Review Questions

Explain what is included in surface investigation and subsurface investigation
of a site. Surface investigation involves the examination and assessment of

the uppermost layers of the site or area under consideration. It typically
includes the following:
-Topographic Survey: This involves mapping the surface contours, features,
and elevations of the site to understand its natural and man-made
characteristics. -Geotechnical Investigations: This includes assessing the soil
conditions, such as composition, density, and stability, through techniques like
drilling, sampling, and in-situ testing. It helps in determining the soil's
suitability for construction and the potential risks it may pose.
-Environmental Assessment: It involves evaluating the environmental
conditions and potential impacts on the site. This may include analyzing the
presence of contaminants, assessing the quality of air and water, and studying
ecological factors.
-Archaeological Assessment: If there is a possibility of significant
archaeological artifacts or cultural heritage on the site, a preliminary
assessment may be conducted to identify and preserve any valuable findings.
Subsurface Investigation: Subsurface investigation focuses on exploring the
deeper layers of the site beyond the surface.
It provides a more detailed understanding of the geological and geotechnical
characteristics. Some common methods used in subsurface investigations are:
-Borehole Drilling: This involves drilling holes into the ground to extract soil
and rock samples for laboratory testing. It helps in assessing the soil and rock
properties, including strength, permeability, and bearing capacity.
-Geophysical Surveys: These surveys use various techniques like seismic
refraction, ground-penetrating radar, or electrical resistivity to study the
subsurface conditions.
They provide information about the presence of underground structures,
bedrock, groundwater, and potential geological hazards.
-Soil Testing: Laboratory testing of soil samples collected from boreholes
helps determine its properties, including grain size distribution, compaction
characteristics, shear strength, and consolidation behavior.
-Groundwater Monitoring: It involves measuring the water table depth and
monitoring groundwater quality to understand the hydrological conditions of
the site.
The combination of surface and subsurface investigations provides a
comprehensive understanding of the site's physical characteristics, allowing
engineers, architects, and planners to make informed decisions regarding
construction, development, or land use.
Explain the difference among (a) fine-grained soils and coarse-grained soils,
(b) sand and gravel, and (c) silt and clay.
a) Fine-grained soils are those with particles that are smaller than 0.075mm
in diameter, such as clay and silt. Coarse-grained soils are those with particles
larger than 0.075mm, such as sand and gravel.
(b) Sand and gravel are both coarse-grained soils, but sand particles are
smaller than gravel particles. Sand particles are between 0.075mm and
4.75mm in diameter, while gravel particles are larger than 4.75mm.
(c) Silt and clay are both fine-grained soils, but silt particles are larger than
clay particles. Silt particles are between 0.002mm and 0.075mm in diameter,
while clay particles are smaller than 0.002mm.
Explain why clayey soils are unstable.
They are unstable because they expand and contract depending on the amount
of water present in them.
Explain the difference between how a stiff, dense soil and a soft, loosely
compacted soil performs during an earthquake. Stiff, dense soil generally
performs better during an earthquake compared to soft, loosely compacted
soil.
It experiences less amplification, settlement, and deformation, and possesses
higher shear strength, contributing to improved stability and reduced risks to
structures and foundations.
Explain why the wall and column footings must be placed below the frost line.
When the footing is positioned above the frost line, the presence of water in
the soil can lead to freezing, resulting in soil heaving and potential damage to
the footings.

Review Questions

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Review Questions

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Review Questions

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Explain what is included in surface investigation and subsurface investigation

of a site. Surface investigation involves the examination and assessment of

You might also like