Fundamentals of Geotechnical Engineering – I Security Level:
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Chapter 5
Fundamentals of Geological Investigations
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Geotechnical Engineering Chair
School of Civil & Environmental
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Engineering
Fundamentals of Geological Investigation
• Introduction
• Method of Geological Investigation
• Desk Study
• Preliminary Reconnaissance
• Site Exploration
• Direct Method
• Semi-direct Method
• Indirect Method
Introduction
• All important civil engineering projects like dams, reservoirs, tunnels, roads, bridges and
buildings are constructed on rocks or on soils.
• Essential that the engineer should have the fullest knowledge possible of the strata or soil
through which works of construction are to be carried out or on which theses have to rest.
• When the geological characters of the site are not properly investigated, the structures might
involve considerably higher costs, their stability might be in question.
• It is mandatory to decide about the location, design and construction of all major structures
after all geological characters of the area have been investigated.
Introduction
• Main objective of geological investigations for most projects are:
• The geological structure of the area Includes topography and
• The lithology of the area geomorphology.
Determined by conducting
• The ground water condition in the region
extensive and intensive
• The seismicity of the region geological surveys.
Introduction
• Main objective of geological investigations for most projects are:
• The geological structure of the area
• The lithology of the area Include the type of rocks that
make up different parts of the
• The ground water condition in the region area, their textures, major
structures and physical and
• The seismicity of the region
engineering properties like
hardness, strength, modulus of
elasticity, rigidity, porosity and
permeability.
Introduction
• Main objective of geological investigations for most projects are:
• The geological structure of the area
• The lithology of the area The relative position of water
table with respect to the
• The ground water condition in the region project must be thoroughly
established and all variations
• The seismicity of the region
in it during different periods in
a year should be known.
Introduction
• Main objective of geological investigations for most projects are:
• The geological structure of the area
• The lithology of the area
Has become a great concern.
• The ground water condition in the region Has to be taken into
• The seismicity of the region consideration and studied if
the project is in a seismic
prone area.
Method of Geological Investigation
•Desk study
•Preliminary reconnaissance
•Site exploration
Method of Geological Investigation
• Desk study
• Carried out at the start of the site investigation.
• Its purpose is to provide as much information on the ground condition and
the likely problems that they will produce for the proposed type of
construction.
• The information obtained is necessary for the design of ground investigation
work.
Method of Geological Investigation
• Preliminary reconnaissance
• Carried out after the desk study has been substantially completed, and once
preliminary plans have been made for any ground investigation site work
• Its purpose is to get extra information on the geology and on likely
construction problems. Also to assess access for investigation plant and
equipment.
Method of Geological Investigation
• The results of desk study and preliminary reconnaissance should be formally
presented in a report which includes details of:
• Site topography
• Geology
• Geotechnical problems and parameters
• Ground conditions
• Existing construction and services
• Previous land use
• Expected construction risks
• Proposed ground investigation methods.
Method of Geological Investigation
Site Exploration
Methods (sub-
surface exploration)
Semi-direct
Direct Methods Methods Indirect Methods
Auger boring, wash Sounding or
Test pits, trenches boring, percussion penetration tests,
drilling, rotary drilling geophysical methods
Method of Geological Investigation
• Site exploration
• Direct Method
• Examination of rocks or materials of
the underground by digging of trial
pits or trenches.
• Underground areas are reached for
direct examination and testing or
samples are obtained to be examined
and tested.
Method of Geological Investigation
• Site exploration
• Semi-direct Method
• Common boring and drilling methods combined with sampling.
Method of Geological Investigation
• Site exploration
• Indirect Method
• Indirect exploration defines boundaries between the different soil compositions by measuring
and observing changes in the soil’s electrical resistivity, velocity of waves or in its magnetic
and electrical fields.
• Geophysical methods
• Sounding or penetration test
• Seismic method
• Static penetration test
• Resistivity method
• Dynamic core penetration tests • Electromagnetic method
• Magnetic method
• Gravity method
Gravity Method
Seismic Method
results
Method of Geological Investigation
• Site exploration
• Objective
• Identify and delineate geological units
• Identify the extent of weathering , density or compressibility
• Identify features such as joints, faults, and folds
• Conduct simple index tests during investigation
• Assess hydrogeologic conditions
• Extract samples of geologic units and groundwater for laboratory testing
• Install instrumentation (to monitor time dependent changes in sub-surface conditions)