Geotechnical Engineering Report
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII),
Bahria Town Rawalpindi
April 16, 2021
GEOTECHNICAL DIVISION
Submitted To:
Mr. Zaryab Munir
Submitted By:
Earnest Pakistan
Geotechnical Division
Office # 02, 1st Floor, Plaza # 163
Hub Commercial Near Head Office
Phase-VIII Bahria Town, Rawalpindi
+92 51 5180020
20210225-BT-1612
SUBJECT:
Final Geotechnical Engineering Report
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII), Bahria Town Rawalpindi
We are pleased to submit two copies of our final geotechnical engineering
report of Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII), Bahria Town Rawalpindi.
This report presents the result of our field exploration and laboratory testing &
recommendation for design and Construction of the proposed facility. We
appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you and look forward to our
continued involvement as this project progresses. Please contact me at
(051)5180020 if you have any questions regarding this report or if we may be of
further service to you.
Geo Technical Engineer
Tariq Mahmood
PEC NO. CIVIL/24847
[email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 ................................................................................................................. 2
INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 2
1.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 2
1.2 SITE AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION ..................................................................... 2
CHAPTER 2 ................................................................................................................. 3
SUBSOIL INVESTIGATIONS ........................................................................................ 3
2.1 EXPLORATORY SOIL BORING ........................................................................... 3
2.2 LABORATORY TESTING .................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER 3 ................................................................................................................. 4
SUBSURFACE CONDITIONS....................................................................................... 4
CHAPTER 4 ................................................................................................................. 6
RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................... 6
4.1 GENERAL ..................................................................................................... 6
4.2 FOUNDATION DESIGN AND ESTIMATED SETTLEMENT ........................................... 7
4.3 DRAINAGE ................................................................................................... 8
CHAPTER 5 ................................................................................................................. 9
LIMITATIONS .............................................................................................................. 9
APPENDIX A ............................................................................................................ 11
APPENDIX B ............................................................................................................. 12
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII), Bahria Page 1
Town Rawalpindi
Geotechnical Engineering Report
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII), Bahria Town
Rawalpindi.
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 INTRODUCTION
This report presents the results of subsurface explorations and geotechnical
engineering studies for the proposed residential building on Plot No. 34, Garden City,
Zone West, Phase (VII), Bahria Town Rawalpindi.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate subsurface conditions at the site and
to provide geotechnical recommendations for the design and construction of the
proposed structure. The scope of our work included subsurface exploration and
performing laboratory & engineering analyses to develop design recommendations.
1.2 SITE AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project site is located on Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII),
Bahria Town Rawalpindi. The property is bounded by Plot No. 33 in the North, Street
No. 03 in the East and Barren landscape in the South and West. The current plans
propose a new building that will be Two story Residential Building.
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII), Bahria Page 2
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CHAPTER 2
SUBSOIL INVESTIGATIONS
2.1 EXPLORATORY SOIL BORING
Three exploratory boreholes and two, ten feet deep, pits were conducted on
March 3, 2021. The borings were done up to the depth 6 feet in BH-1, 3 feet in BH-2, 3
feet in BH-3 and 2 Pits of 10 feet each. Boring locations were based on the initial
proposed site layout and constrained by the site grades and existing features. The
boring could not be continued to entire depth due presence of granular fill material
underneath. The approximate location of the boreholes for this study are shown in
Figure 5. Description of the drilling program and boring logs are presented in Appendix
A.
2.2 LABORATORY TESTING
Laboratory tests were performed on selected samples retrieved from the
boreholes to evaluate strength parameters. Laboratory testing included visual soil
classification, moisture content determination, grain size analyses and determination
of plasticity characteristics in case of fine-grained soils. Description of the lab test
procedures and results are presented in Appendix B.
