Course Catalogue.

After participating in this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the principles and procedures for geotechnical site investigation.
• Learn how to select the right type of in-situ testing tool.
• Become knowledgeable about the observational method in geotechnical engineering and state-of-the-art technologies used for geotechnical investigation.
• Review applications of site investigation, observational method, and in-situ testing for slopes, settlement, fills, excavations and walls.

Description
Geotechnical engineers have a fascinating, yet occasionally confounding, job because they deal with inherently variable materials arranged by Nature - soil and rock. Karl Terzaghi once purportedly stated, “Nature has no contract with mathematics…” Similarly, Peck (1972) said, “In construction underground, where the engineer deals with materials having properties that vary not only in space but also in time, details of construction often have significant or even overwhelming influence on the behavior of the structure and the surrounding soil.

For an understanding of the behavior, these details must be observed and recorded.” As such, geotechnical engineers, perhaps more than any other branch of civil engineering, rely on physical (and preferably in-situ) measurements of material (soil and rock) properties and behavior for use in engineering design and the subsequent evaluation of engineering performance.

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of geotechnical site investigation methods, emphasizing the importance of stratigraphy, groundwater conditions, soil characterization, field testing, and laboratory analysis. Participants will gain practical knowledge of site investigation planning, execution, and interpretation.

Who Should Attend
Designers • Planners • Construction Managers • Geotechnical Engineers • Municipal Engineers • Contractors • Owners and Other Technical Personnel Interested in Geotechnical Site Investigation and in-situ testing of soils

Course Syllabus

Day 1: Fundamentals and Investigation Methods

Session 1: Introduction to Geotechnical Site Investigation

Definition & Objectives

• Importance of site investigation
• Site investigation objectives: stratigraphy, groundwater conditions, material properties, geotechnical hazards

Challenges & Costs

• Common geotechnical failures due to poor investigation
• Cost implications and planning considerations

• Examples of failures due to inadequate site investigation

Session 2: Site Investigation Planning & Preliminary Studies

Planning a Site Investigation

• Desk study, reconnaissance, subsurface exploration, testing, interpretation
• Required geotechnical parameters for design

Desk Study & Walkover Survey

• Literature review, geological maps, satellite imagery
• Identifying hazards, previous land use, site topography

Observational Method (Peck, 1969)

• Adaptive approach in geotechnical design

Session 3: Subsurface Exploration Methods

Preliminary vs. Detailed Exploration

• Borehole placement strategies
• Number and depth of boreholes for different projects (buildings, roads, dams)

Drilling Methods

• Trial pits & hand auger drilling
• Rotary drilling techniques (hollow-stem, solid-stem augers, tricone bits)
• Core drilling and rock coring

Session 4: In-Situ Testing Methods (Part 1)

Standard Penetration Test (SPT)

• Procedure, correction factors, correlation with soil properties

Cone Penetration Test (CPT)

• CPT equipment and interpretation
• Soil classification from CPT data

Field Vane Shear Test (FVST)

• Shear strength determination in soft clays

Q&A and Discussion

Day 2: Advanced Investigation Techniques & Case Studies

Session 5: In-Situ Testing Methods (Part 2)

Pressuremeter Test (PMT)

• Menard pressuremeter and its applications

Dilatometer Test (DMT)

• Marchetti dilatometer for soil profiling

Borehole Shear Test (BST)

• Shear strength determination in situ

Session 6: Geophysical and Hydraulic Conductivity Testing

Geophysical Techniques

• Seismic refraction and reflection
• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
• Electrical resistivity testing

Hydraulic Conductivity Testing

• Slug test, packer test, and pumping test
• Interpretation of permeability results

Session 7: Interpretation of Site Investigation Data

Data Analysis & Interpretation

• Correlation of in-situ test results with soil properties
• Estimating design parameters (bearing capacity, settlement)

Uncertainties & Risk Management

• Geotechnical claims and litigation examples from Canada

Session 8: Case Studies & Real-World Applications

Review of Famous Geotechnical Failures

• Cases where inadequate site investigation led to failure

Best Practices in Site Investigation

• Lessons learned and improving industry practices

Q&A, Discussion, and Wrap-up

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