Site Investigation fieldwork is frequently carried out in the U.K. using a cable percussion drilling rig to obtain engineering information on ground conditions and samples for subsequent laboratory analysis.
Commonly, depths of up to 30-35m can be achieved. As an example only - a 10 to 15 metre deep, 150mm diameter, borehole will normally take 1 day to complete.
In-situ testing and sampling can include Standard Penetration Tests (SPT’s), undisturbed samples (U100’s) along with disturbed, bulk and water samples as necessary.
The precise location of each borehole is often decided on site, in order that boreholes are located to cause least disturbance to other activities in the area and so that services may be avoided. All borehole locations are checked with a Cable Avoidance Tool (CAT).
Cable percussion boreholes are drilled using a Dando 150 cable percussion boring rig, or similar, operated by a two-man crew and all borehole arisings are normally removed from site.
The rig is towed behind a 4-wheel drive Land Rover or similar and is self-contained. During site operations there will be a certain amount of noise from the diesel engine and intermittent noise from the drilling process.Work is normally undertaken under the direction of a qualified geotechnical engineer who may attend during site operations.
When access for a standard cable percussion rig is not available or when the depth of geotechnical information required is 15 metres or less and ground conditions are suitable then the Premier Tracked Rig can be employed.
In-situ penetration testing and sampling can include Standard Penetration Tests (SPT’s), along with disturbed samples as necessary. These can be re-moulded to allow for 38mm triaxial tests to be undertaken.
The SPT comprises a weight of 63.6 kg dropping through a free-fall height of 762mm in accordance with British Standard BS 1377 : Part 9. The weight drives a 50mm diameter “split-spoon” sampler into the ground. The resistance to penetration is recorded for 6 consecutive 75mm increments with the SPT ‘N’ value calculated from an addition of the final four 4 readings.
The rig is brought to site within a large Transit Van and is self-contained and self-erecting. The sampling tube, including a 98mm diameter casing system is driven into the ground with a series of 1 metre long metal tubes. The sampling tubes can be driven through the casing to obtain disturbed samples at regular depth intervals and vary in diameter from 80mm to 35mm.
During site operations there will be a certain amount of noise from the diesel engine and intermittent noise from the drilling process.
The window sampler (also known as the Drive-in-Sampler) is a lightweight portable boring equipment, ideal for shallow boreholes with limited access.
The drive-in-sampler boring technique can commonly drill down through concrete and brick overburden and superficial made ground to a depth of 5-7 metres below existing ground level. In ideal conditions depths of up to 10m can be achieved.
The technique is therefore very useful in Subsidence and Contamination sampling situations. An added advantage is that the technique does not arouse as much interest from the general public or create the damage and remedial/reinstatement works that trial pitting does when, for example, excavating through existing tarmac car parks etc.
The drive-in-sampler comprises a series of 1 metre and 2 metre long, 100mm to 35mm diameter, tubes that are driven into the ground using a mini-hydraulic breaker. The tubes are subsequently jacked out of the ground and side windows enable the tubes to be cleaned and small disturbed samples to be taken.
During site operations there will be a certain amount of noise from the hydraulic power pack and breaker unit as the sample tubes are driven into the ground. The precise location of the boreholes is often decided on site, in order that they may be situated so that they cause least disturbance to other activities in the area and that services may be avoided.
Trial pitting is often carried out using a JCB type wheeled mechanical excavator complete with a hammer breaker attachment if required.
Work is undertaken under the supervision of a qualified geotechnical or geo-environmental engineer at all times.
No excavations are left unattended when open and once information has been gained from each excavation this is normally backfilled. Where access is restricted, for example rear gardens to residential properties, smaller "mini-excavators" can be employed.
When access does not allow for a JCB or ‘mini-excavator’ Trial Pits can be hand-excavated up to a maximum depth of 1.20m. This will commonly reach underside of foundations and is very useful in sensitive areas where known services are located.
In-situ Shear Vane tests can be performed in open Trial Pits in order to provide quick shear strength results of soil. It is not recommended, for the purposes of foundation design, that Shear Vane values replace those from conventional triaxial tests.
The Dynamic Probe operated by Risk Management Limited is classed as a Dynamic Probe “Heavy” (DPH) in accordance with BS 5930:2015 “Code of Practice for Site Investigations”.
The Dynamic Probe is hinged for easy transport and access to site.
Height when extended: 2.34m Width: 0.78m Length: 0.785m Total weight approx: 360 kg
The Dynamic Probe uses the 50 kg weight dropped in “free-fall” from a fixed height of 500mm to drive a 15cm2 cone into the ground.
The number of blows per 100mm is recorded and the resulting blow counts can be used to obtain equivalent Standard Penetration Test (SPT) ‘N’ values.
