Combining geophysical and mechanical testing techniques for the characterization of FEUP/ISC2 residual soil profile

Abstract

This paper summarizes the results of an experimental site investigation and characterization survey, on a residual (saprolitic) soil from granite, located at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP). This project aims at characterizing these unusual soils in the context of the development of an International Prediction Event (Class A) on the behaviour of different types of piles. A very extensive site characterization campaign, including a large variety of in situ tests and field methods, has been held. These investigations comprised the application of several geophysical borehole and surface methods, namely: P and S-wave seismic refraction, reflection, cross-hole (CH), down-hole (DH), electrical resistivity imaging, ground probing radar (GPR), etc. - as well as mechanical tests - namely: SPT, CPT, DMT, among others. The site is geologically formed by an upper layer of heterogeneous residual granitic soil overlaying a weathered granite contacting a gneissic migmatite. Direct and indirect results from some of the surveys are compared between them and with the available geological and geotechnical information, namely the obtained from seismic, electrical and GPR profiles, conducted adjacent to three boreholes in which undisturbed soil samples were collected previously to geophysical data acquisition. In addition, an extensive laboratory testing program was carried out using the collected undisturbed samples. A discussion of the results is herein presented, with emphasis to correlations encountered between different tests, specific of saprolitic soils with weak relic structures.