Geotechnical Engineering Investigation - PIP
Geotechnical Engineering Investigation - PIP
March 2016
Civil
PIP CVS02010
Geotechnical Engineering Investigation
Specification
PURPOSE AND USE OF PROCESS INDUSTRY PRACTICES
In an effort to minimize the cost of process industry facilities, this Practice has
been prepared from the technical requirements in the existing standards of major
industrial users, contractors, or standards organizations. By harmonizing these technical
requirements into a single set of Practices, administrative, application, and engineering
costs to both the purchaser and the manufacturer should be reduced. While this Practice
is expected to incorporate the majority of requirements of most users, individual
applications may involve requirements that will be appended to and take precedence
over this Practice. Determinations concerning fitness for purpose and particular matters
or application of the Practice to particular project or engineering situations should not
be made solely on information contained in these materials. The use of trade names
from time to time should not be viewed as an expression of preference but rather
recognized as normal usage in the trade. Other brands having the same specifications
are equally correct and may be substituted for those named. All Practices or guidelines
are intended to be consistent with applicable laws and regulations including OSHA
requirements. To the extent these Practices or guidelines should conflict with OSHA or
other applicable laws or regulations, such laws or regulations must be followed.
Consult an appropriate professional before applying or acting on any material
contained in or suggested by the Practice.
PUBLISHING HISTORY
July 1997 Issued
August 2002 Reaffirmation
February 2009 Complete Revision
March 2016 Complete Revision
Civil
PIP CVS02010
Geotechnical Engineering Investigation
Specification
Table of Contents
1. Scope ........................................................................................................................ 2
2. References ............................................................................................................... 2
2.1 Industry Codes and Standards ....................................................................................................... 2
3. Definitions ................................................................................................................ 4
4. Requirements ........................................................................................................... 5
4.1 General ........................................................................................................................................... 5
4.2 Submittals ....................................................................................................................................... 6
4.3 Execution ........................................................................................................................................ 7
Data Form
CVS02010-F - Geotechnical Engineering Services - Report Checklist
1. Scope
This Practice describes minimum requirements for a geotechnical engineering investigation
including subsurface exploration, field and laboratory testing, analyses, and preparation of reports
that present geotechnical engineering recommendations for design and construction.
2. References
Applicable parts of the following industry codes and standards and references shall be considered
an integral part of this Practice. The edition in effect on the date of the contract award shall be
used, except as otherwise noted. Short titles are used herein where appropriate.
ASTM D1586 - Standard Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and
Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
ASTM D1587 - Standard Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of Soils for
Geotechnical Purposes
ASTM D1883 - Standard Test Method for California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of
Laboratory-Compacted Soils
ASTM D2166/D2166M - Standard Test Method for Unconfined Compressive
Strength of Cohesive Soil
ASTM D2216 - Standard Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water
(Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
ASTM D2435/D2435M - Standard Test Methods for One-Dimensional
Consolidation Properties of Soils Using Incremental Loading
ASTM D2487 - Standard Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering
Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
ASTM D2488 - Standard Practice for Description and Identification of Soils
(Visual-Manual Procedure)
ASTM D2850 - Standard Test Method for Unconsolidated-Undrained Triaxial
Compressive Test on Cohesive Soils
ASTM D3080/D3080M - Standard Test Method for Direct Shear Test of Soils
Under Consolidated Drained Conditions
ASTM D4253 - Standard Test Methods for Maximum Index Density and Unit
Weight of Soils Using a Vibratory Table
ASTM D4254 - Standard Test Methods for Minimum Index Density and Unit
Weight of Soils and Calculation of Relative Density
ASTM D4318 - Standard Test Methods for Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and
Plasticity Index of Soils
ASTM D4428/D4428M - Standard Test Methods for Crosshole Seismic Testing
ASTM D4429 - Standard Test Method for CBR (California Bearing Ratio) of Soils
in Place
ASTM D4647/D4647M - Standard Test Methods for Identification and
Classification of Dispersive Clay Soils by the Pinhole Test
ASTM D4648/D4648M - Standard Test Method for Laboratory Miniature Vane
Shear Test for Saturated Fine-Grained Clayey Soil
ASTM D5334 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Thermal Conductivity
of Soil and Soft Rock by Thermal Needle Probe Procedure
ASTM D5434 - Standard Guide for Field Logging of Subsurface Explorations of
Soil and Rock
ASTM D5731 - Standard Test Method for Determination of the Point Load
Strength Index of Rock and Application to Rock Strength Classifications
ASTM D5778 - Standard Test Method for Electronic Friction Cone and Piezocone
Penetration Testing of Soils
ASTM D6032 - Standard Test Method for Determining Rock Quality Designation
(RQD) of Rock Core
3. Definitions
contract documents: Any and all documents, including codes, studies, design drawings,
specifications, sketches, practices, and data sheets, that purchaser or engineer of record has
transmitted or otherwise communicated, either by incorporation or reference, and made part of
the legal contract agreement or purchase order between purchaser and geotechnical engineer.
