Improved Geotechnical Site Characterization Using Measurement While Drilling

The objectives of this research are (1) to provide proof-of-concept for measurement while drilling (MWD) in Illinois, (2) to provide guidance to Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) on using MWD to more accurately identify site stratigraphy, (3) to develop methods to obtain Illinois-specific correlations to soil and rock properties using the drilling parameters obtained from the four categories, and (4) to explore use of MWD for design of driven pile and drilled shaft deep foundations. The goals of this research are to unlock MWD as a technique to complement standard technology practices of SPT borings, rock coring, and Rimac testing (as well as complementing emerging technologies such as cone penetrometer test and geophysics in the near future), to expand subsurface investigations to include MWD boreholes alongside current SPT borings, and to improve the reliability of interpreted ground conditions. Using MWD in IDOT practice will provide higher quality geotechnical and geological subsurface data that will reduce the cost of field exploration, design, and construction of IDOT infrastructure and provide drill rig performance information (e.g., drill component damage detection, time-to-repair using machine learning). Specific beneficial outcomes will involve correlating MWD data with SPT N-value equivalents; new tools to distinguish glacial tills, soft weathered rock, and harder competent rock layers; improved rock property data such as recovery, rock-quality designation, rate, and unconfined strength; standardized methods for collecting MWD data and developing boring logs that are gINT compatible.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $562500
• Contract Numbers:

  R27-244

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Illinois Department of Transportation

  Bureau of Materials and Physical Research
  126 East Ash Street
  Springfield, IL  United States  62704-4766
• Managing Organizations:

  University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

  Illinois Center for Transportation
  1611 Titan Drive
  Rantoul, IL  United States  61866
• Principal Investigators:

  Baser, Tugce

  Tom, Joe

  Sychterz, Ann

  Rodgers, Michael

• Start Date: 20210816
• Expected Completion Date: 20240815
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; Drilling; Measuring methods; Soil penetration test; Stratigraphy
• Identifier Terms: Illinois Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01778982
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Illinois Department of Transportation
• Contract Numbers: R27-244
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 12 2021 12:19PM