Geotechnical Engineering: Principles & Practices - Report Example

Table of Contents Abstract 2 Introduction 3 Field work 3 Task Carried Out 3 Instruments Used 3 Diary of events 4 Group Members and Their Contributions 5 Procedures and Calculations 6 Linear Surveying 8 The Data Collected 9 Summary 10 Coduto, D., Yeung, M & Kitch, W. 2010. Geotechnical Engineering: Principles & Practices. Boston: Prentice Hall. 11 Lommler, J., 2012. Geotechnical Problem Solving. NEW York: John Wiley & Sons. 11 Schaufelberger, J. E., 1999. Construction Equipment Management. New York: Prentice Hall. 11 Sivakugan, N.& Braja Das, B., 2009. Geotechnical Engineering: A Practical Problem Solving Approach. New York: J. Ross Publishing 11 Wyllie, D., 1999. Foundations on Rock: Engineering Practice. CRC Press, 1999. Print 11 Abstract The aim of the paper was find levelling measuring angles, heights and distances of a university car park as well as calculating a drain profile for the same. The result showed that the earthwork quantities for 5m interval and a depth of 1.2m was 4.8m3. It also showed that the car park had a good levelling and bearing angle. Introduction Trench excavation is made possible when prober levelling has been done on the ground. Otherwise the trench will have poor environment for the purpose it was to be used for. The materials which are excavated are calculated accurately by estimating, the length of the trench, and the area of one end of the trench or the width and depth. This are measured in m2. This paper intends to provide information for a university car park levelling for excavation Field work Task Carried Out One of the tasks carried was to carry out a reconnaissance for the university car park and produce a sketch for the site showing the important permanent features including buildings, boundaries, services nearby, control points, etc. Suitable control points to triangulate the site at suitable positions were selected and the angles were more than 20 degrees. Measurements were taken and recorded down. A drawing was made in AutoCAD for the site In this task, a site was selected and TBM was setup in order for us take levelling for the project. All measurements were taken and recorded then calculations were done for the levelling. Instruments Used We had various equipments to use which included survey pegs, tape measures, profile boards and ranging rods, line level, levelling checker, boning rods, travelling profile triangles, optical squire, straight edge and Abney level. Abney levelling was used in vertical angles during the project period. Optical squire was variable in determining the right angles for the line of survey where Abney levelling was not applicable. A straight line edge was to ensure that the line was straight since it contains spirit level and a tape measure. Triangles were important in providing for us a tool that measured the steepness of the drainage profile. The travellerr profile was used to measure the levelness between the two points that we had selected. Boning rods were made at the field and they looked like a T and their aim was to help keep uniformity or the straightness of the line. The tape measure was used in measuring the units for the project. Diary of events date time Weather conditions Team members Type of work carried out 27th Aug 2013 10.a.m -1.00p.m windy John, Evans, Joy & Smith linear survey for the university car park 30th August 2013 10.a.m -1.00p.m sunny John, Evans, Joy & Smith Vertical levelling 4th sep 2013 10.a.m -1.00p.m windy John, Evans, Joy & Smith drain profiling On 27th august 2013, the climate conditions were windy at 10.00am when we had set out for the project. My team consisted of John, Joy, Evans, and Smith and we wanted to carry out a reconnaissance for the university car and produce a schedule for the same. We selected control points which were triangular and which had higher angles which we measured their diagonals and recorded down. We recorded this information and each member wrote a report on them at 1.00 pm when the weather conditions were sunny and windy. On the 30th august 2013, we set out at 10.00 am when the weather conditions were cloudy. The main aim was carryout levelling for the project. We had set out our equipments and started the levelling process. It took 9 minutes for my team member to settle down for the exercises. We carried out levelling up to 12 pm when we recorded and calculated level of control points. Each member gave a feedback of the calculations at 1 p.m. On 4th September 2013, we started our project at 8 am when the weather conditions were sunny and our team members took 20 min to settle down for our project of drain profiling. We selected two points which we measured and calculated levels at 5m interval and produced a longitudinal sections showing invert levels of train with drain with a gradient of 1:150. At 10.30 am we started calculating the earthwork quantities for the drain. Then we drew the longitudinal sectional. We gave our feedback at 1p.m. Group Members and Their Contributions Note taking is very important in excavation because as noted earlier, the process is irreversible. The notes must be very detailed for excavation destroys the site and the archaeologist must provide the required data at all times. There are general note-taking guidelines, which must be followed by archaeologists when