Table Of ContentEM 1110-1-1804
1 January 2001
US Army Corps
of Engineers
ENGINEERING AND DESIGN
Geotechnical Investigations
ENGINEER MANUAL
Report Documentation Page
Report Date Report Type Dates Covered (from... to)
01 Jan 2001 N/A -
Title and Subtitle Contract Number
Geotechnical Investigations
Grant Number
Program Element Number
Author(s) Project Number
Task Number
Work Unit Number
Performing Organization Name(s) and Address(es) Performing Organization Report Number
Department of the Army U.S. Army Corps of Engineers EM1110-1-1804
Washington, DC 20314-1000
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Sponsor/Monitor’s Report Number(s)
Distribution/Availability Statement
Approved for public release, distribution unlimited
Supplementary Notes
Abstract
Subject Terms
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unclassified unclassified
Classification of Abstract Limitation of Abstract
unclassified UU
Number of Pages
449
AVAILABILITY
Electronic copies of this and other U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) publications are available on the Internet at
http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/usace-docs/. This site is the only
repository for all official USACE engineer regulations, circulars,
manuals, and other documents originating from HQUSACE.
Publications are provided in portable document format (PDF).
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY EM 1110-1-1804
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CECW-ET Washington, DC 20314-1000
Manual
No. 1110-1-1804 1 January 2001
Engineering and Design
GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS
1. Purpose. This manual establishes criteria and presents guidance for geotechnical investigations during
the various stages of development for both civil and military projects.
2. Applicability. This manual applies to all USACE Commands having either military or civil works
responsibilities.
3. Distribution Statement. This manual is approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
4. Discussion. Geotechnical investigations are made to determine those geologic, seismologic, and soils
conditions that affect the safety, cost effectiveness, design, and execution of a proposed engineering project.
Because insufficient geotechnical investigations, faulty interpretation of results, or failure to portray results
in a clearly understandable manner may contribute to costly construction changes, postconstruction remedial
work, and even failure of a structure, geotechnical investigations and subsequent reports are an essential part
of all civil engineering and design projects.
FOR THE COMMANDER:
ROBERT L. DAVIS
Colonel, Corps of Engineers
Chief of Staff
This manual supersedes EM 1110-1-1804, dated 29 February 1984, and EM 1110-1-1906, dated
30 September 1996.
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY EM 1110-1-1804
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
CECW-ET Washington, DC 20314-1000
Manual
No. 1110-1-1804 1 January 2001
Engineering and Design
GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS
Table of Contents
Subject Paragraph Page
Chapter 1
Introduction
Purpose .......................................................... 1-1 1-1
Applicability ..................................................... 1-2 1-1
References ....................................................... 1-3 1-1
Background ...................................................... 1-4 1-1
Scope of Manual .................................................. 1-5 1-2
Chapter 2
Scope of Investigations
Background ...................................................... 2-1 2-1
Section I
Civil Works Projects
Reconnaissance and Feasibility Studies ................................ 2-2 2-1
Preconstruction Engineering and Design Studies ......................... 2-3 2-6
Construction Activities ............................................. 2-4 2-13
Section II
Military Construction Projects
Background ...................................................... 2-5 2-17
Preconcept and Site Selection Studies .................................. 2-6 2-18
Concept Studies ................................................... 2-7 2-18
Final Design Studies ............................................... 2-8 2-19
Construction Activities ............................................. 2-9 2-19
Chapter 3
Regional Geologic and Site Reconnaissance Investigations
Background ...................................................... 3-1 3-1
Section I
Coordination and Information Collection
Interagency Coordination and Cooperation .............................. 3-2 3-1
Survey of Available Information ...................................... 3-3 3-3
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Subject Paragraph Page
Section II
Map Studies and Remote Sensing Methods
Map Studies ...................................................... 3-4 3-3
Remote Sensing Methods ........................................... 3-5 3-9
Section III
Field Reconnaissance and Observations
Field Reconnaissance ............................................... 3-6 3-10
Observations ..................................................... 3-7 3-10
Section IV
Information Development
Summary ........................................................ 3-8 3-11
Chapter 4
Surface Investigations
Background ...................................................... 4-1 4-1
Section I
Geologic Field Mapping
Areal Mapping .................................................... 4-2 4-1
Site Mapping ..................................................... 4-3 4-2
Construction Mapping .............................................. 4-4 4-3
Section II
Surface Geophysical Explorations
Background ...................................................... 4-5 4-4
Methods ......................................................... 4-6 4-4
Chapter 5
Subsurface Investigations
Background ...................................................... 5-1 5-1
Location of Investigations ........................................... 5-2 5-1
Protection of the Environment ........................................ 5-3 5-1
Section I
Borings
Major Uses ....................................................... 5-4 5-2
Boring and Sampling Methods ....................................... 5-5 5-2
Drilling in Embankments ............................................ 5-6 5-8
Section II
Drillhole Inspection and Logging
Objectives ....................................................... 5-7 5-8
Soil Identification and Description .................................... 5-8 5-9
Coring .......................................................... 5-9 5-9
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Subject Paragraph Page
Core Logging .................................................... 5-10 5-10
Drilling Log Form and the Boring Log Data Management Program.......... 5-11 5-14
Section III
Borehole Examination and Testing
Borehole Geophysical Testing ....................................... 5-12 5-14
Borehole Viewing and Photography .................................. 5-13 5-14
Borehole Camera and Borescope ..................................... 5-14 5-15
