How to Read Borehole Logs: A Step-by-Step Guide for Geotechnical Engineers
Understanding borehole logs is a fundamental skill in geotechnical engineering. In this video, I walk you through a real-world borehole log example to show you exactly how to interpret the data. 0:00 – Introduction to reading Borehole Logs 0:40 – General Information & Project Heading details 1:24 – Drilling Methods (ADT and TC-Bit) 1:54 – Recording Groundwater Levels 2:30 – Soil Classification Symbols (Unified Soil Classification System) 3:24 – Moisture Content & Legends (Dry, Moist, Wet) 4:03 – Soil Density & Consistency Flags 5:14 – Collecting Soil Samples 5:30 – Standard Penetration Test (SPT) & N-value calculation 6:20 – Understanding U50 Undisturbed Samples 7:11 – Pocket Penetrometer (PP) Data Interpretation 7:30 – Strength Trends & Soil Density Changes 8:00 – Summary & ConclusionWhat we cover:
General Information: Identifying project details, rig types, and drilling methods (like ADT and TC-Bit).
Groundwater Levels: How to spot symbols for water depth and what they mean for soil moisture.
Soil Classification: Decoding Unified Soil Classification symbols (e.g., ML for silt, CH for clay).
Consistency & Density: Reading legends for moisture (Dry, Moist, Wet) and density (Loose to Stiff).
Test Data: How to interpret Pocket Penetrometer (PP) values.
Sampling: Understanding the difference between disturbed (SPT) and undisturbed (U50) samples.
Mastering these logs is crucial for identifying potential engineering problems before they happen.
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