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CHAPTER 3
SUBSURFACE CONDITIONS
Our subsoil explorations suggest that subsoil beneath the proposed site is
heterogeneous with dominantly Coarse Grained in nature. Filling continued in the
bore holes upto depth of 6 feet. Boring operation was terminated at 6 feet due to
presence of Gravels and boulders which made drilling impossible, and we could not
proceed further. Therefore, it was decided to excavate pit with the help of excavator
for the site to check the natural strata and the pit was also terminated at depth of 10
feet.
The exact depth of filling material is still not sure, whereas from the desk study
from google earth shows relatively less filling on East side of the plot and 25-30 feet
filling toward North-West Corner. The drain basin in the west side is ~300 feet away
from plot boundary and has an elevation difference of ~50ft.
Laboratory grain size analyses on the samples retrieved from BH-1, BH2, BH-3
and PIT-1 and PIT-2 indicated that a 10 feet layer consist of Fill & Moist, Mixed Material.
The strata contained boulders, gravels and cobbles of different sizes which shows the
material is not the natural strata.
Natural moisture contents (NMC %) were determined both, in the field by
Speedy Moisture apparatus and in the laboratory using Oven-dry method as per ASTM
specifications. Water content was found to be low and generally lied in the range 1%-
4% of the total dry weight of the samples retrieved. Samples exhibited low plastic
properties, thus suggesting that subsoil is not much vulnerable to volume changes with
fluctuation in water.
G.W.T was not encountered
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII), Bahria Page 4
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Figure 1: Google Earth Elevation profile of the plot showing filling.
Figure 2: Google earth Image of the plot showing filling.
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CHAPTER 4
RECOMMENDATIONS
4.1 GENERAL
Based on the subsurface conditions encountered in our explorations it was
found that the subsoil below the proposed site is Coarse Grained, partially saturated
and low plastic, silty, gravely and clayey in nature. The engineering analyses were
done on the data collected from the geotechnical investigation of the site. Based on
the analysis, it is concluded that a shallow foundation is not sufficient beneath the
structure as evident from unfavorable soil conditions.
Option 1: For Ground Floor
Pile supported Raft foundation with footing beams with gross-all bearing
capacity of 0.6 tons/sft at the depth of 3 feet from road level.
Option 2: For Basement
Pile supported Raft foundation with gross-all bearing capacity of 0.8 tons/sft at
the depth of 10 feet from road level.
These recommendations are based on the subsurface condition encountered
in top 10 feet and previous work done in this area. Exact depth of filling could not be
determined and shall be analyzed during drilling for piles. During drilling of first two
piles, Earnest Pakistan representative will collect soil samples and perform laboratory
test accordingly. Based on the test results obtained from underneath strata, the soil
report and pile design parameters will be revised as an addendum to this report. For
preliminary piles-raft design, provide 15” cast in place piles, intrude 5 ft into the natural
strata with 12” thick mat footing.
Detailed recommendations for excavations, foundations, Ground
improvement drainage, backfilling, seismic design considerations and other
geotechnical aspects of design are presented in the following section.
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4.2 FOUNDATION DESIGN AND ESTIMATED SETTLEMENT
Ground Improvement
Filling Improvement:
The soil beneath the entire covered area be excavated up to the depth of 6 feet
from the road level. A 2 feet thick layer of lime treated compacted granular fill.
Granular fill should contain less than 10% fines (1:10) and compacted by any suitable
mean to achieve at least 90% of relative compaction. Compaction should be done
in layers with maximum lift thickness of 8 inches.
Piles:
As the exact depth of footing is not sure, so depth of piles cannot be
recommended at this stage of geotechnical investigation. Ground improvement
should be done as mentioned above. Piles of 15 inches dia. be then bored in the
granular fill and be extended at least 5 feet into the hard stratum with 12” thick mat
footing.
Excavations should be cleaned of all loose soil, leveled, and protected from
water. If construction takes place during wet conditions, we recommend that a thin
layer (2 to 3 inches thick) of lean concrete or compacted clean crushed rock be
placed immediately after excavating to suitable foundation soils to serve as a working
surface. Footing excavations should be always kept free of water.
