechanics.
1.2 The types of rocks and examples of rocks found in Malaysia
• Explain igneous rock.
• Explain sedimentation rock.
• Explain metamorphic rock.
1.3 The formation process of soil and examples of areas of soils that can be
found in Malaysia
• Explain the organic topsoil.
• Explain the residual soil.
• Explain the transported soil.
1.4 Understand site investigation
• Describe the objectives of site investigation.
• Explanation on the work procedure in site investigation
1.5 In-situ soil testing
• Explain in-situ soil testing including:
a. Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
b. Cone Penetration Test (CPT)
c. Plat Bearing Testing
d. Trial Pit.
• Determine the ground water table using water pressure
measurement methods includes straight pipe and piezometer.
1.6 Understand the contents of the Site Investigation Report
• Explain the contents of the Site Investigation Report.
• Analyse the borehole log.
 What Is Soil Mechanic

• Soil is formed in layers due to the physical,

chemical, and biological processes that
include transformation of soil materials.

• Soil mechanics is basically the study of soil

and its properties in regard to construction
purposes.
 Soil Mechanic In General

• Soil mechanics is a discipline of civil engineering that

predicts the soil performance characteristics utilizing the
engineering techniques of dynamics, fluid mechanics,
and other technologies. Soil mechanics includes the
study of soil composition, strength, consolidation, and
the use of hydraulic principles to deal with issues
concerning sediments and other deposits.
• Soil mechanics is one of the major sciences for resolving
problems related to geology and geophysical
engineering.
Problems Related To Geology And Geophysical
Engineering.
 Soil Mechanic In General

• Soil mechanics studies are very important for civil

engineers because based on the findings of soil
mechanics studies, engineering structures are
constructed.
• The type of construction, type of equipment to be
used, type of foundation, support material, and many
other aspects of construction works are largely
affected by the soil mechanics studies. Basically we
study about soil formation modes, physical and
chemical properties of soil, dynamic loading of soils,
permeability, consolidation, etc.
Engineering
Structure
Types Of Rocks And Example Rocks Found In Malaysia

• Definition of rock
– Relatively hard, naturally formed mineral or
petrified
– A naturally formed aggregate of mineral
matter constituting a significant part of the
earth’s crust
• Type of rock
– Igneous rock
– Sedimentary rock
– Metamorphic rock
 Igneus Rock
• Intrusive igneous rocks form when magma (molten
rock beneath the Earth’s surface) solidifies, and are
made up of crystals, which can be aligned or layered.
• Volcanic rocks are extrusive and form when lava
solidifies, they may contain glass, gas bubbles, or show
flow structure
• Grain size : 2 – 5 mm, phenocrysts to 10 cm
• Essential components : Biotite, muscovite, hornblend
• Common igneous rock in Malaysia : Granite,
microgranite and basalt.
Igneus Rock
Quartz

Feldspar

Hornblend
 Sedimentary Rock
• Produced by the movement of water or wind
• There are two groups : detrital & chemical/organic
• Detrital : result from the settling of rock grains,
arranged in order of decreasing grain size. Eg:
Sandstone
• Chemical/organic : produced by water-deposited
chemicals or from organic remains. Eg: Limestone,
Chert,
• Common types of sedimentary rocks in Malaysia:
Limestone, Sandstone, Conglomerate, Breccia,
Siltstone, Clay, Shale and Coal
 Sedimentary rock

Sandstone Siltstone Shale

Breccia Conglomerate
 Metamorphic rock

• Is the transformation of rocks by heat and

pressure
• High-grade metamorphic rocks form deep in
the Earth’s crust, where temperature and
pressure are high
• Low-grade rocks form at shallower depths
• Common metamorphic rocks in Malaysia
•Marble
•Slate
•Schist
•Quarzite
 Rock Description

