Site Investigation in Forensic Engineering

by Ir. Liew Shaw Shong

Gue & Partners Sdn Bhd MSIA Seminar on 9 June 2003

Contents
qForensic Engineering qCommon Types of Geotechnical Failures qTypes of Damages qInvestigating Processes qCommon causes of failure/distress qCase Histories qConclusions

Forensic Engineering
qBabylonian King, Hammurabi: - If a contractor builds a house and it collapses killing its owner, the contractor will be killed. If the son of the owner is killed, then so will be the son of the contractor. qNapoleonic code (1804): - If a structure had a loss of serviceability within 10 years of its completion, due to poor workmanship or foundation failure, then the builder would be sent to prison. qNow : 18 months defect liability period/Board discipline actions

Forensic Engineering
qClient: - Insurance Company, Loss Adjuster, Property Owner, Developer, Government Agency qDuty: - Investigate distresses & damages of the structures and its causes, develop remedial solution and expert witness qFocus: - Not for design but to investigate damage & failure qDilemma: - Conflicting facts & overwhelming information

Conflicting Facts

Common Types of Failures

qLandslide qBearing Capacity Failure qSettlement qStructural Failure of Supporting Elements

Types of Damages
qArchitectural damage qServiceability damage qStructural damage

Architectural Damage

Serviceability Damage

Structural Damage

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Investigating Processes
qDesk Study & Site Reconnaissance qPlan, Implement & Supervise S.I qLaboratory Testing & Other physical works qInterpretation, Analyses & Assessment qConclusion

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Desk Study & Site Reconnaissance

qIdentify type of failure & damage qInformation
Original & As-built Topography Previous S.I. information Land Use & History Condition/Dilapidation survey Construction drawings, specifications, records, photos, progress report & weather records - Relevant testing & monitoring results - Chronological events

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Plan, Implement & Supervise S.I.

qAppropriate probing, laboratory testing, monitoring & survey qDefine work scope & criteria qDrilling & sampling techniques (Foam/water flushing) qCalibration (Piezocone/vane shear) qInstallation, testing & commissioning of instruments qFull time proper supervision by competent personnel qBriefing, Checklists & Reporting

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Things to watch out

Setting-out Drilling Sampling Water level Storage & Transport Proper survey (coordinates & level) Water flushing, polymer & foam drilling Piston & thin walled sampler, Mazier sampler, water sampler Cased/uncased & Morning/evening Waxing, labelling, core box, avoid direct sunlight

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Types of Testing
Concern Soil type Strength Field Test CPT Laboratory Tests PSD, Atterberg limits, X-ray diffraction DS, UCT ,UU, CIU & CID, PLT, CBR

VS, CPT PBT, CBR Deformation Correlations of SPT & CPT, PMT, PBT Compactness FDD Proctor test

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Correlation (Vane Shear)

0
Legend Peak Strength Residual Strength

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Depth (m)

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20

25

30

5 10 Error in Undrained Shear Strength (kPa)

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Mazier Sampler

Soft Soil

Stiff Soil

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Foam Drilling

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Sample Recovery

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Poor sampling

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Laboratory Tests & Other Physical Works

q Strength tests (Multi-stage/side drain) q Sample preparation (size, extrusion & etc) q In-situ Testing q Destructive/non-destructive testing q Water sample testing q Geological & cracks mapping q Excavation to expose the elements in study q Monitoring & instrumentation

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Types of Instruments
Concern Stress & Load Deformation Water level & Pore pressure Vibration Instruments Strain gauge, load cell Crackmeter, settlement marker, tiltmeter, inclinometer, strainmeter Piezometer, standpipe, observation well Vibration sensor

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Interpretation
q Categorise the information q Interpret S.I. & monitoring results q Check for consistency of information & identify conflicting information q Setup geotechnical/geological models with engineering parameters

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Analyses & Assessments

q Engineering models for the as-built condition
Ultimate limit state analyses (Failure mechanism) Serviceability state analyses (Deformation) FEM analyses Drainage study (Erosion & Drain capacity)

q Establish initial conditions before disturbance q Establish threshold to define onset of problem q Verify analysis results with threshold q Determine sequence of events & causes of failure q Identify probable future distress

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Conclusion
q Gathering of facts (document search, provided information, observation, S.I. & testing results & analysis results) to conclude causes of failure or distress q Recommendations for remedial works q Report preparation

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Common Causes of Failure/Distress

q Inadequate S.I. & laboratory testing q Technical deficiencies/design errors/specification mistakes q Lack of supervision & improper construction q Defective materials q Vibration & erosion q Improper usage

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Case History 1
Abutment I Abutment II

Pier I Pier II

Abutment I

Abutment II Pier I Pier II

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Investigation S.I.

