Civil engineering Task 1

PROJECT PARTICULARS:
EMPLOYER: HDB
MAIN CONSULATANT: SURBANA
MAIN CONTRACTOR: ABC CONTRACTOR
CONTRACT AMOUNT: 190 M
INTRODUCTION
The initial stage in designing the structural members of our project is by conducting a
soil investigation on the project site. ABC contractor has engaged KIMARO Geotechnical
Engineering Pte Ltd to conduct the soil exploration and provide us the soil investigation report at
Sembawang N4. The following are the soil test they will conduct:
1. Standard Penetration Test
2. Sieve Analysis and Hydrometer Analysis
3. Direct shear Test
4. 1-D Consolidation
5. Tri axial Testing (Consolidated Drained)
6. Tri axial Testing (Consolidated Undrained)
7. Tri axial Testing (Unconsiladated Drained)

1. Briefly explain the purpose of the soil investigation, including why it is so essential to
allow the design and construction process to proceed.
The objective of the soil exploration is to determine the following:
1. Determine the soil composition
2. Determine the soil properties necessary in designing the footing or foundation of our
structure
3. Determine the water level below ground surface
4. Result will be used to determine the methodology in constructing our proposed footing.

Basically, structural works cannot start without the accurate data and information regarding
the composition of the soil. Soil properties attain in this testing are bulk density, dry density,
moisture content and the most important is the shear strength which can be used to derive the
soil bearing capacity. The soil bearing capacity is the main soil property that determines the size
of the footing.
SITE DESCRIPTON
As indicated at the soil investigation report, he project site is located within Kallang
Formation and Bukit Timah Granite. The soil at this area is composed of silt/clay, peaty clay and
granite.
METHODOLOGY
Site Works
KIMARO Geotechnical Engineering Pte Ltd gets the sample at 6 different Locations
indicated at the boring holes plan. The bore holes location are not the exact location where our
proposed footing is. This sample will represent the entire soil composition of our project site.
During the testing stage, KGEPL will observe the water level of the water table using a 6m depth
stand pipes. Observation period will take 4 weeks. The summary of the results of the said
observation is included at the soil investigation report. The test procedure is based on the British
Standard Code of Practice for site investigation (BS5930:1990)
Laboratory Test Works
Laboratory Works
All laboratory works is based from BS 1377:1990. The soil moisture content is attaining
by deducting the dry sample to the wet sample. Using the Cone Penetration Method, the liquid
limit, plastic limit and the plasticity index is determined. The Grain size of the soil is determined
using Sieve and Hydrometer Analysis. Tri axial Test, Odometer Test and direct shear test are
conducted to attain the shear strength which later on be used to compute for the soil bearing
capacity. Laboratory Testing was conducted by LAB services Pte Ltd (SAC-SINGLAS accredited
Laboratory).

TEST RESULTS
As previously mentioned, the project site is composed of two land forms, Kalland
Formation which is composed of Peaty sand and Peaty clay, and Bukit Timah Granite which is
composed of sandy silt and granite. Soil profile is indicated at the soil investigation report for
proper understanding of the soil composition. The summary of the laboratory results is also
attached.
b. I dentify how this influences the design and construction of the external works.
RESULT INTERPRETATION
Using the value of the shear strength we derived from the laboratory testing, we can now
compute for the Soil load bearing capacity using the formula:
=
L

Where:
W = width of the footing
L= Load per meter
P= Soil load bearing capacity

The Loading is composed of the dead Load plus Live load. In the actual design of the
footing, we also consider the wind load and the seismic load in analyzing the whole system of the
structure. Using this formula we can determine the effect of the soil strength to the actual
structure. We can conclude that the Greater the soil bearing the capacity, the smaller the footing
is and vice versa.

c. Identify the recommended foundations for the Electrical Sub Station and give reasons why
other options are unsuitable.

Based from the soil investigation report, we found out the soil is moderately strong and
that the initial layers of soil is weak that it may not transfer the loading of the structure to the
ground equally. This is why we selected Pilling Foundation as a Foundation system to be used in
our project. Using Pilling Foundation, the structure can transfer the structure loadings in a deep
part of the soil. This will distribute the loading enough to not let the ground to settle and avoid
structural damages. The other types of foundation require a limited embedment depth and as per
the test results, the initial layer is weak that it cannot sustain the loadings of the structure.