ENG 4101: Project 1
Project 1: Geotechnical investigation for upgrade of the Exit 54 interchange on the
Pacific Motorway at Coomera
Group 17
Learning objectives: This activity will provide students with opportunities to a) develop critical
skills necessary to co
ectly interpret and analyze field and laboratory data, b) experience what
geotechnical engineering is like, and c) develop problem-solving skills.
Due date: September 11 (week 8), by 11.59 pm.
Submission: Online submission.
Weight: 25%.
Feedback: Feedback and mark will be given to students approximately within 2 weeks following
submission.
Introduction
This is a factual report, which presents the results of a geotechnical investigation for the proposed
upgrade of the Exit 54 interchange on the Pacific Motorway at Coomera. The work was done to
investigate the composition, thickness, consistencies and strength of the subsurface strata. The results
of borehole drilling, test pits and laboratory testing will be used to assist with the foundation design
for the proposed new road embankment. All fieldwork and laboratory testing were ca
ied out in
accordance with the relevant standards.
You are required to interpret and analyse the obtained data, develop a geological model and draw a
soil cross-section, identify and describe geological issues that may occur during construction,
estimate stresses acting in soil mass before and during construction, and investigate the compaction
characteristics of bo
ow sand which will be used for road construction.
This document contains:
- Field and laboratory data;
- Task description;
- Report form;
- Marking criteria.
Figure 1. Map of the project area
Figure 2: Borehole BH6, Elevation – 1.51 m.
Borehole log legend: Drilling method: W-washbore, T-TC bit. Sample type: U50-undistu
ed sample 50 mm diameter.
Moisture: M-moist, W-wet. Consistency: VS-very soft, F-firm, St-stiff, H-hard. Test/Results: PP – pocket penetrometer,
S undistu
ed – vane shear strength of undistu
ed soil; S distu
ed – vane shear strength of distu
ed (remoulded)
soil.
Figure 3: Borehole BH8, Elevation – 0.60 m.
Borehole log legend: Drilling method: W-washbore, T-TC bit. Sample type: U50-undistu
ed sample 50 mm diameter.
Moisture: M-moist, W-wet. Consistency: VS-very soft, F-firm, St-stiff, H-hard. Test/Results: PP – pocket penetrometer,
S undistu
ed – vane shear strength of undistu
ed soil; S distu
ed – vane shear strength of distu
ed (remoulded)
soil.
Table 1: Particle size distribution, density and consistency limits test report
1Client:
1Project:
1Location:
Home PTY LTD
Upgrade of Pacific Motorway at Coomera
Exit 54, Pacific Motorway at Coomera
1Job No.
1Date Checked:
1Checked by:
XXXXXXXXXX
19-Jan-2014
Lab Reference No.
B15761 Sample Identification: BH6
Depth: 7 m
Laboratory Specimen Description:
Residual, Silty clay
Particle Size Distribution AS XXXXXXXXXXDensity, Consistency Limits and Moisture Content
Sieve Size
mm
% Passing Specification Test Method Result Spec.
9.5
6.7
4.75
2.36
1.18
0.600
0.425
0.300
0.150
0.075
0.020
0.006
0.002
100
98
96
91
77
42
23
21
18
14
Liquid Limit
Plastic Limit
Linear Shrinkage
Moisture Content
Wet Density
Soil Particle Density
%
%
%
%
%
t/m3
1AS XXXXXXXXXX
1AS XXXXXXXXXX
1AS XXXXXXXXXX
1AS XXXXXXXXXX
1AS1289 F4.1
1AS1289 F4.1
36
29
1.2
Table 2
Table 3
2.69
Sample History:
Preparation Method:
Crumbling / Curling of linear shrinkage:
Linear shrinkage mould length:
Oven dried (105°C)
Dry sieved
Nil
250mm
Table 2: Data from water content tests
Container ID Mass of
container, g
Mass of wet soil
+ container, g
Mass of dry soil +
container, g
Water content, %
La XXXXXXXXXX
La XXXXXXXXXX
Average
Table 3: Characteristics of soil samples
No Sample
mass, g
Diameter,
mm
Height,
mm
Density,
g/cm3
Unit weight,
kN/m3
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
Average
Table 4: Particle size distribution, density and consistency limits test report
1Client:
1Project:
1Location:
Home PTY LTD
Upgrade of Pacific Motorway at Coomera
Exit 54, Pacific Motorway at Coomera
1Job No.
