CIE6003 Geotechnical Engineering And Ground Improvement

CIE6003 Geotechnical Engineering and Ground Improvement Assignment - University of Bolton, UK

This is a highly complex assignment designed by the professors of geotechnical engineering department of university of Bolton UK. This assignment enhance the abilities of students to deal with the problems occurring in the field. This assignment mimics the problems of field and emphasis on how to solve them efficiently. 

Project Overview for Coursework Exercise -

NOTE: Usually a Geotechnical specialist will spend a significant amount of time studying the ground investigation reports to come up with this data by their interpretation of the range in typical values that might be appropriate for the soil, as it varies both spatially across zones of the site and also with depth.

This summary provided here is what a design team would then work with to come up with a draft scheme foundation and ground improvement plan, hence your task now is similar to what a design team might need to carry out. The site is approximately 1.5km x 1.5km.

Zone A Soil Summary -

Made Ground - Primarily a cohesive made ground material, from ground level and with a thickness between 0.90m to 2.70m, with an average of 2.10m.

Firm Clay - from depth below ground level of 0.90m to 2.10m and from 2.70m to 4.50m in the two extreme situations identified on site (cu = 65kN/m2to 90kN/m2). Note in 80% of the area it is assessed that the Firm Clay is present at a depth of between 1.60m and 2.10m.

Stiff to Very Stiff Clay - at all locations beneath the firm clay extending down to depths varying between 6.50m and 10.00m (cu= 125kN/m2 to 200kN/m2).

Weathered and moderately weak Sandstone - encountered at all locations across the site and there was no rotary coring of the sandstone to enable strength determination, simply a light cable percussion drilling technique was used (N values using a solid cone were all C>50 after 1m chiselling at a depth of 2m into the weathered sandstone).

Zone B Soil Summary -

Made Ground - Primarily a granular material, from ground level and with a thickness between 2.70m to 4.30m, with an average of 3.10m.

Firm Clay - from depth below ground level of 2.70m to 3.30m and from 4.30m to 4.50m in the two extreme situations identified on site (cu= 80kN/m2 to 95kN/m2).

Stiff to Very Stiff Clay - at all locations beneath the firm clay extending down to depths varying between 13.50m and 14.50m (cu = 150kN/m2 to 225kN/m2).

Weathered and moderately weak Sandstone - encountered at all locations across the site and there was no rotary coring of the sandstone to enable strength determination, simply a light cable percussion drilling technique was used (N values using a solid cone were all C>50 after 1m chiselling at a depth of 2m into the weathered sandstone).

Zone C Soil Summary -

Made Ground - Primarily a granular made ground material, from ground level and with a thickness between 0.50m to 1.00m, with an average of 0.90m.

Very Soft to Soft Clay - from depth below ground level of 0.50m to 8.30m and from 1.00m to 7.10m in the two extreme situations identified on site (cu = 20kN/m2 to 35kN/m2).

Firm Clay - Not present under this Zone.

Stiff to Very Stiff Clay - at all locations beneath the soft clay extending down to depths varying between 16.50m and 18.00m (cu = 150kN/m2 to 225kN/m2).

Weathered and moderately weak Sandstone - encountered at all locations across the site and there was no rotary coring of the sandstone to enable strength determination, simply a light cable percussion drilling technique was used (N values using a solid cone were all C>50 after 1m chiselling at a depth of 2m into the weathered sandstone).

Additional Soil Properties

Soft clay - mv varies from 0.5m2/MN to 0.7 m2/MN.

Soft clay - cv varies from 2.5m2/year to 5 m2/year.

Soft clay - ch varies from 4m2/year to 7 m2/year.