Fatal Flaw Investigation: Discovery of geotechnical and geologic conditions which would
prevent use of the site or render its use uneconomic. Only small portions of this Practice may be
useful.
Final Design Investigation: Discovery and definition of geohazards and geotechnical engineering
parameters to design final foundations to support equipment and structures. This Practice applies
to the majority of such investigations.
owner: Party who has authority through ownership, lease, or other legal agreement over site
wherein geotechnical engineering investigation will be performed.
professional engineer: An engineer, other than engineer of record, licensed as defined by laws of
the locality in which facility is to be constructed and qualified to practice in the specialty
discipline required for the work described in contract documents.
purchaser: Party who awards contract to geotechnical engineer. Purchaser may be owner or
owners authorized agent.
4. Requirements
4.1 General
4.1.1 Geotechnical engineering investigations shall be performed in accordance with
purchasers contract documents including scope of work document that describes
proposed facilities (i.e., preliminary plot plans, anticipated loads, construction
loads, and subsurface contamination which may be encountered on the site), this
Practice, and purchasers Report Checklist, PIP CVS02010-F.
4.1.2 A qualified geotechnical representative shall be provided in the field full time
during exploration activities. Geotechnical representative shall perform the
following work:
a. Supervise and observe all subsurface exploration operations and in-situ
testing
b. Classify samples and prepare logs of borings, soundings, pits, etc.
4.1.3 Before submitting proposal, geotechnical engineer shall examine the site to
assess and record existing conditions unless waived by purchaser.
4.1.4 The following items shall be provided with the proposal submitted to purchaser:
a. Plans for performing geophysical surveys to non-destructively examine the
site in accordance with ASTM D6429 to characterize the site, investigate
anomalies, and aid in identifying appropriate borings, Cone Penetration Test
(CPT) soundings and sampling points representative of site conditions.
b. If purchaser specifies a program for field and/or laboratory testing,
geotechnical engineer shall provide a statement supporting adequacy of the
proposed program and suggesting modifications. The number and depth of
borings, CPT soundings, and other tests shall be optimized.
c. If purchaser does not specify a program for field and laboratory testing,
geotechnical engineer shall provide a detailed proposed program of field
exploration, field testing, and laboratory testing containing the following:
(1) Plan showing locations and depths of borings, CPT soundings, and other
tests
(2) Field-sampling and testing program, including types and frequency of
samples and tests
(3) Laboratory-testing program, including types and numbers of tests
(4) Descriptions of any methods/tests not referenced herein
4.2.3.3 Emphasis on how soil properties interact to support structures, roads, and
site drainage including subsurface drainage shall be provided.
4.2.3.4 Conclusions, final test results, competed logs and recommendations shall
be provided.
4.2.3.5 An electronic copy of draft final report shall be submitted to purchaser
for review.
4.2.4 Final Report
4.2.4.1 A final report shall be provided that includes all information required in
accordance with purchasers Report Checklist, PIP CVS02010-F.
4.2.4.2 Final report shall respond to purchasers comments and questions on
draft final report within two weeks of receipt of purchasers comments
and questions.
4.2.4.3 Final reports shall be submitted under signature and seal of geotechnical
engineer.
4.2.4.4 An electronic file and three paper copies of final report shall be
submitted to purchaser. Additional copies shall be provided if requested
by purchaser.
4.3 Execution
4.3.1 General
4.3.1.1 All labor, equipment, tools, supervision, supplies, and transportation
required to perform geotechnical investigation, exploration, testing,
analyses, and reporting in accordance with this Practice, including
requirements in purchasers Report Checklist, PIP CVS02010-F, shall be
provided.
4.3.1.2 The work shall be performed in accordance with all aspects of programs
and policies of purchaser and/or owner.
4.3.1.3 Purchaser shall be immediately informed if initial field work and/or
testing indicate a need for modifications of the work scope.
4.3.2 Utilities
4.3.2.1 Underground utilities shall be located with due diligence before
commencing field work. This shall include requests to purchaser,
jurisdiction locating services, and local utilities for information, and shall
also include surface geophysical surveys in accordance with Section
4.1.4.a of this Practice and probing before drilling in accordance with
Section 4.3.3.4 of this Practice.