excavating. Laziness, unfamiliarity, or bad weather should not be a reason for failing to take notes because the information will not be available again. Honesty must be exercised at all times when taking notes because it gives unbiased conclusions. Previous mistakes or inadequacies should be acknowledged because they help with using them as a reference in order to be avoided in future. It is of paramount importance to take time when taking notes because it gives one the opportunity to record all the needed data, which includes the level at which certain samples were found. The details of the samples should be noted too. Own ideas about what is happening at the site could also be included in the notes. Accuracy and consistency are very important and one should not leave any room for guesswork. Drawings, labels, and records should always be neat, legible, and clean. This can be attributed to the fact that other people would use the recorded information in future. All maps showing the details of the site ought to be accurate. Our team constituted of four members John, Evans, and Joy & Smith. Each member was allocated activities to carry out during the exercise. Joy had a responsibility of recording all measurements during the field work for the three days. John and smith were responsible for ensuring that proper procedures were employed during the experiment. They set up the tripod, ensured that the top level was straight and other equipments were used properly to give accurate results. Evans was in charge of checking the accuracy of the equipments that have been set for the project. accuracy of the equipments Procedures and Calculations Step 1: we set up a TBM on the site in a suitable position and recorded a reading to the TBM and record as BS reading. Step2: we used height of collimation/rise and fall in our all your readings which were recorded as BS while the others were recorded as intermediate sights (IS) with the last reading recorded as FS. Step 3: Levelling done continually towards the control points. STEP 4: work measurements on both Height of Collimation and the Rise and fall methods booking sheets recorded. Step 5: Calculation of the level of control points using both methods. Step 6: The accuracy of levels and levelling was calculated using standard methods with closing error limited to mm. Step 7: For a selected line between two control points, measure and calculate levels at 5m interval and produce a longitudinal section showing invert levels of drain with a gradient of 1:150 and a minimum depth below ground level of 1.2 m. Step 8: Calculation of e earthwork quantities for the drain with width of 0.8m In order to find the earthwork quantities the following were units measured; length 5m, width 0.8m, and depth 1.2m. The formula is length x width x depth The earthwork quantities is therefore = 1.2m x 5m x 0.8m = 4.8m3 This earthwork quantities are for intervals of 5m and linear. If excavation is to done then this is the amount of soil that should be removed for a trench to be made Step 9: Drawing of a longitudinal section of ground levels Figure 1: drain trench Step 10. Performance of a 2-peg test to check the accuracy of the level you are using Linear Surveying Figure 2: car park D1 =5.28 m – 5.12m + 0.050 = 0.21 m D2 = 5.18 m – 5.05m + 0.050 = 0.24 m Figure 3: control traverse The Data Collected -Standard data recording sheets Station Angle at Station Distance between points(m) A 59 0 11’ 09” 8.2 B 1200 15’ 09 8.13 U 1180 25’ 22” 8.31 V 620 26’ 23” 8.9 C 1180 25’ 22” 8.31 D 620 26’ 23” 8.9 (ai-1+ qi – 180o) < 0: ai = (ai-1 + qi – 180o) + 360o Summary After completing the project, I have managed to connect theory and practical in the field of survey engineering. This field experience has given me insides which will help me succeed in future by trying to enhance and reduce the weaknesses discovered during the study. One of strengths that come out clearly is the essence of teamwork, communication, humility and focus. Communication was critical in producing reports after the fieldwork has been done. While teamwork and humility ensured that I accepted comments made by team members. During the experiment, I realised that I was unable to use a tripod, a spirit level measure and horizontal lines. Most of the levelling equipments gave me difficulties in obtaining accurate results although I followed all the procedures that were necessary for the project. Although there was a desire to have accurate results in future, that kind of weakness will lead to my failure in future. This area will need to be improved by going out for another experiment. I also realised that I had a weakness in interacting with my team mates especially in giving feedback. Therefore I need to increase my level of interaction with class members. The two peg test for levelling did not give me much difficult because I did it successively. References Coduto, D., Yeung, M & Kitch, W. 2010. Geotechnical Engineering: Principles & Practices. Boston: Prentice Hall. Lommler, J., 2012. Geotechnical Problem Solving. NEW York: John Wiley & Sons. Schaufelberger, J. E., 1999. Construction Equipment Management. New York: Prentice Hall. Sivakugan, N.& Braja Das, B., 2009. Geotechnical Engineering: A Practical Problem Solving Approach. New York: J. Ross Publishing Wyllie, D., 1999. Foundations on Rock: Engineering Practice. CRC Press, 1999. Print Read More