 According to MS 2038 :
a) Material characteristics
i) Strength
ii) Structure
iii) Colour (refer Monsul Colour Chart)
iv) Texture
v) Grain size
vi) Rock name (in capital, e.g. “GRANITE”)
b) General information
i) Additional information and minor constituents
ii) Geological formation
c) Mass characteristics
i) State of weathering
ii) Discontinuities
iii) Fracture state
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 Metamorphic rock

Slate Marble

Gneiss Quarzite
 What is Soil ?
• Soil is a thin layer of material on the Earth's surface in which
plants have their roots. It is made up of many things, such as
weathered rock and decayed plant and animal matter. Soil is
formed over a long period of time.
• For engineering purposes soil is define “as any uncemented
or weakly cemented accumulation of mineral particles
formed by the weathering of rocks, the void space between
the particles containing water and/or air”.
• Soil formation takes place when many things interact, such as
air, water, plant life, animal life, rocks, and chemicals.
 The Formation Process
of Soil
• The formation of soil happens over a very long period of
time. It can take 1000 years or more. Soil is formed from
the weathering of rocks and minerals. The surface rocks
break down into smaller pieces through a process of
weathering and is then mixed with moss and organic
matter. Over time this creates a thin layer of soil. Plants
help the development of the soil. How?
• The plants attract animals, and when the animals die,
their bodies decay. Decaying matter makes the soil thick
and rich. This continues until the soil is fully formed. The
soil then supports many different plants.
 Type of Soil
a) Residual soils:
These are formed in-situ by weathering of the original rock
strata. Residual soils can be formed from Igneous, Sedimentary
and Metamorphic rocks. Weathering may be incomplete,
structure may be meta-stable, exhibiting strength loss on
disturbance.
b) Transported soils:
These are formed from particles that have been removed from
rocks, then transported and deposited away from the original
source.
c) Organic soils:
Soils formed with a large percentage of organic matter within
the soil.
 Residual Soil
• Process of formation :
– Chemical weathering of parent
rock with little or no movement
of particles
• Nature of deposits:
– Product of complete weathering
is a clay whose type depends
mainly on the weathering
process
– Products of partial weathering
are more stoney and depend
more on rock type
– Soil becomes more compact,
more stoney and less weathered
with increasing depth
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• The transported soils may be classified into several groups,
depending on their mode of transportation and deposition:
i. Glacial soils - Formed by transportation and deposition of
glaciers.
ii. Alluvial soils - Transported by running water and deposition
along streams
iii. Lacustrine soils - formed by deposition in quiet lakes.
iv. Marine soils - formed by deposition in the seas
v. Aeolian soils - transported and deposited by wind
v i . C o l l u v i a l s o i l s - Formed by movement of soil from its
original place by gravity such as during landslides
Braja M. Das (2002)
T
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 Organic Soil
• Process of formation
– Formed in place by growth
and decay of plants

• Nature of deposits
– Peats are dark coloured,
fibrous or amorphous and
highly compressible
– Mixture of fine sediment
and organic matter
produce organic silts and
clays

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 Soil Description

• Follow MS 2038 : 2006

– Density / compactness / strength (based on SPT N-value)
– *Discontinuity
– Bedding
– Colour (Consult Munsel Soil Colour Charts)
– Composite soil types (mixture of basic soil type)
– Particle shapes & size
– Principle soil type (Gravel/Sand/Silt/Clay)
– Visual identification
– Minor constituents
– *Stratum name

*Rarely describe 25
 Introduction

• Site investigation (SI) is a process of site

exploration to obtain geotechnical information for
a safe, practical and economical geotechnical
evaluation and design.
• Generally it is an exploration or discovery of the
ground conditions especially on untouched site.
 Introduction

 The main purpose of site investigation is to

determine
 The depth and thickness of soil strata
 The compositions of each subsoil stratum
 The depth and type of rock
 The depth and composition of groundwater
 The strength, compressibility and hydraulic
characteristics of soil strata

(Sometimes it is also known as geotechnical

investigation.)
 The Importance of Site Investigation

• To study the general suitability of the site for

an engineering project.
• To enable a safe, practical and economic
design to be prepared.
• To determine the possible difficulties that may
be encountered by a specific construction
method for any particular civil project.
• To study the suitability of construction
material (soil or rock).
 Lack of Site Investigation

