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THE FOUNDATION & FOOTINGS SOCIETY (Vic) Inc.

Reg. No A0025791G

PRACTICE NOTE No. 3


INVESTIGATION OF NON-CLAY SITES
13. INTRODUCTION
The following is a discussion of site conditions and test methods to be used by members of FFSV for
non-clay residential sites that are deemed to be classified as A or S. The matters addressed in the
testing and reporting of these sites are not limited to this Practice Note.
For these sites, factors to be considered in investigation, assessment and reporting, include the
following:

Identification of soil profiles


Low bearing capacity soils
Perched or high water tables
Drainage and erosion/instability of near-surface sandy soil
Collapsing soils

14. LOW BEARING CAPACITY SOILS


Commonly non-clay sites are in alluvial or aeolian geological settings, or have shallow soil profiles
over rock. In alluvial or aeolian soils, because of their recent deposition, the relative density of the
sand/silt can be low.
If low relative density is combined with zero (or very small) cohesion, as in the case of clean sands
and silts, then the bearing capacity is a function of width and depth of the footing. This can be less
than 50 kPa for very thin footings with no embedment, such as the internal rib of a waffle raft. The
bearing capacity of raft beams should be checked.
When drilling with hand auger, foundation sands should additionally be tested with a penetration
device so that the relative density or friction angle can be estimated, to enable the bearing capacity
calculation to be made (See Section 20). When drilling with a machine auger, it may be possible by an
experienced operator to estimate relative density by the resistance provided to drilling. If so, and this
method is relied upon, it is advisable that a thrust/relative density correlation chart is produced for the
machine.

14.1 Perched or High Water Table


The bearing capacity of sand can decrease significantly if a loose sand or silt stratum becomes
saturated or inundated. If the depth D of buoyant sand below the footing is greater than 2xB (where
B is the footing width) then the reduction in bearing capacity can be around 50%. Where the depth of
sand is thinner than 2B, the reduction will be less, as part of the failure surface will pass through the
stronger underlying layer.

15. DRAINAGE AND EROSION/ INSTABILITY OF SURFACE SANDY SOIL

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Silts and fine sands are prone to erosion and are very susceptible to softening when wet. Water
greatly reduces the friction between their rounded particles. If poorly graded, the particle contact area
is lower and particle friction is lower. Thus the particles can easily be separated and transported away
under the action of surface water flow.
In silts, creep and mud flows can occur in slope angles of <100. Downpipes that discharge directly
onto the ground against a footing can erode sandy soils and compromise lateral support to an
embedded footing, leading to instability. To prevent sand erosion under slabs a well-compacted soil
apron is required.
Fluctuating water tables in sand profiles can temporarily reduce the foundation bearing capacity
significantly and the pumping action in the case of stump footings, will cause footing settlement.
In sloping sites which are cut and filled, the near-surface soils are often used as fill to create a level
construction bench for the house. The fill batter cannot be adequately compacted and is frequently in a
loose condition. This batter is especially vulnerable to erosion that may reduce lateral support to the
slab or footing. Fill batters should be protected with appropriate covers (mesh, grass, boulders) and
site drainage in the form of catch drains should be provided to prevent surface water flow over the
batter.
Since erosion is a common problem in sloping sites, features such as soil wash outs, piping, erosion
furrows, surface hollows, collapsed soil banks and presence of water can be indicative of the presence
of erodible soils. If you happen to be on site while excavation or filling is under way, observations
and notations of this process may prove valuable and may be included in the report.

16. COLLAPSING SOILS


Some naturally occurring fine aeolian sands and silts in arid areas (eg Pindan Sand) have metastable
bonds that impart high dry strength, but that disintegrate on wetting. These are termed collapsing
soils, and they have very low bearing capacity when wet. Loose uncompacted fills that have been
dumped when dry can exhibit similar behavior upon first wetting.
These soils are an unsuitable foundation for house footings, unless they are re-compacted at above
optimum moisture content, to a dense state. Where collapsing soils are present, a CLASS P
classification is appropriate, and relevant recommendations should be made.

17. BACKGROUND RESEARCH


During the investigation prior site conditions should be considered. Where feasible, contact could be
made with previous owners, local authorities or well established locals. For some sites, maps and
aerial photographs (Google Earth, Near Map) may be available. Knowledge of past performance of
similar structures with known footing systems may be considered.
The presence of fill is one of the most important distinctions in each site classification report.
Background research may provide assistance with the determination of existing filling. Research can
occur while approaching the site by observing topography, condition of fences and roads, sewer
excavations and site or road cuts.