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Pilecaps Shear Drop

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Tilt from Vertical

300mm 1/6

Opening between Bridge Deck

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Mode of Failure

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Findings
q Bearing Capacity failure of additional 3m fill over weak soil q Abutment II
Lateral movement: 425mm Max. 300mm gap between bridge decks Angular distortion of 1/6

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Case History 2
q 200 Double-Storey Houses q Max. 32m Thick Fill on Undulating Terrain with Streams q Platform Settlement q Downdrag on Piles q Retaining Wall Collapses q Erosion Problems

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Gap (75mm) Void (150mm)

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Void

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Pile Penetration Records

80 Building Platform Original Ground Profile

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Reduced Level (m)

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Pile B

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Pile A

40 0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000

Filled ground Original Ground Original Pile's Toe Additional Pile's Toe Piles Adopted for Down Drag Analyses 60000 70000

Coordinate-X (mm)

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Rubble Wall Collapse

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Collapses of Walls

Rubble Wall Base Collapsed RC Drain

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Poor Cement Binding

Cement Mortar

Void

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Differential Settlement

Pile Supported Rubble Wall

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Differential Settlement

Shear Cracks

Tilted Wall Shear Cracks

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Soil Erosion

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Erosion of Drain

Formwork

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Case History 3
q Landslide of a remedied slope q Fails three times q Debris flow of 200m away q Affecting a utility pipeline

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TOPOGRAPHY MAP
PROJECT SITE

RIVER

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GEOLOGICAL MAP
LEGEND
F F F F F F

Alluvium Fossil

Anticline Sinkcline

Meta-sedimentary Formation

SITE LOCATION

Sandstone Bedding
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SITE HISTORY, OBSERVATION & INVESTIGATION

GABION MATTRESS & GABION WALL

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Slo

pin

gD ow n

Pipeline

SLO RE AILU PE F
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EVIDENCE OF WATER OVERFLOW

LOCALISED SLOPE FAILURES EXISTING DRAINAGE SYSTEM (CLOGGED)

Pipeline

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SUBSURFACE INVESTIGATION
Boreholes Mackintosh Probes Standpipe Laboratory Testing
q Atterberg Limit q Sieve Analysis q Moisture Content q Direct Shear q CIU

: 4 NOS : 11 NOS : 3 Nos. :

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BOREHOLE LAYOUT PLAN

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BORELOG PROFILE

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SOIL CLASSIFICATION
q Plasticity Index: 15 % - 30 % q Particle size distribution:
q Clay q Silt q Sand
: < 15 % : 30 % - 70 % : 20 % - 50 %

q Soil Description:
q Top 6m overburden material: Sandy CLAY underlain by slightly weathered bedrock

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SLOPE STABILTY BEFORE FAILURE

FOS = 1.0 UNSAFE

Slope Profile Before Failure

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CATCHMENT STUDY
q Catchment area : about 3.2 ha q 100 years return period, Q 100 : about 3.4 m 3 /s q Provision of drainage system insufficient q Inappropriate discharge points

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PROBABLE CAUSES
q Steep slope profile (1V : 1H) q FOS < 1 q Degradable formation (weak strength) q Valley terrain q Insufficient drainage system (saturation & erosion)

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Conclusions
q Forensic engineering is a detective work demanding high expertise input q Identify failure & damage types q Proper S.I. plays important role in providing crucial information for ground related failure q Dont forget to supervise q Analyses & explain sequence of failure q Determine causes of failure/damage
For further information (checklists & specifications), please visit www.gueandpartners.com.my
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THANK YOU