Each footing excavation should be evaluated by a qualified geotechnical
engineer to confirm suitable bearing conditions and to determine that all loose
materials have been removed. This should be accomplished prior to placement of
concrete on the working surface.
Due to the provision of end bearing piles under raft foundation, excessive
settlements are less likely to occur as the load is applied. Assuming compliance with
the above recommendations, we expect total settlements of recommended
foundation to be less than 2-inch, with differential settlements over a 20-foot span to
be less than ¾ - inch.
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However, due to unpredictable behavior of subsoil and being on the safer side,
structural loads should be distributed uniformly over walls.
4.3 DRAINAGE
The ground surface should be sloped away from the building to prevent water
ponding. In areas where the ground surface cannot be sloped away from the
building, a concrete lined or impervious soil trench should be installed adjacent to the
building at the ground surface. Water that is collected in the trenches, downspouts or
surface water should be directed to other appropriate discharge locations.
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII), Bahria Page 8
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CHAPTER 5
LIMITATIONS
This report was prepared for the exclusive use of the owner of the Plot No. 34,
Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII), Bahria Town Rawalpindi. For specific application
to the design of the project at this site as it relates to the geotechnical aspects
discussed in the report. The data and report should be provided to prospective
contractor(s) for better understanding. However, our report, conclusions and
interpretations should not be construed as a warranty of subsurface conditions.
The analyses, conclusions, and recommendations presented in this report were
prepared in accordance with generally accepted professional geotechnical
engineering principles and practice in this area at this time. No other warranty
expresses or implied, is made.
The analyses, conclusions and recommendations contained in this report are
based on site conditions as they existed during our site visits/exploration and further
assuming that the exploration is the representative of the subsurface conditions
throughout the site; i.e., the subsurface conditions everywhere are not significantly
different from those disclosed by the explorations. If subsurface conditions different
from those described in this report are observed or appear to be present during
construction, we should be advised at once so that we can review these conditions
and reconsider our recommendations, where necessary.
If there is a substantial lapse of time between the submission of this report and
the start of work at the site, or if conditions have changed because of natural causes
or construction operations at or adjacent to the site, we recommend that this report
be reviewed to determine the applicability of conclusions and recommendations,
considering the changed conditions and time lapse.
Unanticipated soil conditions are commonly encountered and cannot be fully
determined by merely taking soil samples or completing test borings. Such
unexpected conditions frequently require that additional expenditures be made to
attain a properly constructed project. Therefore, some contingency fund is
recommended to accommodate such potential extra costs.
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII), Bahria Page 9
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The scope of our services for this report did not include any environmental
assessment or evaluation regarding the presence or absence of wetlands or
hazardous or toxic materials in the soil, surface water, groundwater, or air, on or below
or around the site.
Earnest Pakistan
Geotechnical Division
Tariq Mahmood
Geotechnical Engineer
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII), Bahria Page 10
Town Rawalpindi
APPENDIX A
SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION
Two exploratory borings were conducted on March 3, 2021. 6 feet in BH-1, 3
feet in BH-2, 3 feet in BH-3 and 2 Pits of 10 feet each. The approximate locations of the
borings drilled for this study, as shown in Figure 1, were determined using master plan
of Phase-(VII) provided by Bahria Town and by taping, pacing and estimating
directions from existing site features. Logs of borings are presented in Figures 5 and 6.
A Soil Classification and Log Key are presented in Figure 3 & 4 as a reference for
symbols and information presented in the boring logs. Figure 2 shows the Subsoil profile
for the proposed site
Disturbed samples were retrieved from borings at approximately 3 feet intervals
to 10 feet deep. Sampling was performed in conjunction with performance of the
Standard Penetration Test (SPT) (American Society for Testing and Materials [ASTM]
Designation D 1586). The SPT consists of driving a 2-inch outside-diameter (O.D.) split-
spoon sampler to a total distance of 18 inches below the bottom of the drilled hole
with a 140-pound hammer falling 30 inches. The number of blows required to cause
the last 12 inches of penetration is termed the Standard Penetration Resistance (N-
value). When the resistance exceeded 50 blows for 6 inches or less penetration, the
test was terminated and the number of blows and the corresponding penetration
recorded. The Standard Penetration Resistance values are plotted on the boring logs
presented in Appendix A. These values provide a means for evaluating the relative
density of granular soils and the relative consistency (stiffness) of cohesive soils.
