(1) Geotechnical profile and pile (required depth 38 - 40 m) construction method for soil BH-1A a. Geotechnical Profile of BH-1A GWL = 1.5 m
Depth (m) Type Consistency Detail SPT N Value
1-4 Silty clay Soft - medium - 4 4-13.5 Silty clay Very soft - soft - 3 13.5-18 Clayey silt Very stiff Trace of sand 21 18-20 Silty sand - Coarse grained 50/12 Fine - medium 20-24 Silty sand - grained 50 24-26 Silty clay - - - 26-31 Silty clay Very stiff - 16 31-36 Silty clay Stiff - very stiff - 18 Trace to a little of 36-39 Clayey silt Very stiff sand 22 39-40 Silty clay Very stiff - 26 40-57 Clayey silt Very stiff A little of sand 28 57-60 Clayey silt Very stiff - 24 Strength Test Atterberg's Limit Depth (m) Type C qu t Gs e0 PL Water Content LL U= 4.7 UNC 0.11-0.37 20 0.22 1.58 2.68 1.48 33 46 90 R= 0.07-0.3 27 0.4 - - - 9 UU 0.05 14 - 1.37 2.7 2.68 40 96 113 24.8 UU 1.1 8- 1.75 2.69 1.24 46 30 94 32.8 UU 0.8 5- 1.67 2.7 1.39 48 30 96 38.8 UU 1.6 9- 1.97 2.7 0.71 25 33 54 44.7 UU 1.5 5- 1.78 2.7 1.17 41 43 83
b. Pile Construction Method
Based on the soil profile, it can be concluded that the vast majority of the soil is of fine grained soil (silts and clay) and its consistency is mostly stiff. The groundwater level is positioned on 1.5 m depth, meaning that 58.5 m of the drilled soil is not submerged. The pile depth required for the foundation is 38-40 m. Analyzing from the soil profile, required depth, and theories, the method suitable for the pile construction is by boring. Bored piles have deeper depth restriction (+/- 50 m; over the required depth); whereas driven piles are restricted to only 20 - 30 m in depth. Due to the limitations of jointing and pulling out of the driving tube, driven and cast-in-situ piles employing withdrawable tube can not be used. The boring should be supported with borehole by bentonite slurry. Taking the size of the soil grain and consistency/stiffness; obtained from triaxial test, into the consideration, theoretically fine-grained and stiff soil such as silty clay and clayey silt also points to the use of bored piles. Meanwhile for soft clay and granular soil (sand, gravel), it is better to use driven or cast-in-situ piles. Reviewing from the SPT (indicate density and internal friction of soil), the mean soil density in BH-1A based on SPT can be categorized in compact soil. The soil profile tested is well compacted and dense. Meanwhile considering the soil is mainly composed of silts and clay, it can be categorized to be cohesive soil. Compacted cohesive soil is better suited with bored piles. In order to know which material to be used for the pile; timber, steel, concrete, or composite, the chemical properties of the soil needs to be furtherly investigated as the mechanical properties alone can not predict how the material would react with the soil. By knowing the properties, the most suitable material can be chosen as well as preparing the protection method necessary. (2) Geotechnical profile and pile (required depth 38 - 40 m) construction method for soil BH-2A a. Geotechnical Profile of BH-2A Depth (m) Type Consistency Detail SPT N Value 1-3 Silty clay Medium - 4 3-10 Silty clay Very soft - 1 10-11 Silty clay - Trace of organic wood 20 11-14 Silty clay Very stiff - 22 14-15.5 Clayey silt Hard Trace of fine grained sand 38 15.5-18 Silty clay Very stiff - 25 18-19 Clayey silt - - 20 19-20 Silty clay Stiff Trace of organic wood 7 20-21.5 Silty clay Stiff Trace of organic wood 8 21.5-23 Silty clay - - 20 23-26 Clayey silt Hard - 39 Fine grained, slightly 26-26.5 Silty sand - cemented 38 26.5-28 Sand - Trace of silt, fine grained 37 28-30 Silty clay Very stiff - 39 30-32 Silty clay Very stiff - 22 Very stiff - 32-36 Silty clay hard - 30 36-40 Clayey silt - Some sand 23 40-57 Silty clay Very stiff - 25 57-60 Silty clay Very stiff Trace of fine grained sand 22 Strength Test Atterberg's Limit Depth Water (m) Type C qu t Gs e0 PL Content LL 4.5 UU 0.07 16 - 1.32 2.65 3.18 40 108 113 8.8 UNC U=0.09-0.3 6 0.18 1.3 2.67 3.29 41 103 109 R=0.06-0.11 26 0.12 32.8 UNC U=0.67 - 1.34 1.68 2.7 1.41 50 30 102 R=0.46 - 0.92 39 UU 1.25 9 - 1.75 2.68 0.91 25 36 56 42.8 UU 0.9 5 - 1.67 2.7 1.44 21 51 103
b. Pile Construction Method
A review of BH-2A soil profile shows that the majority of the soil is consisted of fine grained soil; silt and clay (silty clay and clayey silt). The majority of the soil's consistency is very stiff; varying from soft - hard. The groundwater level (GWL) is found at the depth of 1.5 m; majority of soil is not submerged in groundwater. Hence, based on the soil profile and theory, a suitable pile construction method for the depth 38 - 40 m can be analyzed. The required depth of 38 - 40 m shows that the pile must be constructed using boring method. This is due to the fact that boring pile has depth restriction up to 50 m as opposed to driven piles' 20-30 m. Considering the limitations of jointing and pulling out of the driving tube, driven and cast-in-situ piles employing withdrawable tube can not be used. An analysis in terms of soil grain size; silt and clay, also determine that the piles are better constructed using boring methods. The triaxial test also shows that the majority of the soil is categorized as stiff to very stiff. This fact lead to the recommendation of using boring construction method as it can drill to stiffer (up to soft rock; hard consistency) soil as opposed to you driven pile's capability to construct in looser and softer soil. The boring should be supported with borehole by bentonite slurry. The density of the soil can be obtained using the N value from SPT test. It is known that based on the SPT, the density of the soil varies mainly from compact to dense. However, the top layer of the soil is known to be lose. It can be concluded that the soil is mostly well compacted. Considering this fact, it is known that compacted soil is better suited with boring method. In terms of cohesiveness of the soil, clay and silt are known to be cohesive soil. Cohesive and compacted soil is suitable with boring method. In order to know which material to be used for the pile; timber, steel, concrete, or composite, the chemical properties of the soil needs to be furtherly investigated as the mechanical properties alone can not predict how the material would react with the soil. By knowing the properties, the most suitable material can be chosen as well as preparing the protection method necessary. SOURCES Woodward, Tomlinson. Pile Design and Construction Practice, 6th Edition. CRC Press: 2008. http://www.geotechdata.info/geotest/standard-penetration-test.html (retrieved on September 15th 2017)