Alpha Breathing
Three steps for alpha breathing
Breath in deeply
Breath out slowly
Hold for a while
(Repeat the three steps for 8 times)
2. Today’s Topic
• Depth of soil exploration-Number and
disposition of boreholes –Preservation of
samples-Geophysical methods
2.1 General Objective
Students will be able to learn the exploration of
sample in the site and Geophysical method of
exploration.
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2.2 Specific Objectives
Students will be able to
1. Recall the significant depth (E)
2. select the number and disposition of boreholes required in
the field(E,T)
3. Explain the preservation samples(T)
4. Explain the geophysical method of soil exploration(E,T)
5. Sketch a mind map depicting the concept of soil exploration
in the field(T)
Depth of Soil Exploration
The depth of exploration is governed by the depth of influence zone.
The depth of influence zone depends on,
Type of structure,
Intensity of loading,
Shape of loaded area,
Soil profile, & physical character of soil.
The depth of exploration should be at least equal to the significant
depth
SD - the depth at which the stress increment due to superimposed load
can produce significant settlement
Pressure Distribution
Depth of Borehole (As per IS 1892:1979)
The SD is generally taken at 20% of the load intensity (~
1.5B)
Footing Type Depth of Footing Type Depth of
Exploration Exploration
1.5B (width of
Square Footing (B Closely Spaced
X B) 1.5B Footing entire loaded
area)
Strip Footing (B X 1.5 X B (width of
œ) 3B End Bearing Pile pile group)
Rectangular 1.5 X B (width of
Footing 1.5B Friction Pile pile group) from
(B X L) lower third point
Note - minm depth of core boring into the bed rock
should be 3m
Number & disposition of Pits & Borehole
Position & spacing of pits & borings depends on major change
in thickness, depth or properties of the soil strata.
And also depends on the nature of structure.
As per IS 1892 : 1979 - Code of Practice for Subsurface
Investigation for Foundations
Building Type Number’s & Spacing's
Smaller & Less Important
building 1 BH or TP in the center
Compact Building Site 1 BH or TP in each corner &
(Area about 0.4 hectare) 1 in the center
Very large area covering Based on the Cone Penetration
Industrial or residential colonies test, performed at every 50m
Preservation of Soil Sample
Chemical preservation of solids is generally not
recommended.
Sample should not be exposed to sunlight directly.
After remolding, samples should be wrapped in aluminum
foil.
Preservation of UD Soil Sample
• Usually, two coats of 12 mm thick paraffin wax
and petroleum jelly are applied in molten
state on either end of the sample is preserved
in a humidity controlled room.
Geophysical Method
Geophysical Investigation
1. Electrical Resistivity Method
Resistivity, the inverse of electrical conductivity.
Resistivity, an important measure of the capacity of a rock/soil to
resist an electrical current through it.
Dry rocks/soil, dense compact, and pore less rocks/soil will offer a
great resistance to electric current compared to loose, porous, and
saturated rocks.
With the help of induced electric current, the nature of rocks & their
depth can be determined.
Geophysical Investigation
The Wenner Configuration Electrical Resistivity Method
The Wenner Configuration Electrical Resistivity Method
The test procedure
Inserting two electrodes into the ground at specific distance from each other.
DC or low frequency AC, is to be introduced through these electrode.
The current will meet resistance from the material and there will be a drop in
its potential.
•
By these procedure, it is possible to find out the electrical
character of the rock/soil.
These method is quite successful in locating buried valleys,
sand beds-rich in water & bed rocks.
Material Resistivity, 10^3 Ohm-cm
Clay & Saturated silt 0-10
Sandy clay & wet silty sand 10-25
Clayey sand and saturated sand 25-50
Sand 50-100
Gravel 150-500
Weathers rock 100-200
Sound rock 150-4000
(After Peck et al 1974)
2. Seismic Method
Is based on the observation of
velocity of elastic waves (shock
waves or seismic waves).
The radiating shock waves are
picked up by the vibration
detector. (geophone or
seismometer)
Seismic waves are created
artificially by using hammer
drops.
Seismic waves are of three types - the compressional (P)
waves, the transverse or shear (S) waves & the surface (L)
waves.
P waves or direct waves are fastest, and travel along
ground surface & picked up first by geophone.
Some of the primary waves travel downward to the lower
layer & get refracted at the interface.
Their velocity or time of travel is depends on the nature,
density & water content of the medium.
In refraction theory, a
number of geophones are
placed at regular interval.
The time taken by seismic
refracted waves to reach
these stations after the shock
was recorded accurately.
Distance-time of travel
curves are plotted and is
used to calculate the velocity
of refracted waves.
The seismic velocity vs. depth information are than
obtained.
In general, the seismic waves travel much faster in denser
& elastic rocks.
Similarly, it travels slower in poorly consolidated, porous &
saturated rock formations.
Range of seismic wave velocity (after Peck
et al, 1974)
2.3 Key words
• Significant depth
• Preservation of samples
• Geophysical investigation
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3. Group Discussion
[Link] Map
5. Summary
The depth of exploration is governed by the
depth of influence zone.
The sample should not be exposed to sunlight
Geophysical method
Electrical resistivity method
Seismic method
[Link] through Stimulating
questions/Analogy/New ideas and Concepts
1. How would you decide the depth of exploration and
the lateral extent of the investigations?
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7. References:
(Books/Periodicals/Journals)
• [Link], Text Book of Soil Mechanics
and Foundation Engineering,CBS Publishers
Distribution Ltd., New Delhi,2007
• [Link], Soil Mechanics and Foundations,
Laxmi publications Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 2005
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