assesses the properties and behavior of soil and rock beneath the ground at a construction site. This
investigation helps engineers design safe and effective foundations for buildings, roads, and other
structures.
Field Testing
- Boreholes: Drilling boreholes at various locations on the site to obtain samples
- of soil and rock.
- Test Pits: Excavating shallow pits to observe soil and water conditions directly.
- Standard Penetration Test (SPT): A test performed during drilling to determine the resistance of the soil to penetration, giving an indication of its density and strength.
- Cone Penetration Test (CPT): A method of pushing a cone into the soil to measure its resistance at various depths.
- Groundwater Level Measurement: Measuring the depth of groundwater, which can impact foundation design and drainage
- Grain Size Analysis: Determines the distribution of different particle sizes in the soil.
- Atterberg Limits Test: Assesses the plasticity of fine-grained soils.
- Shear Strength Tests: Determines how the soil will behave under stress andloading, important for assessing the risk of soil failure.
- Compaction Tests: Measure the soil's ability to be compacted to ensure a solidfoundation
- Rock Tests:
i. Uniaxial Compression Test:
Purpose: To determine the strength of rock by applying pressure until it breaks.
ii. Point Load Test:
Purpose: The point load test is primarily used to measure the strength of rock material. It helps estimate the uniaxial compressive strength of rock, which is a critical parameter in rock mechanics and engineering projects like foundation design, tunneling, and excavation.
iii. Petrographic Analysis:
Purpose: Petrographic analysis is a vital tool in geology and geotechnical engineering that provides in-depth information about the mineralogical composition, texture, and properties of rocks. It’s essential for evaluating the suitability of rocks for construction, resource extraction, and environmental studies.
Purpose: To determine the strength of rock by applying pressure until it breaks.
ii. Point Load Test:
Purpose: The point load test is primarily used to measure the strength of rock material. It helps estimate the uniaxial compressive strength of rock, which is a critical parameter in rock mechanics and engineering projects like foundation design, tunneling, and excavation.
iii. Petrographic Analysis:
Purpose: Petrographic analysis is a vital tool in geology and geotechnical engineering that provides in-depth information about the mineralogical composition, texture, and properties of rocks. It’s essential for evaluating the suitability of rocks for construction, resource extraction, and environmental studies.
- Chemical Analysis: To assess the soil's composition, which is important for determining its suitability for construction, agriculture, or other purposes
US 8654 
GB 7352 
CA 7090 
AU 6818 
BR 4275 
VN 4066 
NZ 3274 
IE 2616 
