1.0 SITE INVESTIGATION 1.

1 Introduction In all civil engineering works, the most crucial is the reliability of the information about the ground on which the civil engineering project will be founded. We would call this SI, or Site Investigation Information or simply SI. There are various methods of obtaining SI information, in this paper we will concentrate on most widely used method, that involving Boring and Drilling. It is a process of site exploration consisting of boring, sampling and testing so as to obtain geotechnical information for a safe, practical and economical geotechnical evaluation and design. Generally it is an exploration or discovery of the ground conditions especially on untouched site. When a decision is taken to proceed with the development, it will be necessary to carry out a site investigation targeted towards understanding the occurrence of gas and leachate at the development site. The output from the investigation should bring the level of knowledge of these parameters up to a level sufficient to allow for the proper assessment of the risk and design of appropriate protection measures. When carrying out the investigation, it must be borne in mind that flammable gas can occur in the soil as a result of other factors besides landfills. Other sources of flammable gas include:
1. Marine sediments. 2. Wetlands (marshes, peat bogs etc.). 3. Sewer gas. 4. Geological methane. 5. Ground water. 6. Mains (piped) gas.

1.2 Objective

1. To study the general suitability of the site for an engineering project. 2. To enable a safe, practical and economic design to be prepared. 3. To determine the possible difficulties that may be encountered by a specific

construction method for any particular civil project.

4. To study the suitability of construction material (soil or rock).

1.3 Procedure

Steps of work involved in site investigation:

1. Desk study to collect all the relevant data and information. 2. Reconnaissance of site works. 3. Planning program after reviewing the above. 4. Ground or soil exploration includes boring, sampling and testing. 5. Laboratory testing (also field if necessary). 6. Preparation and documentation of SI report. 7. Engineering design stages.

8. Review during construction and monitoring.

1.4 Planning Works 1. Surface Investigations: Site inspection to assess general site condition if there is any anticipated problems that might arise during the construction later on. Usually the engineer is required to inspect the site to appreciate actual site and ground problems with particular reference to terrain, vegetation, swamps, water runoff, stratigraphical formations where it is exposed.

2. Sub-surface Investigations:

Ground or soil investigation by means of boring, sampling, testing, and etc. And also as to determine the stratigraphy and pertinent properties of soil underlying the project site.

1.5 Site Reconnaissance A reconnaissance is a preliminary examination or survey of a job site. First step is to collect and study any pertinent information already available. After collecting and studying the data available, the engineers should visit the site in person, observe thoroughly and interpret what is seen. Results of reconnaissance help to determine the scope of subsequent soil exploration. It is important to locate any underground utilities to assist in planning and carrying out subsequent subsurface exploration.

A few generalizations of reconnaissance:

1. Details on the ground surface for an early observation. 2. Topographical characteristics, e.g. flatland, hilly, swamps or pit area. 3. The possible location of the ground water tables (GWT). 4. Interviewing the local residents for further information. 5. Taking a lot of photographs of the proposed site.

1.6 Steps Of Soil Exploration Soil exploration in site investigation consists of:

Boring: Refers to drilling or advancing a hole in the ground. The test would include hand auger, motorized hand boring (wash boring), deep boring (rotary drilling), and/or trial pits.

Sampling: Refers to removing soil from the hole. The samples can be classified as disturbed or undisturbed sampling. Disturbed

samples are usually used for soil grain-size analysis, determination of liquid limit, specific gravity of soil as well as compaction test and California bearing ratio (CBR). The undisturbed samples are collected at least every 1.5 m and if changes occur within 1.5 m intervals, an additional sample should be taken.

Testing: Refers to determining the properties from the soil. The test can be performing either at laboratory or at field. Laboratory testing would normally be moisture content, sieve analysis, liquid limit, compaction test, CBR and so forth. Field test would include Standard Penetration Test (SPT), Cone Penetration Test (CPT) and Vane test.

Rotary Wash Boring

1.7 Record of Soil Exploration It is important to keep complete and accurate records of all data collected. Boring, sampling and testing are often costly but it is necessary in every site investigation. A good map giving specific locations of all boring should be available. All boring should be identified and its location documented by measurement to permanent features. And all pertinent data should be recorded in the field on a boring log sheet. Soil data obtained from a series of test boring can best be presented by preparing a geologic profile:

Arrangement of various layers of soil, Ground water table, Existing / proposed structures, Soil properties data (e.g., Standard Penetration Test values).

The profile was prepared with data obtained from the boring, sampling and testing of each borehole from selected points.

1.8 Summarizing

Scope of site investigation works when planned by different engineers tend to be varied because there are an infinite number of conditions to be met and the process of planning also leaves many areas where individual judgment and experiences must be applied. It is also impossible to attempt to provide an exhaustive step by step guidelines applicable to all possible cases. It should be realized that there is a possibility that any site investigation may

leave some area unexplored or overlooked. The main risk in foundation design is the uncertainty involving in predicting soil conditions which may change with environment. The more site investigation the more it will reduce the margin of uncertainty but the time and cost requirement will be exorbitant.

1.9 Conclusion

The resulting ground models provide a basis for prediction. They tie together a number of dispersed point data sets within a defined frame work. The facets were used directly in the definition of objectives and strategy of the ground investigations. The consideration of uncertainty in each part in this ground model formulation. Site investigations are undertaken in order to establish the engineering properties of a soil, the chemical constituents of a soil and the position and quality of ground water at a particular location. For a construction project, the client or design engineer usually requires information from desk studies, risk assessments and site investigations during the planning stage. The design of the investigation will depend on the type of information and level of detail that the client is looking for. So, site investigations very important for get quality constructions.

