Intro to Geotechnical Engineering

Department of Earth Science / Northeastern Illinois University

INTRODUCTION TO GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING
ESCI 340
Spring 2010

Geotechnical Project                                                                                                                                                 Sanders

The completed report is due on Tuesday, May 4, at 7:05 pm. Please bring it to S-130.
The geotechnical project for the semester involves an Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) project site. You will receive a general description of the work as well as boring logs and other data; your task is to write a report summarizing geotechnical conditions at the area and making recommendations to IDOT. A location map and description of the project will be e-mailed to you.
NOTE: This work is based on a real project, using data and drawings from a real geotechnical engineering firm. To keep it fair, and to avoid annoying the professionals who agreed to help us by providing their data, do not contact anyone at the engineering firm regarding this project. You may work together with other students to develop your ideas and work out the problems. However, every student is responsible for every portion of the project and will hand in her/his own paper individually.

Work on this project will be done in a step-by-step fashion. Each step will be done separately, and then all the parts will be compiled for the final report. For each step, you'll turn in a draft of your work, which I will review and comment on. Your job then is to revise that portion of the work according to the comments, and put it together with the other portions of the work as you compile the final report. The final report should be polished so that it reads smoothly (not as just a collection of homework assignments).
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A few resources:

* The USGS Map Locator (online, free, downloadable topographic maps)

* The ISGS online database (ILWATER) lets you locate well records for a given location. Go to the Earth Science Department web page, click "Terrific Links!" and then the link for the ISGS. At their home page, find ILWATER near the top of the page. Read the instructions for accessing data, disable your popup blocker, and then open the ILWATER mapping web interface. Practice zooming in, zooming out, and panning. To locate well records, you must be at the proper zoom level; you'll know it when you get there because "Water and Related Wells" will appear in the "Layers" column to the right. When you see this, you can use the "Select Within" tool to outline an area. A list of well records will appear at the bottom of the screen. Click each one to see the record, or use the "Identify" tool to click on a specific dot. The website is funky and unstable; if you have trouble, try again later.
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Check back here to see new parts of the assignment as they are added.

Step 1. The first step is to conduct a site reconnaissance to determine site conditions with respect to topography, physiographic setting, and geology. Locate the project site on maps (topographic and geologic). Based on these sources (or any others you may consult), write a description of the site topography (no more than a half-page), and a general description of the sediment deposits at the site (between a half page and a page) and bedrock at the site and in the general area (between a half page and a page). Click to see how this work will be evaluated. (Assigned in class the week of March 29, 2009.)

NOTE: See an outline of the paper below; it will be expanded as we go along. Use a scientific/technical writing style: an impersonal style that communicates clearly, completely, concisely, and without editorializing. Do not use the words "I", "we", "our", or "my". Use the third person, and while you should avoid passive voice as much as possible, don't be afraid to use it when you need it.

Step 2. Analyze the boring log data. Specifically, address these questions:

         * Methods: What drilling and sampling methods were used?

         * Soil Boring Data Analysis and Results: Write a sentence or two to present the boring logs as Results. The logs themselves will go in the Appendices.

         * Discussion: Describe the soil and rock encountered in the borings. Your description should be based on the boring log as well as the laboratory test results. This portion of your report should be 1-1.5 pages in length. It will be followed by another few paragraphs (see Step 5, below).

Step 3. Soil Boring Data Analysis and Results, continued. Construct a cross section that illustrates the geology of the area. It should be extensive enough to illustrate whatever the bridge designers and constructors will need to know to create a safe structure. Your cross section will go into the report under "Results".   Create a map that illustrates the line of cross section, (showing where the cross section extends). Be sure to note on your cross section the vertical exaggeration.

Step 4. Soil Boring Data Analysis and Results, continued. Using the data provided on laboratory results, calculate the Cc and Cu, as appropriate. Classify the soil samples according to the USCS. Interpret the AASHTO, USDA, SPT, Q_u, and RQD results for each sample. Summarize all the soil sample information in a single table of results. Using all this data, as well as the boring logs, write a short paragraph describing each geologic unit illustrated in your cross section.

Step 5. Discussion: Considering everything you have learned about soil and rock conditions at the site, write a few paragraphs describing the suitability of the geologic materials at the site for the proposed structure (bridge and embankments). This portion of the paper will probably be no more than 2-3 paragraphs.

Recommendations: Write a short section (no more than two paragraphs) telling if you have any specific recommendations as to how the engineers should proceed as they design the project.

ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT

* Cover page giving report title, date, and your name. If you want to make up a name and logo for your imaginary geotechnical consulting firm, include that on the first page too.

* Introduction: Start with the heading, "Introduction". This section will include the Scope of Work (a general introduction to the project, including the purpose, location, and general conditions under which it was carried out), and the General Geology.

* Methods and Results: Start with the heading, "Soil Boring Data Analysis and Results", and insert the sections you wrote in Steps 2, 3, and 4, detailed above.

* Discussion and Recommendations: Start with the heading, "Discussion". Here, insert the section from Steps 2 and 5 above. Finally, include a short section called "Recommendations". In this section, tell if you have any specific recommendations as to how the engineers should proceed as they design the project.

* References Cited: Start a new page with the heading, "References Cited". List references cited in alphabetical order by author's last name, using the same format that our textbook uses. See more on citations here.

* Appendices: This section includes lengthy tables, soil boring logs, or other lengthy features that would interrupt the flow of the text if included in the body of the paper. Start this section with a cover page that says, "Appendices" (or "Appendix", if there is only one). The word should be centered on the page. Assign each appendix a letter in alpha order: Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.

* Figures: Figures should be numbered consecutively (1, 2, 3...) All figures must be referred to in the paper. [Examples: "Figure 1 shows....", "A location map appears in Figure 2," "A graph illustrating soil properties (Figure 3) shows..."].

* Tables: Tables should be numbered consecutively (1, 2, 3...) All tables must be referred to in the paper.

FORMAT: Text portions of the work must be typed, double-spaced, with margins of 1.5 inches on the left and 1 inch on the top, bottom, and right. You may use a 1.5 inch margin at the top of the first page if you wish. Any equations or numerical calculations may be typed or written neatly by hand, in ink.

AVOIDING PLAGIARISM: You MUST CITE THE SOURCE of any information you use that is not from your own brain. Use the same citation format that our textbook uses.

Academic integrity: The NEIU policy on academic misconduct will be strictly enforced. A site from Indiana University explains and gives examples of plagiarism and provides helpful tips on how to avoid it. Cheating on homework, exams, quizzes, or other course components will result in a score of zero for that assignment or more severe penalties, as described in the NEIU policy.

Department of Earth Science | Northeastern Illinois University