4.3.2.2 Purchaser will provide information on all known underground utilities in
proximity of the work at least 48 hours before any excavations, or
ground penetrations.
4.3.2.3 All work shall be performed a sufficient distance away from known
underground and aboveground utilities to protect personnel and utilities.
4.3.3.12 Borings and CPT soundings shall extend sufficiently beneath the depth
of planned final lowest grade cut elevation to provide adequate
foundation design information.
4.3.3.13 Borings and soil samples shall be logged in the field in accordance with
ASTM D5434.
4.3.3.14 If rock is encountered, borings shall core 5 feet (1.5 m) minimum into
the rock and rock quality shall be field evaluated for rock quality
designation (RQD) in accordance with ASTM D6032 and ASTM D5731.
4.3.3.15 Rock shall be defined as when a hollow stem auger refuses to advance
or SPT test records more than 50 blows in 6 inches (150 mm).
4.3.3.16 In situ testing to determine dynamic shear modulus shall be crosshole
seismic testing in accordance with ASTM D4428/D4428M and/or
downhole seismic testing in accordance with ASTM D7400.
4.3.3.17 Cone Penetration Test (CPT) Soundings
1. CPT soundings shall be performed in accordance with ASTM
D5778.
2. Thrust machine shall be capable of the following:
a. Being leveled for a vertical thrust direction and deviation
controlled to less than 2 degrees
b. Providing a continuous stroke of 3.3 feet (1 m) minimum at a
rate of 3/4 inches/minute (20 mm/minute) 3/16 inches/minute
(5 mm/minute)
c. Providing a reaction force of 20 tons (178 kN) minimum unless
mounted on a swamp buggy or anchored trailer, in which case
the reaction force shall be 15 tons (133 kN) minimum
3. Cone size/type shall be chosen to provide tip resistance, sleeve
friction resistance and if required, pore pressure and temperature or
shear wave velocities by electronic means.
4. Refusal depth shall be extended by using pushrod support casing to
prevent buckling in the upper soft soil zones of the sounding if
required by geotechnical engineer or engineer of record.
4.3.3.18 Completed boreholes and CPT soundings shall be grouted from the
bottom of the hole up with a grout mixture of the following:
a. Portland cement
b. 4% to 15% by weight of bentonite
c. Potable water or water from a source approved by purchaser
d. As required by local or state requirements
4.3.3.23 Boring cuttings shall be spread over unpaved sites unless otherwise
specified by purchaser. Cuttings in paved sites shall be drummed for
disposal. Purchaser will be responsible for providng drums and
disposing of drums.
4.3.3.24 Site shall be restored and equipment shall be cleaned prior to leaving
site in accordance with contract documents.
4.3.4 Laboratory Testing
4.3.4.1 Written approval shall be obtained from purchaser for any modifications
to agreed testing program.
4.3.4.2 Soils shall be prepared for particle-size analysis and determination of
basic soil engineering parameters in accordance with ASTM D421.
4.3.4.3 Particle size analysis of soils shall be performed in accordance with
ASTM C117, ASTM C136/C136M and ASTM D422 as applicable.
4.3.4.4 Classification testing shall be in accordance with ASTM D1140 and
ASTM D2487.
4.3.4.5 Laboratory identification of soils shall be in accordance with ASTM
D1140, ASTM D2487, and ASTM D2488.
4.3.4.6 Physical soil properties listed below shall be determined in the laboratory
in accordance with the corresponding ASTMs:
a. Standard Proctor Density, ASTM D698
b. Modified Proctor Density, ASTM D1557
c. Water (Moisture) Content (WC), ASTM D2216
d. California Bearing Ratio (CBR), ASTM D1883
e. Unconfined Compressive Strength of Cohesive Soil, ASTM
D2166/D2166M
f. One-Dimensional Consolidation, ASTM D2435/D2435M
g. Unconsolidated-Undrained (UU) Triaxial Compression Test on
Cohesive Soils, ASTM D2850
h. Direct Shear Test of Soils Under Consolidated Drained Conditions,
ASTM D3080/D3080M
i. Maximum Index Density and Unit Weight Using a Vibratory Table,
ASTM D4253
j. Minimum Index Density, Unit Weight of Soils and Calculation of
Relative Density, ASTM D4254
k. Atterberg Limits: Liquid Limit (LL), Plastic Limit (PL), and
Plasticity Index (PI) of Soils, ASTM D4318
l. Thermal Conductivity of Soil and Soft Rock, ASTM D5334
m. Dispersive Characteristics of Clay Soils, ASTM D4647/D4647M
and/or ASTM D6572