The drilling operations were observed by an Earnest Pakistan representative
who collected samples and prepared a log of each boring.
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII), Bahria Page 11
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APPENDIX B
LABORATORY TESTS
Samples collected from our borings were sealed and taken to laboratory for
testing. Tests were conducted in general accordance with applicable American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards.
B. 1 VISUAL CLASSIFICATION
All soil samples obtained from the borings were visually classified using a system
based on the ASTM D 2487; Standard Classification for Soils for Engineering Purposes
(Unified Soil Classification System) and ASTM D 2488; Standard Practice for Description
and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure). The individual sample
classifications have been incorporated into the boring log information presented in
Appendix B.
B.2 WATER CONTENT DETERMINATION
The natural water content was determined for selected samples retrieved from
the borings. Water content determination tests were performed in general
accordance with ASTM D 2216, Standard Method for Laboratory Determination of
Water (Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock. Comparison of natural water content of a
soil with its index properties can be useful in characterizing soil unit weight,
compactness, consistency, compressibility and strength. Water contents are given on
the boring logs presented in Appendix B.
B.3 GRAIN SIZE ANALYSIS
Grain size analysis was performed on a selected sample in general
accordance with ASTM D 422; Standard Method for Particle Size Analysis of Soils and
ASTM D 1140; Standard Method for Material Size in Soil Finer than 200 No. Sieve. Results
of the grain size analysis are presented in Appendix B.
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West, Phase (VII), Bahria Page 12
Town Rawalpindi
Earnest Pakistan
MATERIAL TESTING LAB
PROJECT: SOIL TEST
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West,
Phase‐(VII), Bahira Town, Rawalpindi.
FIELD BORE LOG
BORE HOLE NO: 1 X:
Y:
EXPLORATION METHOD: PERCUSSION MACHINE Z:
SPT
IN‐SITU
DEPTH "N" SAMPLE
DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL MOISTURE
(ft) FIELD TYPE
(%)
6" 6" 6" Nf
0 EXISTING GROUND LEVEL
‐3 5 7 4 11 Fill, Medium Dense & Moist Clayey Gravel with Sand (GC) DS 3.9%
‐6 8 14/1" R R Fill, Very Dense & Moist Clayey Gravel with Sand (GC) DS 3.5%
Earnest Pakistan
MATERIAL TESTING LAB
PROJECT: SOIL TEST
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West,
Phase‐(VII), Bahira Town, Rawalpindi.
FIELD BORE LOG
BORE HOLE NO: 2 X:
Y:
EXPLORATION METHOD: PERCUSSION MACHINE
Z:
SPT
IN‐SITU
DEPTH "N" SAMPLE
DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL MOISTURE
(ft) FIELD TYPE
(%)
6" 6" 6" Nf
0 EXISTING GROUND LEVEL
‐3 4 5 3 8 Fill, Loose & Moist Clayey Gravel with Sand (GC) DS 4.6%
Earnest Pakistan
MATERIAL TESTING LAB
PROJECT: SOIL TEST
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West,
Phase‐(VII), Bahira Town, Rawalpindi.
FIELD BORE LOG
BORE HOLE NO: 3 X:
Y:
EXPLORATION METHOD: PERCUSSION MACHINE Z:
SPT
IN‐SITU
DEPTH "N" SAMPLE
DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL MOISTURE
(ft) FIELD TYPE
(%)
6" 6" 6" Nf
0 EXISTING GROUND LEVEL
‐3 8 5 4 9 Fill, Loose & Moist Clayey Gravel with Sand (GC) DS 4.3%
Earnest Pakistan
MATERIAL TESTING LAB
PROJECT: SOIL TEST
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West,
Phase‐(VII), Bahira Town, Rawalpindi.
