Rock Grouting Schema Development

Expansion of DIGGS Schema for Rock Grouting Data Transfer

Sponsored by the DFI International Grouting Committee

Allen Cadden
Principal Investigator and Project Manager
Geo-Institute of ASCE, DIGGS Committee Chair

Table of Contents

1. Overview
2. Workshops a. Day 1

Overview

DIGGS is an emerging data transfer protocol that uses XML and GML language format to facilitate exchange of data within the geo-profession. The format has been developed by industry experts and is now ready to be implemented within our industry. Initial implementation is ongoing with federal and state transportation agencies and others focusing primarily on geotechnical exploration (borings, cone soundings, test pits, and in-situ tests) as well as laboratory testing. Initial development work has also been started on instrumentation data and pile/deep foundations however these elements are currently not embedded in the current release, Version 2.5a.

The driver for this data exchange format system is to facilitate our ability to readily and accurately exchange data between point of acquisition, to office review, to analysis tools then to deliverables and storage tools. Research has shown that current processes required data to be manually handled and manipulated numerous times in this process, each step requiring time and expense. Further, each time the data is handled manually, opportunities for error enter the process.

Given that the core of the current system was built to capture geotechnical data in linear elements such as borings we feel that a logical addition to this system would be to define the data structure (scheme) to capture grouting and ground improvement, deep foundations, and anchor installation data. As owners become more sophisticated, their expectations for data delivery in a timely fashion is ever increasing. Establishing industry standards for the data structure and transfer will aid everyone in the deep foundation industry to meet these needs from the point of acquisition through storage. This common structure will further allow experts at each step of the process to maximize their skills in handling and using this data for the betterment of the project and all team members involved, rather than converting data sets into usable formats.

This project request seeks to begin the integration of DFI technologies into this data transfer format and establish methods and authorities to manage the open source scheme in the future. Using relatively straight forward rock grouting procedures as a model, DFI members will become familiar with the DIGGS based scheme and will create a baseline upon which many other DFI technologies can be readily built into the system.

Once the rock grouting scheme is established, every step of the process can be documented and data handling expedited. From the drilling of the hole with monitoring while drilling data capture already in place on many drills, to packer setting and water testing data, to grout injection and mix properties, to closure tests, the data can flow efficiently if every step of the process using a common format. Currently, many of the steps required paper capture, downloading of data from loggers, translation in spreadsheets or CSV file formats, and manipulation from one software package to another to achieve the proper interpretation and visualization. With this common structure, the data will be entered once and never touched again where time is wasted and errors are introduced.

Workshops

Online workshop on the development of the rock grouting schema

Day 1 - Thursday, Sep 10 2020

1. Introduction by Allen Cadden (slide deck, video recording)

Example Forms and Data

(click on the link to download)

• Grouting Log
• AGS Draft Rock Grouting
• Trend Data: Grouting Operation
• Drilling Grouting Database
• Initial Grouting Database
• Overburden Drilling Grouting Database
• Mix Design

Field Property Elements

Name	Description
apparentDensity	A text string describing the consistency of coarse-grained soils (eg. "loose"); intended to come from a controlled list
consistency	A text string describing the consistency of fine-grained soils (eg. "soft"); intended to come from a controlled list
beddingOrientation	A text string describing the bedding orientation (eg. horizontal, inclined, inclined 30 deg NW, etc.)
beddingSpacing	A text string describing the bed spacing (eg. "thick", "3 inches"); intended to come from a controlled list
cementation	A text string describing the degree of cementation (eg. "weakly"); intended to come from a controlled list
dilatancy	A text string describing the degree of dilatancy, eg. "slow"; intended to come from a controlled list
dryStrength	A text string describing the degree of dry strength; intended to come from a controlled list
moistureCondition	A text string describing the moisture of the soil (eg. "wet"); intended to come from a controlled list
odor	A text string describing the odor of the soil (eg. H2S); intended to come from a controlled list
particleAngularity	A descriptive term or phrase to describe the overall angularity of grains (eg. "rounded"). Intended to come from a controlled list.
particleShape	A descriptive term or phrase to describe the overall shape (typically sphericity) of particles. Intended to come from a controlled list.
particleSize	A descriptive term or phrase to describe the overall particle size distribution of the soil, eg. "fine sand", "fine to coarse". "silt and very fine sand". Intended to come from a controlled list.
particleSorting	A descriptive term or phrase to describe the relative particle sorting of the soil, eg. "well-sorted". Intended to come from a controlled list.
plasticity	A descriptive term or phrase to describe the relative plasticity of the soil, eg. "non-plastic". Intended to come from a controlled list.
reactionToHCl	A text string describing the soil's reaction to HCl (eg. "weak"); intended to come from a controlled list
rockGrainSize	A descriptive term or phrase to describe the overall particle size distribution of the soil, eg. "fine sand", "fine to coarse". "silt and very fine sand". Intended to come from a controlled list.
rockHardness	A descriptive term or phrase to describe the relative hardness of rock, as governed by its mineralogy, eg. "hard". Intended to come from a controlled list.
rockSlakingRate	A descriptive term or phrase to describe the relative rate of slaking of rock, eg. "slow". Intended to come from a controlled list.
rockStrength	A descriptive term or phrase to describe the relative hardness of rock, as governed by its compressive strength, eg. "strong". Intended to come from a controlled list.
rockWeathering	A descriptive term or phrase to describe the relative degree of rock, eg. "slightly decomposed", "Grade III", etc. Intended to come from a controlled list.
soilStructure	A descriptive term or phrase to describe the relative structure of the soil, eg. "prismatic", "blocky", etc. Intended to come from a controlled list.
toughness	A descriptive term or phrase to describe the relative toughness of the soil, eg. "medium", etc. Intended to come from a controlled list.