18. OBSERVATIONS
Notes should be taken while on site. A tick- off observation form may help standardize this process.
Reminders of the important features to be observed can be included in such a form and would
generally include the following:

Site and local topography flat, gentle, moderate, steep


Site sketch showing significant features (trees, drains, fill, rock, buildings etc.)
Vegetation (on site and neighbouring) - trees, stumps, grub holes
Description of significant trees (height and canopy diameter)
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Erosion features such as soil wash outs, piping, erosion furrows, surface hollows,
collapsed soil banks and presence of water.

A site photo can be a record of the site conditions at the time of investigation which may help with
future enquiries.
Note that in droughts, even low plasticity clays may be susceptible to the drying effect of trees, thus
high water usage trees or groups of trees may need to be considered where they are close to footings.
However, large growing roots under footings can cause heave in any soil type.

19. BOREHOLES AND TESTING


The Recommended field investigation plan for non-clay sites is given in Table 7.

TABLE 7: RECOMMENDED FIELD INVESTIGATION PLAN


Description

Comments

Profile logging **

Sampling or field hand examination

Three* per building site. The minimum is one hole to a


depth below the surface or below the depth of cutting
where known at the time of site classification equal to
0.75 Hs, but not less than 1.5m, unless rock is
encountered.
Describe each soil type encountered.

Soil moisture condition

Describe by tactile examination.

Bearing capacity

Penetration Tests (See Table 5)

Trees and/or tree roots

Refer to Practice Note No. 5.

Three test holes per building site are recommended as a minimum statistical average for a
typical residential city allotment. Test locations may be reduced for multiple lot testing or
small building extensions. The Classifier should consider the variability of the soil profiles
and environmental conditions in determining the number and locations for profile logging and
testing.

**

Profile logging may include boreholes, excavated pits, existing excavations and existing soil
faces.

Whilst the Perth Sand Penetrometer (calibrated for local sands if necessary) is the most appropriate
hand penetrometer for sands, it is common practice to investigate both sands and clays with the
Dynamic Cone Penetrometer. To estimate relative density of essentially granular soils, the following
field test and approximate correlation with DCP or PSP readings may be used. The bearing capacity
may then be calculated by assuming an appropriate soil friction angle.
Alternatively, the readings may be converted to mm/blow and allowable bearing capacity estimated
with the 1Stockwell method. A note of warning; when using the Stockwell method for sands, it is
IMPERATIVE that the allowable bearing capacity read off the Stockwell graph is modified by the
width of the footing and by the presence of water (if relevant), as explained in the method.

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TABLE 5: (From practice Note 1) FIELD TESTS & CORRELATIONS


FOR RELATIVE DENSITY of SANDS and GRAVELS
DCP
Blows per
300mm

PSP
Blows per
300mm

Alternative Field Test

Approximate
Relative
Density

Density Index
(%)

0-5

0-4

Easily push rod in several metres

Very Loose

< 15

5-12

4-10

Easily excavated by shovel

Loose

>15 to 35

12 - 36

10-24

Difficult to excavate with shovel.

Medium Dense

>35 to 65

36 - 60

24-60

Pick required to excavate

Dense

>65 to 85

>60

>60

Impenetrable

Very Dense

>85

20. ESTIMATION OF ALLOWABLE BEARING PRESSURE


A simple spreadsheet bearing capacity calculator is useful for calculating the bearing capacity of sand,
especially in borderline situations.
Approximations of allowable bearing capacity can be made using Table 8 below.

TABLE 8: APPROXIMATE BEARING CAPACITY OF GRANULAR SOILS


Term

Density
Index %

Approx Allowable Bearing Pressure in Dry Soil (kPa)


Footing at
ground
surface

Increase for every


300mm extra depth below
ground surface

Maximum allowed
under
any conditions

Loose sand or gravel

>15 to 35

50 B

15

100 kPa

Medium dense sand


or gravel

>35 to 65

150 B

40

250 kPa

Dense sand or gravel

>65 to 85

350 B

100

550 kPa

>85

600 B

150

700 kPa

Very dense sand or


gravel

B = width of footing (least plan dimension of the footing in metres)


(Table derived from AS1726 - 1993 and VBR 1989).
Important Note: If the water table is likely to rise to a level within B below the base of the footing,
the allowable bearing pressure and maximum allowable bearing pressure shall be one half of that
otherwise listed.
1

Stockwell, M.J - Determination of allowable bearing pressure under small structures


Journal of NZ Institute of Engineers, Vol 32. No.6, 15 June 1977 (can be found on-line)
ooOoo

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