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Approved Plan - EXE230029
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REPORT EXPLANATION NOTES
INTRODUCTION
These notes have been provided to amplify the geotechnical report Cohesive soils are classified on the basis of strength (consistency)
in regard to classification methods, field procedures and certain either by use of a hand penetrometer, vane shear, laboratory testing
matters relating to the Comments and Recommendations section. and/or tactile engineering examination. The strength terms are
Not all notes are necessarily relevant to all reports. defined as follows.
The ground is a product of continuing natural and man-made Unconfined Indicative Undrained
processes and therefore exhibits a variety of characteristics and Compressive Shear Strength (kPa)
properties which vary from place to place and can change with time. Classification Strength (kPa)
Geotechnical engineering involves gathering and assimilating limited
facts about these characteristics and properties in order to Very Soft (VS) 25 12
understand or predict the behaviour of the ground on a particular Soft (S) > 25 and 50 > 12 and 25
site under certain conditions. This report may contain such facts Firm (F) > 50 and 100 > 25 and 50
obtained by inspection, excavation, probing, sampling, testing or Stiff (St) > 100 and 200 > 50 and 100
other means of investigation. If so, they are directly relevant only to
the ground at the place where and time when the investigation was Very Stiff (VSt) > 200 and 400 > 100 and 200
carried out. Hard (Hd) > 400 > 200
Friable (Fr) Strength not attainable – soil crumbles
DESCRIPTION AND CLASSIFICATION METHODS Rock types are classified by their geological names, together with
The methods of description and classification of soils and rocks used descriptive terms regarding weathering, strength, defects, etc.
in this report are based on Australian Standard 1726:2017 Where relevant, further information regarding rock classification is
‘Geotechnical Site Investigations’. In general, descriptions cover the given in the text of the report. In the Sydney Basin, ‘shale’ is used to
following properties – soil or rock type, colour, structure, strength or describe fissile mudstone, with a weakness parallel to bedding. Rocks
density, and inclusions. Identification and classification of soil and with alternating inter-laminations of different grain size
rock involves judgement and the Company infers accuracy only to (eg. siltstone/claystone and siltstone/fine grained sandstone) is
the extent that is common in current geotechnical practice. referred to as ‘laminite’.
Soil types are described according to the predominating particle size
SAMPLING
and behaviour as set out in the attached soil classification table
qualified by the grading of other particles present (eg. sandy clay) as Sampling is carried out during drilling or from other excavations to
set out below: allow engineering examination (and laboratory testing where
required) of the soil or rock.
Soil Classification Particle Size
Disturbed samples taken during drilling provide information on
Clay < 0.002mm plasticity, grain size, colour, moisture content, minor constituents
Silt 0.002 to 0.075mm and, depending upon the degree of disturbance, some information
Sand 0.075 to 2.36mm on strength and structure. Bulk samples are similar but of greater
Gravel 2.36 to 63mm volume required for some test procedures.
Cobbles 63 to 200mm Undisturbed samples are taken by pushing a thin-walled sample tube,
Boulders > 200mm usually 50mm diameter (known as a U50), into the soil and
withdrawing it with a sample of the soil contained in a relatively
Non-cohesive soils are classified on the basis of relative density, undisturbed state. Such samples yield information on structure and
generally from the results of Standard Penetration Test (SPT) as strength, and are necessary for laboratory determination of shrink-
below: swell behaviour, strength and compressibility. Undisturbed sampling
is generally effective only in cohesive soils.
SPT ‘N’ Value Details of the type and method of sampling used are given on the
Relative Density (blows/300mm) attached logs.
Very loose (VL) <4
Loose (L) 4 to 10
Medium dense (MD) 10 to 30
Dense (D) 30 to 50
Very Dense (VD) > 50
February 2019 1
Document Set ID: 22532435
Version: 1, Version Date: 07/08/2023
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