FIELD BORE LOG
BORE HOLE NO: Pit‐1 X:
Y:
EXPLORATION METHOD: PERCUSSION MACHINE Z:
SPT
IN‐SITU
DEPTH "N" SAMPLE
DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL MOISTURE
(ft) FIELD TYPE
(%)
6" 6" 6" Nf
0 EXISTING GROUND LEVEL
‐5 4 4 3 7 Fill, Loose & Moist Clayey Gravel (GC) DS 1.3%
‐10 6/1" R R R Fill, Very Dense & Moist Clayey Gravel with Sand (GC) DS 2.3%
Earnest Pakistan
MATERIAL TESTING LAB
PROJECT: SOIL TEST
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West,
Phase‐(VII), Bahira Town, Rawalpindi.
FIELD BORE LOG
BORE HOLE NO: Pit‐2 X:
Y:
EXPLORATION METHOD: PERCUSSION MACHINE Z:
SPT
IN‐SITU
DEPTH "N" SAMPLE
DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL MOISTURE
(ft) FIELD TYPE
(%)
6" 6" 6" Nf
0 EXISTING GROUND LEVEL
Fill, Loose & Moist, Poorely Graded Gravel with Silt & Sand
‐5 5 4 3 7 DS 4.3%
(GP‐GC)
Fill, Very Dense & Moist, Poorely Graded Gravel with Silt &
‐10 12/1'' R R R DS 2.9%
Sand (GP‐GC)
Earnest Pakistan
MATERIAL TESTING LAB
PROJECT: SOIL TEST
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West,
Phase‐(VII), Bahira Town, Rawalpindi.
BH DEPTH %AGE PASSING GRAVEL SAND SILT & CLAY
NO. (ft) #4 #200 (%) (%) (%)
1 ‐3 37.85 12.52 62.1 25.3 12.5
‐6 49.41 31.99 50.6 17.4 32.0
2 ‐3 45.95 27.68 54.0 18.3 27.7
3 ‐3 54.38 37.59 45.6 16.8 37.6
Pit‐1 ‐5 37.31 24.50 62.7 12.8 24.5
‐10 52.28 28.47 47.7 23.8 28.5
Pit‐2 ‐5 39.23 10.14 60.8 29.1 10.1
‐10 46.83 12.08 53.2 34.8 12.1
Earnest Pakistan
MATERIAL TESTING LAB
PROJECT: SOIL TEST
Plot No. 34, Garden City, Zone West,
Phase‐(VII), Bahira Town, Rawalpindi.
Summary of Test Results
BH DEPTH NMC %AGE MATERIALS SPT (FIELD)
UNIFIED SOIL CLASSIFICATION Bulk Density (pcf)
No. (ft) (%) GRAVEL SAND SILT & CLAY "N"
1 ‐3 4% 62 25 13 Fill, Medium Dense & Moist Clayey Gravel with Sand (GC) 11 107.85
‐6 4% 51 17 32 Fill, Very Dense & Moist Clayey Gravel with Sand (GC) R 130.00
2 ‐3 5% 54 18 28 Fill, Loose & Moist Clayey Gravel with Sand (GC) 8 103.12
3 ‐3 4% 46 17 38 Fill, Loose & Moist Clayey Gravel with Sand (GC) 9 104.84
Pit‐1 ‐5 1% 63 13 25 Fill, Loose & Moist Clayey Gravel (GC) 7 101.19
‐10 2% 48 24 28 Fill, Very Dense & Moist Clayey Gravel with Sand (GC) R 130.00
Pit‐2 ‐5 4% 61 29 10 Fill, Loose & Moist, Poorely Graded Gravel with Silt & Sand (GP‐GC) 7 101.19
‐10 3% 53 35 12 Fill, Very Dense & Moist, Poorely Graded Gravel with Silt & Sand (GP‐ R 130.00
TESTED BY ANALYZED AND APPROVED BY
FAISAL ENGR. TARIQ MAHMOOD
