Geotechnical tests analyze soil characteristics such as density, drainage, moisture, and particle content. Environmental engineering services evaluate soil composition before construction to determine its condition under various circumstances. Tests include sieve analysis, hydrometer analysis, and hydraulic conductivity testing to assess moisture content and strength.
Geotechnical tests analyze a range of soil characteristics including density, drainage capacity, moisture and particle content. Soil is generally made up of earth, minerals, and rocks, along with water and air. Some areas have soil that contains clay or sand. Environmental engineering services evaluate the soil composition of a particular site before construction begins, which determines the condition of the soil under various circumstances. Environmental and weather conditions that could cause soil expansion and contraction or soil displacement are some of the factors analyzed by a geotechnical test.
Before spending millions of dollars and hundreds of man hours building a structure, landlords need to know if the land can support the proposed building. Soft, air-filled soil can cause more structural settlement than desired, causing premature cracks throughout the building. Areas with heavy rainfall followed by periods of intense heat could have soil movement that could potentially ruin a building’s foundation. When barriers or walls are developed along a body of water, engineers require a series of assessments that determine which structures could prevent landslides, soil erosion or slope instability.
The geological engineer not only tests visible topsoil but also analyzes the layers below ground level by taking borehole samples and digging pits or trenches. Technicians may perform some tests on site while others require laboratory evaluation. Geotechnical testing, called sieve analysis, examines the size and number of various particles in the soil. Hydrometer analysis determines the amount of silt particles that are too small for the sieve test. These tests could provide information for general soil classifications or be used to determine if the soil composition is suitable for use in concrete mixing.
Many tests determine the moisture content and the effects of moisture on the soil. A geotechnical liquid limit test analyzes the amount of moisture required before the soil becomes liquid, while the linear shrinkage test determines the amount of moist shrinkage soil it exhibits after being exposed to extreme drying conditions. Hydraulic conductivity testing evaluates water flow through clay and sandy soils to predict soil settlement and its possible effects on structures. The moisture content in clay soils when changing from semi-solid to plastic is determined by the plastic limit test.
Some tests assess the overall strength of the soil. Geotechnical compaction testing, for example, evaluates the density and moisture content of compacted soil to determine whether a site can adequately support heavy structures. The California Bearing Ratio Test analyzes soil density and compaction using penetrating tools that apply varying amounts of directed force. The shear test evaluates the strength of sand-containing soils where contractors might build dikes or retaining walls.
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