METHODOLOGY FOR DETAILED

GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION
OF BRIDGE SITES
Desk Study
• Review of the scope of Work

• Consultation with all the stakeholders

• Collection of relevant documents, codes and standards, maps

• Determination of Investigation Methodology to be adopted

• Determination of outputs and deliverables required

• Preparation of schedule for field investigation, sample collection, lab

tests and reporting
Extent of Ground Exploration
• As per the scope of work
• Boring in Location of all the abutments and piers
• Depth of exploration:
• 20m for clayey and sandy soil site
• 16m for gravelly and rocky layer site
• Depth of water table
• After 1 hr in coarse cohesionless soil
• After 24 hr in silt and clay
• Insitu Permeability Test
• Lugeon Test
• Single Packer Test
• Double Packer Test

• Selection of appropriate field Test for various soil layers

• SPT (Standard Penetration Test): In all types soil except that with gravels, boulders
and rock.
• DCPT(Dynamic Penetration Test): In Gravel, boulder and rocky soil layers
Methods of Ground Exploration

• The methods to determine the sequence, thickness and

lateral extent of the soil strata and, where appropriate the
level of bedrock.

• Test Pit
• For grain size analysis to determine the scour depth
• Upto a depth of 2 meters

• Boring
 Rotary drilling
 Percussion boring
Percussion Drilling Method

In this technique, the

borehole is advanced by the
percussive action of the tool
which is alternately raised and
dropped (usually over a
distance of 1–2m) by means of
the winch unit.
Rotary Drilling Machine
 There are two forms of rotary drilling, open-hole drilling and
core drilling.
 Open-hole drilling, which is generally used in soils and weak rock,
uses a cutting bit to break down all the material within the diameter
of the hole. Open-hole drilling can thus be used only as a means of
advancing the hole: the drilling rods can then be removed to allow
tube samples to be taken or in-situ tests to be carried out.
 In core drilling, which is used in rocks and hard clays, the diamond bit
cuts an annular hole in the material and an intact core enters the
barrel, to be removed as a sample. However, the natural water
content of the material is liable to be increased due to contact with
the drilling fluid.
Rotary Drilling Machine
Field Tests
• SPT/DCPT Tests
• SPT (Standard Penetration Test): In all types soil except that with gravels,
boulders and rock.
• DCPT(Dynamic Penetration Test): In Gravel, boulder and rocky soil layers

• Water Table determination

• Insitu Permeability Test

 DETAILED SOIL INVESTIGATION
• Review of Methodologies to be used for field investigation, Lab Tests, Sample
collection and data/ test result analysis and interpretation
• Field Investigation
• IS:1892: Code of practice for subsurface investigation of foundation
• IS:1498: Classification and identification of soil for general engineering purpose
• IS:2131: Method of standard penetration test for soil
• IS:2132: Methods for collecting undisturbed soil samples
• IS:4968(Part-1): Method for subsurface sounding of soils by Dynamic cone
penetration tests
• IS:4968(Part III): Method for subsurface sounding of soils by Static cone
penetration tests
• European code EN 1997-2:2007 (E) clause 4.6- Method for conducting ‘SPT’ in
gravelly deposit.
• British code BS1377-9:1990 clause 3.3.1- Method for conducting SPT in gravelly
sand
• IS:5313: Guide for Core Drilling Observations
• IS:6926: Code of practice for Diamond Core Drilling for Site Investigations
• IS:4078: Code of practice for indexing and storage of drill core.
• IS:4464: Code of practice for presentation of drilling information and core
description in foundation investigation
• IS:5529( Part I& Part II) Code of practice for in-situ permeability tests in
overburden and rock respectively.
• IS:8763: Method for Undisturbed sampling in cohesion less soil
• IS:6935: Method for determine the ground water table in bore holes
Soil Sampling
• Soil Sampling and Collection
• Auger sample from Auger boring
• Bailer Sample from Percussion boring
• Wash sample from Rotary Drilling
• SPT sample from SPT Tests
• Undisturbed Samples from tube sampler
• Rock cores from core barrels
Lab Tests
Lab Tests
 DETAILED SOIL INVESTIGATION
• Lab Tests
• IS:2720 (Part IV)-Grain Size Distribution by Sieve Analysis and Hydrometer
Analysis
• IS:2720 (Part V)- Consistency limit determination to obtain liquid limit and
plastic limit
• IS 2720 (Part III)- Specific Gravity determination
• IS:2720(Part II)- Natural moisture content and in-situ density tests on UDS
samples
• IS:2720 (Part XI,XII&XVI)-Shear strength and consolidation tests on UDS
samples
• IS:2720 (Part XXI,XXIV&XXVI)- Chemical analysis of soil to determine PH,
Sulphate (SO3) and Chloride(Cl)
• IS:3025- Chemical analysis of water to determine PH, Sulphate (SO3) and
Chloride(Cl)
• IS:9143- Soaked crushing strength of rock
• IS:13013- Porosity, Density and specific gravity test on rock
• IS:1498- Engineering classification of soil
Analysis and Reporting
• Bearing Capacity (for open and pile foundation)
• From SPT N: for the site where significant layer comprise cohesionless soil
• Use Meyerhof equation modified by Bowles
• IS Codes
• IRC 78-2014
• From C-Phi: for site where significant layer comprise cohesive soil
• Using Hansen Equation
• IS Codes
• IRC 78-2014

• Liquefaction analysis
• For cohesionless soil
• Approach recommended by I.M. Idriss and R.W. Boulanger (2014)
 DETAILED SOIL INVESTIGATION
• Analysis and Reporting
• IS 6403-1981 (Bearing Capacity of Shallow foundation)
• IS:8009 (Part I)-1976 (Code of practice for calculation of settlements of Foundations)
• IS 2911.1.1-2010 (Bearing Capacity of driven cast insitu piles)
• IS 2911.1.2-2010 (Bearing Capacity of bored cast insitu piles)
• IS 2911.1.4-2010 (Bearing Capacity of bored pre-cast piles)
• IRC 78-2014 (Design of Foundation and substructures)
• FHWA (Federal Highway Association) guidelines
• Other relevant codes, books and standards
THANK YOU
Field Investigation in Rocky Strata
Insitu Permeability Tests
Methodology for Lab Tests