Approximate ‘Equivalent’ SPT ‘N’ Values can be determined by dividing the cumulative blow counts for each 300m of penetration by 1.5 as recommended by Card and Roche. The results are presented as plots of blow counts versus depth.
During site operations there will be noise from the continuous blows to the top of the drive rods.
On completion of a borehole, gas and groundwater monitoring installations can be installed comprising 50mm or 19mm diameter (depending on plant used) HDPE slotted and plain casing as necessary wrapped in a geotextile sock to prevent silting up and finished at ground surface with a lockable stopcock cover, concreted in flush with the existing ground surface.
A cement/bentonite seal is normally installed from 1.00m to ground level and the installation finished with a gas valve on top of the pipe and a lockable stopcock cover concreted in flush with ground level.
Gas monitoring of carbon-dioxide, methane, oxygen and flow levels can be recorded and together will provide a Gas Screening Value (GSV) and a classification in accordance with CIRIA Publication C665 “Assessing Risks Posed by Hazardous Gases to Buildings (Revised 2007)” and/or the NHBC “Traffic Light” System.
Geotechnical Testing is undertaken at Risk Management Limited on-site laboratory in Godalming, Surrey. All geotechnical testing is generally undertaken to BS 1377 1990, “Methods of Test for Soils for Civil Engineering Purposes”.
Contamination and Chemical Testing is carried out in accordance with standard industry methods in a UKAS approved laboratory which is also currently accredited in accordance with MCERTSfor the majority of its testing.
Further information regarding this accreditation is available on request together with a full list of test methods if required.
A list of the typical geotechnical and contamination testing we undertake is as follows;
There are a number of ways of assessing whether the ground would be suitable for soakaways or superficial SUDS type drainage schemes. The tests effectively determine the permeability of the soil so that soakaways can be designed for the required flow rate and frequency of use.
Soil Infiltration Tests are carried out in a machine excavated trial pit in accordance with the methods described in BRE Digest 365 “Soakaway Design”. Trial pit dimensions are recorded and the sides of the trial pit kept as vertical as possible.
The trial pit is then filled with water as quickly as possible and the time noted for the start of the test. Water is usually supplied from a 2000 gallon lorry-mounted tanker situated close to the excavation and water pumped through a short length of pipe directly into the trial pit. The time and depth from ground level to water surface is then recorded at regular intervals as the water level falls within the trial pit over three periods.
Following the test a Soil Infiltration Test Rate (f) can be calculated.
Where access is restricted, truncated Soil Infiltration Tests can be carried out within a trial pit excavated by a mini-digger or by hand. The tests are carried out in accordance with the methods described in BRE Digest 365 “Soakaway Design”, but modified based on the advice given in Section H2 of Building Regulation Approved Document H “Drainage and Waste Disposal” 2002.
Once the trial pit is excavated a 300mm x 300mm square section is excavated by hand at test level. This section is then filled with water and the time for water to drain away three times noted. Again, a Soil Infiltration Test Rate (f) can be calculated.
Falling head permeability tests can be undertaken within borehole installations in accordance with B.S.5930:2015 Part 25.4.3 Variable Head Test. A permeability rate (k) can then be calculated which will give an indication of whether a Borehole Soakaway installation will be successful on site.
Drainage Percolation Tests can be carried out in accordance with BS 6297:2007 to determine average Vp values to enable treated effluent units to be designed.
The tests are carried out within a trial pit excavated by a mini-digger or by hand. Once the trial pit is excavated a 300mm x 300mm square section is excavated by hand at test level. This section is then filled with water and the time for water to drain away three times noted.
Where hard rocks such as Mudstone and Sandstone, or some soft rocks, such as Chalk are encountered then rotary drilling may be required.
A variety of drilling rigs are available depending on site access and depth of borehole required. The photographs on this page show a small selection of the drilling rigs available for rotary drilling to depths in excess of 100m if required.
Where access is restricted or drilling from within building and/or basements is required then specialist low-headroom "cut-down" drilling rigs can be employed. These are specifically designed to be dismantled and passed through narrow openings, down stairs etc. and then re-assembled. Variable length drilling legs are utilised to undertake this work depending on the headroom available.
Where concrete slabs need to be penetrated out prior to drilling the quickest and most-effective way is by employing a concrete coring machine. Core sizes can vary from 50mm up to 200mm.
For the purposes of road design California Bearing Ratio (CBR) information can be recorded using a MEXE Probe. The MEXE Probe consists of a cast aluminium housing containing a calibrated compression spring, operating shafts and dials with a CBR cone. The instrument is forced into the ground and an average of the readings obtained is considered the CBR value.