SITE INVESTIGATION

Chapter 10
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Site Investigation

Engineering site investigation is meant

for the collection of information (data).
It consists of two types of data:
engineering data and geological data.
The result of the engineering geological
investigation is represented graphically
in engineering geological map.

There may be two phases of engineering geological site

investigation:
a. Surface Investigation
b. Subsurface Investigation
The surface and subsurface investigation also can be further divided
into direct and indirect investigation.

Site Investigation

Surface
Investigation

Subsurface
Investigation

Direct
Indirect

Direct
Indirect

Surface Investigation
I.

a)

Indirect surface investigation: It is the

type of investigation in which preliminary
idea can be obtained about any specific
site by not visiting directly in the site.
There may be different means by which
such investigation can be carried out:
Review of previous literature: it is
very preliminary type of collection of the
information by the works or reports which
has been already published by the
previous researchers or authors. The
reports, geological maps, engineering
geological maps, different profiles etc are
the different sources of the review for the
present study.

b) Topographical map analysis:

A topographical map shows the
shape of the earths surface by
contour lines. It is generally on a
sufficiently large scale to show in
detail selected man made and
natural features, including relief and
such physical features as
vegetation, roads and drainage.

contour

Hill/ Peak

saddle

River valley

Ridge

Spur

Hilly and
forest area

Urban area
Legend
Peak

River

scale

c. Remote sensing: Remote sensing

is the science and art of acquiring
information about objects, area,
phenomenon without coming into
physical contact with the object,
area
or
phenomenon
under
investigation. Aerial photographs
and satellite imageries are the
example of remote sensing.

Platforms with Sensor on board

GMS
(Geostationary Satellite)
LANDSAT, MOS,
SPOT
SPACE SHUTTLE
atmosphere

HIGH ALTITUDE
JETPLANE
emission
reflection

LOW&MIDDLE
ALTITUDE AIRPLANE
GROUND TRUTH

object

Focal length

Clock

Elevation

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II.It Direct
includes the
surface
investigation
Investigation:
carried out by visiting the

actual site. In engineering geological investigation, the

following data are to be collected within direct surface
investigation:
Type of rock or soil, and major component minerals on
them,
Attitude of rock
Thickness of soil or rock
Weathering grade of rock
Numbers and types of discontinuities and their
attitude
Strength of rock
Slope stability factors, natural slope and landslides
Geological structures like bedding, foliation, joints,
faults, folds, unconformity etc
Presence or absence of existing engineering structures
like canals, dams, tunnels etc
Topography, drainage system, catchments area, flood,
recurrence interval etc.

Subsurface Investigation

I. Indirect Subsurface Investigation

It is the type of investigation in which

subsurface data are obtained by not
directly looking at the subsurface
materials and structures. This
includes geophysical methods.
Groundwater, presence of aquifers or
other structures like faults, slip
surface can be found out.

Resistivity method
One of the most used methods of electrical
prospecting is the resistivity method.
Resistivity method employs an artificial
source of current that is introduced into
the ground through point electrodes or
long line contacts.
The resistivity method is designed to yield
information on formations or bodies
having anomalous electric conductivity.

dV
N

A
r1

r2
r3

r1

Figure: Two current and two potential electrodes on the surface

Seismic Method

Propagation of the vibration (seismic

waves) causes the particles of a
material to be stretched temporarily
out of their position. The capacity of
a material to be temporarily
deformed by seismic waves, its
properties of elasticity can be used.
Seismic waves can be initiated by a
dynamite blast or impact of hammer
or dropped weight.

II. Direct subsurface Investigation

1.

Exploratory excavation: Digging pits, trenches,

dozer cuts and tunneling etc.
Open test pits afford the most complete information
of the ground penetrated and also may permit
examination of the surface of foundation bedrock.
Pits are an effective means of exploring and
sampling earth foundations and construction
materials. The depth of the pit is determined by
investigational requirements.
Trenches are used to provide a continuous exposure
of the ground along a given line or section. In
general, they serve the same purpose as the open
test pits but have the added advantage of disclosing
the continuity or character of particular strata.
Tunnels have used to explore areas beneath steep
slopes or back of cliff like face. For such purposed
the exploratory tunnel or drift is usually roughly
rectangular in shape.

Bore hole exploration: drilling

Rotary method: a rapid method for drilling in

unconsolidated strata is the rotary method. Deep
wells up to 45 cm in diameter and even larger with
a reamer, can be constructed. The method
operates continuously with a hollow rotation bit
through which a mixture of clay and water, or
drilling mud, is forced. Material loosened by the bit
is carried upward in the hole by the rising mud.
A recently developed percussion procedure using
air as the drilling fluid provides the fastest method
for drilling in hard rock formations. A bit with the
action of hammer, delivers 10 to 15 impacts per
second to the bottom of the hole. Penetration rates
of as much as 0.3 m/min have been achieved.

Geological Investigation for

different engineering
Tunnel: Tunnels are structures:
underground routes or passages driven

through the rocks or soft ground without disturbing the

overlying soil or rock cover.
Site investigation for tunnel:
Hard rocks like granite, quartzite, gneiss etc is favorable
than weak rocks like slate, phyllite etc.
Horizontal or slightly dipping rocks with the strike parallel to
the axis of the tunnel.
Steeply dipping formations with the strike perpendicular to
the axis of the tunnel.
Anticline is favorable.
Tunnel in faulted and sheared zone is very unfavorable.
Joints in general play very negative role.
Large quantity of water flow is very unfavorable; this
problem arises when the tunnel is located below the water
table.
Tunnel entrance should be free from any type of instability.

Site investigation for bridge:

Bank scouring: the site should be at minimum
bank scouring of river. Due to water velocity, the
supports are also scoured.
Beds should be competent.
Narrow span (width) of the river is favorable.
Bedding should be (strike) across the river flow.
Less jointed, less fractured.
Fracture filling should not be clay.
Should be avoided the geological structures like
fault, fold etc
Water drainage should be studied; particular
attention should be given to the origin, discharge
and periods of water.
Expansive soils should be omitted.

Site investigation for Dam:

Generally chosen in narrow parts of valley
with steep rocky slopes.
Suitable on rock foundation.
Fewer discontinuities are more suitable.
Steep dip of beds upstream is favorable.
Dam foundation on the limb of anticline
dipping upstream is favorable.
Fault should be avoided; small scale faults
can be treated by grouting.
The resultant thrust (resultant of vertical
force due to the weight of dam and
horizontal force due to impounded water),
should be perpendicular to bedding planes.

R
P

Favorable
W

Unfavorable

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