2.0 ROCK CYCLE

2.1 Introduction This activity is an introduction to the rock cycle by using wax crayons. Crayons have the ability to be ground into small particles (weathered), heated, cooled and compressed just like rocks. However, unlike rocks, all

these processes can be done safely and at reasonable temperatures. Using crayons students can create sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous crayons.

The rock cycle is a general model that describes how various geological processes create, modify, and influence rocks. This model suggests that the origin of all rocks can be ultimately traced back to the solidification of molten magma. Magma consists of a partially melted mixture of elements and compounds commonly found in rocks. Magma exists just beneath the solid crust of the Earth in an interior zone known as the mantle.

The rock cycle

Igneous rocks form from the cooling and crystallization of magma as it migrates closer to the Earth's surface. If the crystallization process occurs at the Earth's surface, the rocks created are called extrusive igneous rocks. Intrusive igneous rocks are rocks that form within the Earth's solid lithosphere. Intrusive igneous rocks can be brought to the surface of the Earth by denudation and by a variety of tectonic processes.

All rock types can be physically and chemically decomposed by a variety of surface processes collectively known as weathering. The debris that is created by weathering is often transported through the landscape by erosional processes via streams, glaciers, wind, and gravity. When this debris is deposited as a permanent sediment, the processes of burial, compression, and chemical alteration can modify these materials over long periods of time to produce sedimentary rocks. A number of geologic processes, like tectonic folding and faulting, can exert heat and pressure on both igneous and sedimentary rocks causing them to be altered physically or chemically. Rocks modified in this way are termed metamorphic rocks. All of the rock types described above can be returned to the Earth's interior by tectonic forces at areas known as subduction zones. Once in the Earth's interior, extreme pressures and temperatures melt the rock back into magma to begin the rock cycle again.

2.2 Objective 1. Explain that rocks are non-living substances made up of one or more minerals.
2. Understand that a mineral is a natural substance with a definite crystal

structure.

3. Differentiate between the three main groups of rocks including: igneous rocks,

sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks.

4. Summarize the characteristics of igneous rocks and the function of magma

and lava in forming igneous rocks.

5. Explain that some sedimentary rocks are formed from sediments or particles

which are deposited, compacted, and cemented into rock.

6. Generally explain the process of weathering and its role in breaking down

rocks and other materials into smaller and smaller pieces.

7. Describe erosion as the process of transporting weathered rocks, particles

and sediments from one place to another.

8. Illustrate the rock cycle, in a sketch highlighting ways that rocks change from

one form to another.

9. Understand that the rock cycle does not always circulate in one direction, but

that rocks can change from one type to another depending on conditions.

2.3 Materials
1. Crayons at least two different colors of wax crayons. 2. Source of very hot water. 3. Aluminium Foil and/or foil cupcake cups. 4. Container to hold hot water.

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5. Simple scrapping device (popsicle stick, plastic knifes).

There are other types of sedimentary rocks whose particles do not come from broken rock fragments. Chemical sedimentary rocks are made of mineral crystals such as halite and gypsum formed by chemical processes. The sediment particles of organic sedimentary rocks are the remains of living things such as clamshells, plankton skeletons, dinosaur bones, and plants.

2.4 Transportation The rock cycle goes round and round, taking hundreds of millions of years. Once the rock has been broken down into smaller bits it's got to somehow move. Streams and rivers carry the small bits towards the sea (continually

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wearing down as the they progress). Big rivers such as the Humber and the Severn carry millions of tonnes of sediments out to sea each year.

2.5 Sedimentary Rocks Sedimentary rocks are formed in three steps: 1. Layers of sediment are deposited at the bottom of seas and lakes. 2. Over millions of years the layers get squashed by the layers above. 3. The salts that are present in the layers of sediment start to crystallize out as the water is squeezed out. These salts help to cement the particles together.

2.6 Sedimentary Rock

Sedimentary rock will often have layers or bands across them.

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It will often contain fossils which are fragments of animals or plants preserved within the rock. Only sedimentary rocks contain fossils. The rock will tend to scrape easily and often crumble easily.

2.8 Igneous Rocks Igneous rocks form when molten rock (Magma if it is below the surface or lava if it has erupted from a volcano) solidifies. These rocks can be identified by the following tell-tale clues:

Igneous rocks contain a minerals randomly arranged in crystals. If the rock has small crystals this means that it had rapidly cooled, possibly because it was erupted into the ocean. We call it an EXTRUSIVE IGNEOUS rock. If the rock has large crystals it means that it slowly cooled, the molten rock solidifies deep down within the crust without ever reaching the surface via an eruption. We call it an INTRUSIVE IGNEOUS rock.

The rock are usually tough and hard (With the most famous exception being pumice stone).

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2.9 Conclusion

Rocks are divided into three basic groups: igneous rocks, which are formed from cooling of molten rocks, metamorphic rocks, which are rocks that have been altered by heat and pressure, and sedimentary rocks, which are rocks formed from class of older rocks or chemically precipitated. All rocks are formed of minerals, which are regular arrangements of molecules into crystals. The rocks are linked together by the rocks cycle.

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3.0 References

Internet :
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http://www.geosol.net/geology.htm http://www.learner.org/interactives/rockcycle/ http://www.womeninmining.org/activities/RockCycle_6-28-07.pdf http://geography.about.com/cs/physicalgeography1/a/rockcycle.ht m

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