Borehole TV Camera and Sonic Imagery .............................. 5-15 5-15
Alinement Surveys ................................................ 5-16 5-15
Section IV
Exploratory Excavations
Test Pits and Trenches ............................................. 5-17 5-15
Calyx Hole Method ............................................... 5-18 5-16
Section V
Groundwater and Foundation Seepage Studies
General Investigation .............................................. 5-19 5-16
Permeability Testing .............................................. 5-20 5-17
Pressure Tests ................................................... 5-21 5-21
Section VI
In Situ Testing for Determining Geotechnical Properties
In Situ Testing ................................................... 5-22 5-22
In Situ Tests to Determine Shear Strength.............................. 5-23 5-23
Tests to Determine In Situ Stress ..................................... 5-24 5-25
Tests to Determine In Situ Deformation ............................... 5-25 5-27
Determination of Dynamic Moduli by Seismic Methods .................. 5-26 5-29
Section VII
Backfilling of Holes and Disposition of Samples and Cores
Backfilling Boreholes and Exploratory Excavations ...................... 5-27 5-30
Disposition of Soil Samples ......................................... 5-28 5-30
Disposition of Rock Cores .......................................... 5-29 5-30
Chapter 6
Large-scale, Prototype Investigations
Prototype Test Programs ............................................ 6-1 6-1
Section I
Test Excavation and Fills
Accomplishments .................................................. 6-2 6-1
Test Quarries ..................................................... 6-3 6-1
Exploratory Tunnels ............................................... 6-4 6-3
Test Fills and Trial Embankments ..................................... 6-5 6-3
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Subject Paragraph Page
Section II
Test Grouting
Purpose .......................................................... 6-6 6-5
Test Grouting Practices ............................................. 6-7 6-5
Test Grouting Program ............................................. 6-8 6-5
Record Keeping ................................................... 6-9 6-5
Section III
Piling Investigations
Piling Investigation Benefits ........................................ 6-10 6-6
Driving Records .................................................. 6-11 6-6
Load Testing .................................................... 6-12 6-6
Chapter 7
Laboratory Investigations
Purpose .......................................................... 7-1 7-1
Section I
Test and Sample Selection
Needs for Test and Sample Selection .................................. 7-2 7-1
Section II
Index and Classification Tests
Soils ............................................................ 7-3 7-3
Rock ............................................................ 7-4 7-4
Section III
Engineering Property Tests - Soils
Background ...................................................... 7-5 7-5
Section IV
Engineering Property Tests - Rock
Background ...................................................... 7-6 7-6
Section V
Engineering Property Tests - Shales and Moisture-Sensitive Rocks
Index Testing ..................................................... 7-7 7-8
Swelling Properties ................................................ 7-8 7-9
Appendix A
References
Appendix B
Geologic Mapping Procedures Open Excavations
Appendix C
Geologic Mapping of Tunnels and Shafts
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Appendix D
Examples of Drilling Logs
Appendix E
List of Acronyms
Appendix F
Engineer Manual 1110-1-1906, Soil Sampling
Appendix G
Penetration Resistance Test and Sampling
with a Split-Barrel Sampler
Appendix H
Penetration Resistance Testing with the Becker
Hammer Drill
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Chapter 1
Introduction
1-1. Purpose
This manual establishes criteria and presents guidance for geotechnical investigations during the various
stages of development for civil and military projects. The manual is intended to be a guide for planning
and conducting geotechnical investigations and not a textbook on engineering geology and soils explora-
tion. Actual investigations, in all instances, must be tailored to the individual projects.
1-2. Applicability
This manual applies to all USACE Commands having either military or civil works responsibilities. The
objective of Corps of Engineers Engineer Manuals (EM)1 is to contain engineer and design technical
guidance that will provide essential technical direction and application within the COE. However, an
EM cannot provide the designer with two of the most vital tools essential to successful completion of a
project: experience and judgement. Engineers and geologists who are just beginning their careers are
strongly encouraged to seek the advice of more experienced members of their organization.
1-3. References
Standard references pertaining to this manual are listed in Appendix A. Military Standards (MIL-STD),
Army Regulations (AR), Technical Manuals (TM), Engineer Regulations (ER), Engineer Manuals (EM),
Engineer Pamphlets (EP), and Engineer Technical Letters (ETL) are identified in the text by the
designated Government publication number or performing agency. Additional reading materials are
listed in the Bibliography and are indicated throughout the manual by the principal author’s last name
and date of publication. Publications may be downloaded from the internet at the Corps’ web page
(www.usace.army.mil/inet/usace-docs/).
1-4. Background
Geotechnical investigations are performed to evaluate those geologic, seismologic, and soils conditions
that affect the safety, cost effectiveness, design, and execution of a proposed engineering project.
Insufficient geotechnical investigations, faulty interpretation of results, or failure to portray results in a
clearly understandable manner may contribute to inappropriate designs, delays in construction schedules,
costly construction modifications, use of substandard borrow material, environmental damage to the site,
postconstruction remedial work, and even failure of a structure and subsequent litigation. Investigations
performed to determine the geologic setting of the project include: the geologic, seismologic, and soil
conditions that influence selection of the project site; the characteristics of the foundation soils and
rocks; geotechnical conditions which influence project safety, design, and construction; critical
geomorphic processes; and sources of construction materials. A close relationship exists between the
geologic sciences and other physical sciences used in the determination of project environmental impact
and mitigation of that impact. Those individuals performing geotechnical investigations are among the
first to assess the physical setting of a project. Hence, senior-level, experienced personnel are required to
plan and supervise the execution of a geotechnical investigation. Geotechnical investigations are to be
1 A list of acronyms and abbreviations is included as Appendix E to this manual.
1-1