1Date Checked:
1Checked by:
XXXXXXXXXX
19-Jan-2014
Lab Reference No.
B15761 Sample Identification: BH6
Depth: 3 m
Laboratory Specimen Description:
Lacustrine, Silty clay
Particle Size Distribution AS XXXXXXXXXXDensity, Consistency Limits and Moisture Content
Sieve Size
mm
% Passing Specification Test Method Result Spec.
9.5
6.7
4.75
2.36
1.18
0.600
0.425
0.300
0.150
0.075
0.020
0.006
0.002
100
99
99
99
96
95
93
87
81
75
Liquid Limit
Plastic Limit
Linear Shrinkage
Moisture Content
Wet Density
Soil Particle Density
%
%
%
%
%
t/m3
1AS XXXXXXXXXX
1AS XXXXXXXXXX
1AS XXXXXXXXXX
1AS XXXXXXXXXX
1AS1289 F4.1
1AS1289 F4.1
67
35
14.5
Table 5
Table 6
2.51
Sample History:
Preparation Method:
Crumbling / Curling of linear shrinkage:
Linear shrinkage mould length:
Oven dried (105°C)
Dry sieved
Nil
250mm
Table 5: Data from water content tests
Container ID Mass of
container, g
Mass of wet soil
+ container, g
Mass of dry soil +
container, g
Water content, %
La XXXXXXXXXX
La XXXXXXXXXX
Average
Table 6: Characteristics of soil samples
No Sample
mass, g
Diameter,
mm Height, mm Density, g/cm
3 Unit weight, kN/m3
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
Average
Table 7: Particle size distribution, density and consistency limits test report
1Client:
1Project:
1Location:
Home PTY LTD
Upgrade of Pacific Motorway at Coomera
Exit 54, Pacific Motorway at Coomera
1Job No.
1Date Checked:
1Checked by:
XXXXXXXXXX
19-Jan-2014
Lab Reference No.
B15761 Sample Identification: BH6
Depth: 6 m
Laboratory Specimen Description:
Lacustrine, Sand
Particle Size Distribution AS XXXXXXXXXXDensity, Consistency Limits and Moisture Content
Sieve Size
mm
% Passing Specification Test Method Result Spec.
9.5
6.7
4.75
2.36
1.18
0.600
0.425
0.300
0.150
0.075
100
100
100
100
98
76
5
4
Liquid Limit
Plastic Limit
Linear Shrinkage
Moisture Content
Wet Density
Soil Particle Density
Maximum void ratio
Minimum void ratio
%
%
%
%
%
t/m3
1AS XXXXXXXXXX
1AS XXXXXXXXXX
1AS XXXXXXXXXX
1AS XXXXXXXXXX
1AS1289 F4.1
1AS1289 F4.1
-
-
-
Table 8
Table 9
2.57
0.921
0.521
Sample History:
Preparation Method:
Crumbling / Curling of linear shrinkage:
Linear shrinkage mould length:
Oven dried (105°C)
Dry sieved
Nil
250mm
Table 8: Data from water content tests
Container ID Mass of
container, g
Mass of wet soil
+ container, g
Mass of dry soil +
container, g
Water content, %
La XXXXXXXXXX
La XXXXXXXXXX
Average
Table 9: Characteristics of soil samples
No Sample
mass, g
Diameter,
mm Height, mm Density, g/cm
3 Unit weight, kN/m3
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
Average
Table 10: Data from standard Proctor compaction tests
Compaction effort: Standard Mould diameter: 103.4 mm
Mould height: 111.2 mm Mass of mould: 4523 g
Test No XXXXXXXXXX
Mass of compacted soil + mould (g XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
Water content (% XXXXXXXXXX18.7
Table 11: Compaction control tests
Control test No. Volume of soil, cm3 Mass of wet soil, g Mass of dry soil, g
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
Tasks to complete. Total mark = 7.
The project includes three major parts which are detailed below.
Part 1. Analysis of subsurface
conditions at the proposed site
Part 2. Analysis of stress
conditions before and
during excavation
Part 3. Road
embankment
construction
1a. Borehole data and cross-
section. Draw a cross-section along
the A-A′ line; establish the main
geological units and groundwater
table using the map and borehole
logs.
(1 mark)
2a. Stresses in soil mass.
Using