Transcription of Geotechnical Investigations
1 EM 1110-1-18041 January 2001US Army Corpsof EngineersENGINEER MANUALG eotechnical InvestigationsENGINEERING AND DESIGNAVAILABILITYE lectronic copies of this and other Army Corps of Engineers(USACE) publications are available on the Internet This site is the onlyrepository for all official USACE engineer regulations, circulars,manuals, and other documents originating from are provided in portable document format (PDF).DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMYEM Army Corps of EngineersCECW-ETWashington, DC 20314-1000 ManualNo. 1110-1-18041 January 2001 Engineering and DesignGEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS1. Purpose. This manual establishes criteria and presents guidance for Geotechnical Investigations duringthe various stages of development for both civil and military Applicability. This manual applies to all USACE Commands having either military or civil Distribution Statement. This manual is approved for public release; distribution is Discussion.
2 Geotechnical Investigations are made to determine those geologic, seismologic, and soilsconditions that affect the safety, cost effectiveness, design, and execution of a proposed engineering insufficient Geotechnical Investigations , faulty interpretation of results, or failure to portray resultsin a clearly understandable manner may contribute to costly construction changes, postconstruction remedialwork, and even failure of a structure, Geotechnical Investigations and subsequent reports are an essential partof all civil engineering and design THE COMMANDER:ROBERT L. DAVISC olonel, Corps of EngineersChief of StaffThis manual supersedes EM 1110-1-1804, dated 29 February 1984, and EM 1110-1-1906, dated30 September OF THE ARMYEM Army Corps of EngineersCECW-ETWashington, DC 20314-1000 ManualNo. 1110-1-18041 January 2001 Engineering and DesignGEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONST able of ContentsSubjectParagraphPageChapter 1-21-1 References .. 1-41-1 Scope of Manual .. 1-51-2 Chapter 2 Scope of 2-12-1 Section ICivil Works ProjectsReconnaissance and Feasibility 2-22-1 Preconstruction Engineering and Design Studies.
3 2-32-6 Construction 2-42-13 Section IIMilitary Construction 2-52-17 Preconcept and Site Selection Studies .. 2-62-18 Concept Studies .. 2-72-18 Final Design Studies .. 2-82-19 Construction 2-92-19 Chapter 3 Regional Geologic and Site Reconnaissance 3-13-1 Section ICoordination and Information CollectionInteragency Coordination and 3-23-1 Survey of Available Information .. 3-33-3EM 1110-1-18041 Jan 01iiSubjectParagraphPageSection IIMap Studies and Remote Sensing MethodsMap Studies .. 3-43-3 Remote Sensing 3-53-9 Section IIIF ield Reconnaissance and ObservationsField 3-63-10 Observations .. 3-73-10 Section IVInformation DevelopmentSummary .. 3-83-11 Chapter 4 Surface 4-14-1 Section IGeologic Field MappingAreal Mapping .. 4-24-1 Site Mapping .. 4-34-2 Construction Mapping .. 4-44-3 Section IISurface Geophysical 4-64-4 Chapter 5 Subsurface 5-15-1 Location of Investigations .. 5-25-1 Protection of the Environment .. 5-35-1 Section IBoringsMajor Uses.
4 5-45-2 Boring and Sampling 5-55-2 Drilling in 5-65-8 Section IIDrillhole Inspection and LoggingObjectives .. 5-75-8 Soil Identification and Description .. 5-85-9 Coring .. 5-95-9EM 1110-1-18041 Jan 01iiiSubjectParagraphPageCore Logging .. 5-105-10 Drilling Log Form and the Boring Log Data Management 5-115-14 Section IIIB orehole Examination and TestingBorehole Geophysical 5-125-14 Borehole Viewing and Photography .. 5-135-14 Borehole Camera and 5-145-15 Borehole TV Camera and Sonic Imagery .. 5-155-15 Alinement Surveys .. 5-165-15 Section IVExploratory ExcavationsTest Pits and Trenches .. 5-175-15 Calyx Hole Method .. 5-185-16 Section VGroundwater and Foundation Seepage StudiesGeneral Investigation .. 5-195-16 Permeability 5-205-17 Pressure Tests .. 5-215-21 Section VIIn Situ Testing for Determining Geotechnical PropertiesIn Situ Testing .. 5-225-22In Situ Tests to Determine Shear 5-235-23 Tests to Determine In Situ 5-245-25 Tests to Determine In Situ Deformation.
5 5-255-27 Determination of Dynamic Moduli by Seismic 5-265-29 Section VIIB ackfilling of Holes and Disposition of Samples and CoresBackfilling Boreholes and Exploratory 5-275-30 Disposition of Soil 5-285-30 Disposition of Rock Cores .. 5-295-30 Chapter 6 Large-scale, Prototype InvestigationsPrototype Test Programs .. 6-16-1 Section ITest Excavation and 6-26-1 Test Quarries .. 6-36-1 Exploratory 6-46-3 Test Fills and Trial 6-56-3EM 1110-1-18041 Jan 01ivSubjectParagraphPageSection IITest 6-66-5 Test Grouting Practices .. 6-76-5 Test Grouting Program .. 6-86-5 Record Keeping .. 6-96-5 Section IIIP iling InvestigationsPiling Investigation 6-106-6 Driving Records .. 6-116-6 Load Testing .. 6-126-6 Chapter 7 Laboratory 7-17-1 Section ITest and Sample SelectionNeeds for Test and Sample Selection .. 7-27-1 Section IIIndex and Classification TestsSoils .. 7-37-3 Rock .. 7-47-4 Section IIIE ngineering Property Tests - 7-57-5 Section IVEngineering Property Tests - 7-67-6 Section VEngineering Property Tests - Shales and Moisture-Sensitive RocksIndex Testing.
