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
FACTOR OF
SAFETY

DESIGN
LIFE
(durability
of materials)

MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE MOVEMENTS









VERTICAL

LATERAL

DIFFERENTIAL

1. Unreinforced Slopes

1.1 Local & global stability
(cut & fill slopes)
1.2 Bearing (fill)

1.20

2.0

75 yrs



2. Reinforced or treated
slopes (not on soft
ground)

2.1 Local & global stability
(cut & fill slopes)
2.2 Bearing (fill)

1.50

1.5

75 yrs

Analysis should be according to GEOTECHNICAL MANUAL FOR SLOPES
(1984), GEO Hong Kong









3. Permanent Anchors

3.1 Tensile Resistance
3.2 Resistance at Soil
Grout Interface
3.3 Creep/corrosion

2.0

3.0

75 yrs

Geo Spec 1 (1989), GEO Hong Kong
BS 8081

4. Rigid Retaining
Structures

4.1 Overturning
4.2 Sliding
4.3 Overall Stability
4.4 Bearing

1.8
1.6
1.5
2.0

75 yrs

15 mm along
face of wall
Geoguide 1 (1983), GEO Hong Kong

15 mm along
face of wall

1:150
along face of wall

5. Reinforced fill walls/
structures

External Stability


120 yrs


5mm per metre height


15mm from reference alignment

1:100
along face of wall



Internal Stability


BS 8006









6. Individual Foundation
Piles (mainly under axial
loads)

6.1 Shaft Resistance

2.0

75 yrs

12 mm along axis of pile
at pile head at design load.
38 mm or 10% pile size
at pile head at twice design load.







6.2 Base Resistance

2.0



BS 8004





7. Individual Foundation
loads (mainly under lateral &
bending loads perpendi-
cular to axist of pile)

Ultimate lateral
Resistance

2.5

75 yrs

12 mm along axis of pile
at pile head at design load

BS 8004

12 mm perpendicular to axis of
pile at design load



8. Pile group

Block Bearing Capacity


2.0

75 yrs

12 mm at Working Load
BS 8004

10 mm



9. Piles as retaining
structures

As for 4, 6 & 7 above


As for
individual
foundation
piles

75 yrs


As 4 above for rigid retaining structures
BS 8004

10. Embankment on Soft
Ground

11.1 Bearing (short term)
11.2 Local & global slope
stability (long term)

1.4
1.2

75 yrs

- Total post construction settlement < 400 mm
- 5 years post construction settlement < 100 mm (or 10% of estimated ultimate settlement)
(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
C
c
= Compression Index
C
v
= Coef. of Consolidation
C
1
= 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
Ck
o
UC = 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
M
v
= 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



Cu

Mv

Cv

K

1.










Penetrometer

1.1 JKR Probe
1.2 SPT
1.3 DS (CPT)
1.4 Piezocone (CPTU)
1.5 Flat Dilatometer
1.6 Resistivity Probe




X
A
B
A
B
C




C
B
A
A
A
C




X
X
X
X
X
X




X
B
X
X
X
X




C
B
B
A
C
C




B
A
A
A
A
A




B
A
A
A
A
A




B
A
A
A
A
A




B
A
A
A
A
A




X
B
C
B
B
B




B
B
B
B
B
C




X
X
C
A
C
X




X
X
C
A
C
X




X
X
X
B
X
X

2

3

4

5.
Vane Shear

PB Pressuremeter

SB Pressuremeter

Continuous Soil Sampling

B

B

B

A
C

B

B

A
X

C

C

X
X

A

B

B
X

B

B

B
X

B

B

A
B

B

B

A
A

A

A

A

B

B

B

A
X

X

B

C
A

B

B

B
X

B

B

B
X

C

B

B
X

X

B

C

Legends:-
A = suitable/useful = effective frictional angle K = coef. of permeability
B = moderate Cu = undrained strength
C = doubtful Mv = coef. of volume compressibility
X = not suitable Cv = coef. of consolidation

SCOPE OF SI & SI METHODS
Geophysical Geophysical Sounding Boring and Sampling Ground Loading
survey Logging water Test
Boring and Rock-core
SI Method Seismic Electric soil sampling boring
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
(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
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
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
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
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 D1
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APPENDIX E
COMMON SAMPLERS

TYPE OF SAMPLERS

REMARKS
1. OPEN DRIVE SAMPLERS
1.1 Split-spoon for SPT
1.2 Thin-wall sampler
1.3 Thick wall sampler
(50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 150mm).

2. THIN-WALL SAMPLER WITH
STATIONARY PISTON
(50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 150mm)



3. DENISON SAMPLER
(Double tube with thin wall tube)


4. MAZIER SAMPLER
(74mm)





5. FOIL CONTINUOUS SAMPLERS
(DELFT 29mm, 66mm OR SWEDISH
SAMPLER 68mm diam)





6. BLOCK SAMPLING




7. ROTARY ROCK CORE SAMPLERS
1. No piston; penetration by static thrust or
dynamic impact; suitable for almost all
types of soils except gravelly soils or
hard/dense materials.


2. The most reliable sampler to procure
undisturbe soft to stiff cohesive soils; area
ratio is usually about 10%. The inside
clearance ratio shall be 0.5 to 1%. Mainly
for shear strength & consolidation tests.

3. No piston; suitable for stiff to very stiff
cohesive soil and sandy soil (SPT = 4-20);
open drive sampler

4. Triple tube sampler; usual core size 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. With stationary piston; suitable for minor
stratification ie sand seams because of
continuous samples of 5 to 8m can be
procured.

Continuous samples for soil fabrics &
stratigraphical or profiling evaluation etc.

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. 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
Class

Properties

Purpose

Typical Sampling
Procedure

1

- Remoulded properties
- Fabric
- Water content
- Density and porosity
- Compressibility & deformation
- Effective strength parameters
- Total strength parameters
- Permeability*
- Consolidation*

Laboratory data on
in situ soils
(classification tests
& engineering
properties)

Piston thin walled
sampler with water
balance

Mazier sampler with
foam drilling

Block samples

2

- Remoulded properties
- Fabric
- Water content
- Density and porosity
- Compressibility and
deformation*
- Effective strength parameters*
- Total strength parameters*


Laboratory data on
in situ insensitive
soils

Pressed or driven
thin
or thick walled
sampler with water
balance

Mazier sampler

3

- Remoulded properties
- Fabric A * 100% recovery.
Continuous
B * 90% recovery.
Consecutive

Fabric examination
and laboratory data
on remoulded soils

Pressed or driven
thin or thick walled
samplers. Water
balance in highly
permeable soils.

4

- Remoulded properties

Laboratory data on
remoulded soils.
Sequence of strata

Bulk and jar samples
(from SPT split
samplers)

5

None

Aproximate
sequence
of strata only

Washings (washed
samples)



* 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


































OK
Detail Geotechnical Design
Prepare factual SI interpretative report by Designer
End
Prepare factual SI report (SI Contractor)
NO
Additional SI ?
Execute SI works programme
Determine scope of Lab tests
Direct, supervise and monitor SI Works by Designer
Yes
OK
NOT
OK
NOT
OK
Identify likely geotechnical issues & problems
Determine design parameters required
Prepare SI programme & budget
Preliminary Project Appraisal
Desk Studies
Site reconnaissance
Preliminary SI
Preliminary Engineering Assessment
Project Brief
Scope of Works
Design Criteria
Define Project Work Plan
Project Initiation
Audit by Expert
Design or determine scope of SI in detail (see Appendix H)
Preparation of tender/contract documents, BQ & Spec.
Send SI proposal to client for
approval














Fig 1: Flow-chart for SI works