The report will contain a mass of information which must be presented in an orderly, easily digested manner and written in clear, unambiguous, good English. Since most of the intended readers are mainly visually orientated, the use of photos, maps, soil profiles, borehole logs and other visual aids is to be recommended as is the tabulation of test results and other information. The report is not a thesis nor a scientific treatise, but a factual report with comments, opinions and recommendations based on the interpretation
of the facts from experience. The facts and opinions must be clearly separated. Since the report is likely to be subject to hard and frequent usage it is advisable to bind it between stiff covers rather than merely stapling a mass of A4 sheets.
The script, drawings and layout should be checked and re-checked just as carefully as calculations and drawings from the design office.
A recommended procedure is as follows:
(1) Collect data, categorize it and rough out a preliminary draft.
(2) Edit the draft and seek methods of visual presentation and tabulation.
(3) Polish re-draft and check for improvements in pres- entation, check for typing errors and appearance.
1 Factors affecting quality of report The restraints of time and funding that need to be allowed for in the investigation have been discussed in earlier sections. There are other factors which can affect the quality of the investigation, recommendations and the engineering judgement. Among those which may affect some engineers are:
(1) Uncritical acceptance of well-presented opinion, results of sophisticated (but not necessarily relevant) tests and over- and unqualified respect for some specialists.
(2) Allowing site difficulties to dictate the investigation in an attempt to keep the investigation simple and cheap.
(3) Lack of recognition that piling and other foundation techniques can be used to economic advantage even on good sites.
(4) Lack of recognition that some fills, possibly upgraded by ground improvement techniques, can provide an adequate and economic bearing strata.
(5) Lack of appreciation that advances in structural design can accommodate relatively high settlements.
(6) Under-estimation of the importance of the designer, at least, visiting the site during the investigation or dismissal of trial pits as unscientific or out-dated.
2 Sequence of report Foundation reports follow the normal sequence of items of engineering reports in having a title, contents list, synopsis, introduction, body of the report, conclusions and recommendations. Lengthy descriptions of tests and similar matters are best dealt with in appendices and the test results tabulated in the body of the report. The client tends to read the synopsis and recommendations; the main and sub-contractors concentrate on the body of the report and the design office on its conclusions and recommendations.
If the brief imposed such limitations on cost and time allocation for the investigation that the engineer was not able to carry out an adequate survey this should be tactfully pointed out. It should also be made clear in such cases that the engineer’s conclusions and recommendations are qualified – this is unfortunately advisable in the present litigatious climate.
3 Site description This, as far as possible, should be given on small-scale plans showing site location, access and surrounding area. The proposed position of the buildings and access roads should be shown. The site plan should also show the general layout and surface features, note presence of existing buildings, old foundations and previous usage, services, vegetation, surface water, any subsidence or unstable slopes, etc.
Written description of the site exposure (for wind speed regulations) should be given together with records of any flooding, erosion and other geographical and hydrographic information.
Geological maps and sections should, when they are necessary, be provided, noting mines, shafts, quarries, swallowholes and other geological features affecting design and construction.
Photographs taken on the site, preferably colour ones, can be very helpful and should be supplemented by aerial photographs if considered necessary.
4 The ground investigation
(1) Background study and location of holes. This should give a full account of the desk-top study, examination of old records, information from local authorities, public utilities and the like, and the field survey. It should detail the position and depth of trial pits and boreholes, equipment used and in situ testing and information.
(2) Boreholes, trial pits and soil profiles. This section will be mainly a visual presentation of the logs and profiles together with colour photographs of the trial pits.
Where possible, written information should be given in note form on the soil profiles.
(3) Soil tests. This should list the site and laboratory tests drawing attention to any unusual, unexpected or special results. The results of the tests should be tabulated, for ease of reference, and diagrams of such information as particle size distribution, pressure–void ratio curves and Mohr’s circles should be given. If such form of presentation is not fully adequate then test descriptions and results should be given in an appendix.
5 Results This must give details of ground conditions, previous use of site, present conditions, groundwater and drainage pattern.
The tests must give adequate information to determine the soil’s bearing capacity, settlement characteristics, behaviour during and after foundation construction and, where necessary, its chemical make-up and condition.
6 Recommendations This is both comment on the facts and also opinions based on experience; the difference should be made clear. Since the discussion is usually a major part of the report it should
be broken down into sections for ease of reference and readability.
The first section should briefly describe the proposed main and subsidiary structures and their loading, a description and assessment of the ground conditions and the types of appropriate foundations.
The second section should advise on foundation depths, pressures, settlements, discuss alternatives giving advantages, disadvantages and possible problems keeping in mind cost and buildability considerations.
Typical main recommendations are:
(1) Safe bearing capacities at various depths, estimates of total and differential settlement and time-span of
settlement.
(2) Problems of excavation (fills, rock, water ingress, toxic and combustible material).
(3) Chemical attack on concrete and steel by sulfates and chlorides or acids within soil.
(4) Flotation effect on buoyant or submerged foundations.
(5) Where the proposed structure houses plant which could vibrate or impact shock the soil, the effect on the soil must be assessed.
(6) Details of any necessary geotechnical processes to improve the soil’s properties.
(7) Where piling is necessary, information must be given on founding level, possible negative skin friction, obstructions, appropriate type and installation of piles and the effects of piling on adjacent constructions and existing buildings.
(8) Where a foundation is subject to lateral loading, the magnitude and position of the loading must be given
together with the skin friction between the soil and the passive resistance of the soil.
(9) Where retaining walls are required, information is needed on active pressure, passive resistance, sur-
charge, factor of safety against slip circle failure, possible landslides or slips.
(10) Where road construction is involved requiring CBR values, etc., though this is outside the scope of this book.
The final section should give firm recommendations on the foundation type or types to be adopted.
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