6 7-77-8 Swelling 7-87-9 Appendix AReferences Appendix BGeologic Mapping Procedures Open ExcavationsAppendix CGeologic Mapping of Tunnels and ShaftsEM 1110-1-18041 Jan 01vAppendix DExamples of Drilling LogsAppendix EList of AcronymsAppendix FEngineer Manual 1110-1-1906, Soil SamplingAppendix GPenetration Resistance Test and Samplingwith a Split-Barrel Sampler Appendix HPenetration Resistance Testing with the BeckerHammer DrillEM 1110-1-18041 Jan 01 A list of acronyms and abbreviations is included as Appendix E to this 1 Introduction1-1. PurposeThis manual establishes criteria and presents guidance for Geotechnical Investigations during the variousstages of development for civil and military projects. The manual is intended to be a guide for planningand conducting Geotechnical Investigations and not a textbook on engineering geology and soils explora-tion. Actual Investigations , in all instances, must be tailored to the individual projects. 1-2. ApplicabilityThis manual applies to all USACE Commands having either military or civil works responsibilities.
7 Theobjective of Corps of Engineers Engineer Manuals (EM) is to contain engineer and design technical1guidance that will provide essential technical direction and application within the COE. However, anEM cannot provide the designer with two of the most vital tools essential to successful completion of aproject: experience and judgement. Engineers and geologists who are just beginning their careers arestrongly encouraged to seek the advice of more experienced members of their ReferencesStandard references pertaining to this manual are listed in Appendix A. Military Standards (MIL-STD),Army Regulations (AR), Technical Manuals (TM), Engineer Regulations (ER), Engineer Manuals (EM),Engineer Pamphlets (EP), and Engineer Technical Letters (ETL) are identified in the text by thedesignated Government publication number or performing agency. Additional reading materials arelisted in the Bibliography and are indicated throughout the manual by the principal author s last nameand date of publication.
8 Publications may be downloaded from the internet at the Corps web page( ).1-4. BackgroundGeotechnical Investigations are performed to evaluate those geologic, seismologic, and soils conditionsthat affect the safety, cost effectiveness, design, and execution of a proposed engineering Geotechnical Investigations , faulty interpretation of results, or failure to portray results in aclearly understandable manner may contribute to inappropriate designs, delays in construction schedules,costly construction modifications, use of substandard borrow material, environmental damage to the site,postconstruction remedial work, and even failure of a structure and subsequent litigation. Investigationsperformed to determine the geologic setting of the project include: the geologic, seismologic, and soilconditions that influence selection of the project site; the characteristics of the foundation soils androcks; Geotechnical conditions which influence project safety, design, and construction; criticalgeomorphic processes; and sources of construction materials.
9 A close relationship exists between thegeologic sciences and other physical sciences used in the determination of project environmental impactand mitigation of that impact. Those individuals performing Geotechnical Investigations are among thefirst to assess the physical setting of a project. Hence, senior-level, experienced personnel are required toplan and supervise the execution of a Geotechnical investigation. Geotechnical Investigations are to beEM 1110-1-18041 Jan 011-2carried out by engineering geologists, geological engineers, Geotechnical engineers, and geologists andcivil engineers with education and experience in Geotechnical Investigations . Geologic conditions at asite are a major influence on the environmental impact and impact mitigation design, and therefore aprimary portion of Geotechnical Investigations is to observe and report potential conditions relating toenvironmental impact. Factors influencing the selection of methods of investigation of subsurface materials and groundwater of structure to be built or of the investigation, , feasibility study, formulation of plans and of the investigation, , evaluate stability of existing structure, design a new of site and of to which method disturbs the samples or surrounding Scope of ManualIncreasingly, Geotechnical Investigations are conducted to evaluate the condition of existing projects aspart of Operations and Maintenance.
10 This type of investigation places special constraints on the methodswhich may be used. These constraints should be kept in mind by the General. Geotechnical Investigations for roads and airfields are not discussed. Geotechnicalinvestigations at construction sites may involve exposure to hazardous and toxic waste materials. Incases where such materials are recognized, Geotechnical investigators should contact the MandatoryCenter for Expertise for assistance. It is of note that many of the techniques and procedures described inthis manual are applicable to hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste (HTRW) work. Geotechnicalaspects of HTRW site assessment are discussed in Construction Site Environmental Survey andClearance Procedures Manual (Draft), EM 1110-1-4000, Walker (1988), and Borrelli (1988). b. Types of detailed discussions. Chapter 2 provides guidance on Geotechnical investigationsappropriate to various stages of project development.