Lack of geotechnical processes will lead to a:

 Failures where many case histories are available.
 Significant delay and increase in construction costs
when the design has to be revised or amended.
Generally the elimination of the site investigation will not
safe the cost of the project thus it only comprise from
only 0.1% to 5% of the project cost.
In fact most frequent claims in civil engineering
contracts are on the basis on inadequate SI or
obstructions resulting in extra costs which could not
reasonably have been foreseen by an experience
contractor.
Presint 9, Putrajaya

Ulu Yam Perdana

Taman Bukit Segar, Cheras

Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur

 Work Procedure for Site Investigation
 Steps of work involved in the site investigation:
 Desk Study – to collect all the relevant data and
information
 Reconnaissance of site investigation
 Planning program after reviewing the above
 Ground or soil exploration including boring, sampling
and testing
 Laboratory testing (also field if necessary)
 Preparation and documentation of SI report
 Engineering design stages
 Review during construction and monitoring
 WORK PROCEDURE FOR S.I
The following details facilitating SI planning should be
submitted to laboratory when requesting for
Site Investigation works:
 Planning & scope of Site Investigation :

a. Selecting the methods of site investigation based on the

principle and guidelines stipulated in BS5930
b. Estimating the cost and time requirement
c. Determining number of boreholes or other field tests
including the location of test, procedure and others
d. Determining the frequency and types of insitu testing and
sampling in each borehole
e. Determining the extend of supervision on testing and
boring
f. Preparing list of special precautions for the site
investigation supervisor at site if any
g. Preparing the scheme of laboratory testing after analysis
of borelogs
 Site Investigation includes 2 parts mainly:

 Surface Investigations
 Site inspection to assess general site conditions if there is
any anticipated problems that might arise during the
construction later on.
 Usually the engineer is required to inspect the site to
appreciate actual site and ground problems with particular
reference to terrain, vegetation, swamps, water runoff,
stratighaphical formations where it is exposed.

 Subsurface Investigations
 Ground or soil investigation by means of boring, sampling,
testing and etc and also to determine the stratigraphy and
pertinent properties of soil underlying the project site.
 Steps of Site Investigation
 Soil Investigations consists of :
 Boring
 Refers to drilling or advancing a hole in the ground.
 The test would include hand auger, motorized hand
boring (wash boring), deep boring (rotary boring),
and/or trial pits.
 Sampling
 Refers to removing soil from the hole.
 The samples can be classified as disturbed or
undisturbed sampling.
 Disturbed samples are usually used for soil grain-size
analysis, determination of liquid limit, specific gravity
of soil as well as compaction test and California
bearing ratio (CBR).
 Steps of Site Investigation

 Testing

 Refers to determining the properties from the soil.

 The test can be perform either at laboratory or at
field.

 Laboratory testing would normally be moisture

content, sieve analysis, liquid limit, compaction test,
CBR and so forth.

 Filed test would include Standard Penetration Test

(SPT), Cone Penetration Test (CPT),Plat Bearing Test,
Trial Test and Vane Shear test.
BOREHOLE
LOGGING

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 BOREHOLE LOGGING
SPT Value for each
75mm penetration
Density/Compactness/Strength Sample Number
Colour (Munsel Chart)
Sample Depth

Sample Recovery (%)

Composite Soil Type SPT Value / Total
Soil Classification Depth of
Principal Soil Type (BS 1377) Penetration

Soil Pattern
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 Summary
Hence, SI is an important early detection
exercise that tries to UNDERTSAND the soil in all
its form to enable Designers to manipulate and
design structures on them effectively.

It must be carried out and reported

systematically to ensure that the results are
viable.
 Standard Specification
• Normal reference
– BS 5930
– MS 2038
– BS 1377
– MS 1056
• Other good reference
– Hong Kong Guide

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 THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENTION