Site investigation and soil analysis

Site investigation and soil analysis

Site Investigation

  • Purpose of Investigation: Site investigations are necessary for understanding the natural and manmade features of a given area, which can influence how a building is designed and constructed.

  • Field Exploration: This involves visiting the site to identify surface conditions, surrounding infrastructure and potential hazards.

  • Subsurface Exploration: Soil sampling and drilling are performed to examine the subsurface conditions, helping to determine the safe load-bearing capacity of the ground.

  • Data Recording: All observations, measurements and data collected during the investigation should be accurately recorded for future reference and analyses.

Soil Analysis

  • Soil Sampling: Collecting soil samples at various depths provides information about soil layers, their composition and characteristics.

  • Soil Classification: Soils are classified based on grain size, plasticity and other properties. Most common classifications are gravel, sand, silt, clay, and organic soil.

  • Laboratory Testing: Samples undergo lab testing for further analysis and determination of various properties like density, porosity, permeability, plasticity, and shear strength.

  • Soil Profile: Information from soil analysis gives a soil profile, a vertical section of the ground showing different layers and their thicknesses.

Inferences and Considerations

  • Bearing Capacity: Based on soil analysis, practicable foundation types and depths are determined. This is largely based on the load-bearing capacity of the soil.

  • Soil Behavior and Stability: Understanding how the soil behaves under different conditions like load, moisture changes, and weather variations is critical for safe and efficient design.

  • Excavation and Shoring Requirements: Soil type and stability affect the excavation process. Shoring methods need to be chosen carefully to prevent soil from collapsing during construction.

Remember, clear understanding of the site and soil conditions is essential for making sound construction decisions and avoiding unforeseen difficulties and expenses during construction.