Resources: Site Investigation Manual

Site Investigation Manual

General Description

This 295 page manual is the reference text used for the FHWA NHI course No. 132031 on Subsurface Investigations. The planning, execution, and interpretation of geotechnical site explorations in natural soil and rock are presented with regard to the design and construction of transportation facilities. The role of the geotechnical engineer in subsurface investigation, exploration methods, equipment types and their suitability are discussed. Various in-situ tests are presented, including cone penetration, dilatometer, pressuremeter, vane, and standard penetration. Rotary drilling and rock coring are reviewed in terms of the proper handling, transportation, and storage of soil and rock samples for laboratory testing. Geophysical wave and electromagnetic methods are covered. Laboratory index, strength, and stiffness testing are reviewed in complement to the field testing program. Geomaterial characterization requires the interpretation and correlation of engineering properties from the acquired field and lab measurements. The results are summarized in a geotechnical report with available geological, topographical, hydrological, and geotechnical data collected towards the analysis and design of earthwork structures and foundation design.

The material covered in this manual has been divided into the following chapters:

Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Project Initiation
Chapter 3: Drilling and Sampling of Soil and Rock
Chapter 4: Boring Log Preparation
Chapter 5: In-situ Testing
Chapter 6: Groundwater Investigations
Chapter 7: Laboratory Testing for Soils
Chapter 8: Laboratory Testing for Rocks
Chapter 9: Interpretation of Soil Properties
Chapter 10: Interpretation of Rock Properties
Chapter 11: Geotechnical Reports
Chapter 12: Contracting of Geotechnical Subsurface Exploration
Chapter 13: References

The full Table of Contents may be view in *.pdf format from the link below:

Table of Contents (*.pdf)

Download Manual

The entire manual may be downloaded in *.pdf format from the link below by right-clicking on the link and selecting "Save As…"

Subsurface Manual (*.pdf) [24 MB]

Sponsor and Copyright

The development of this manual was sponsored by:

National Highway Institute
Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C.

This manual has no restrictions for distribution. Please cite the following reference when appropriate:

Mayne, P.W., Christopher, B.R., and DeJong, J.T. (2002) Manual on Subsurface Investigations, FHWA Publication No. FHWA NHI-01-031, 294 pp.