Tuesday, December 13, 2016

An Overview Of Boring Methods Being Used For Subsurface Investigation

By Daniel Murphy


A geotechnical investigation is one process in which several tests and methods are performed in order to obtain information on rocks and soils physical properties. The methods are done in some particular sites for the design of foundations and the earthworks of proposed structures and of distress repair for structures and for earthworks which are caused by specific conditions. The people conducting the investigations are engineering geologists or geotechnical engineers.

The accuracy and the completeness of subsurface information can be considered as very necessary to all the projects related to civil engineering. Usually, the cause of failure of structures is the misleading and inadequate subsurface data. Auguring is one method which is being used in subsurface investigation. This is done to put down holes in the soft sediment. And for the penetration of greater depths, bore holes are made.

Percussion drilling. The bit in this method is being suspended from cables or from rods, being jumped up and down as well so that the rocks will be broken. Bits are kept cooled and make slurry through adding water to the hole. The removal of debris is done through using a boiler. Chips are recovered for identification. The pounded rocks will be mixed into water from slurry. The costs and the rates are based on the hardness.

Rotary drilling. The first method involves the rotation of bits and are attached to the rods and where in the pumping of fluid mud occurs. The mud will then be returned into the surface by annular space in between rods and holes. The rods are added successively in the assembly while lowering the holes.

Core drilling. The tabular bits having lower cutting edges will be utilized and are rotated in the holes. The bits are made available in various forms. These are available in diamonds or hard abrasives for penetrating hard rocks. Types which are used very commonly are the diamonds drills and are used for sampling and for exploratory bore.

Core barrels. The aim of structural drilling is to recover an undisturbed core from which measuring the structural features is done. This process can be achieved in either two ways, using a large diameter or a multiple tube core barrel. Geophysical methods. These methods are used for mapping, characterizing, and locating subsurface features through the measurement of surfaces to respond to the electrical, physical, and chemical properties.

Seismic methods. Seismic measurements would involve the seismic waves measurement that are traveling through subsurfaces. Some properties such as structure, material, and stratigraphy may sometimes be assessed with this method. Electrical resistivity. The measurements of electrical resistivity can be made through the placement of 4 electrodes which are in contact with the rock and soil.

Magnetic. Two primary applications are being used in this method and these would include mapping the structures of geology and mapping and locating buried ferrous materials. Micro gravity. In micro gravity surveys, measure changes are provided to the subsurface density. Density natural variations include large fractures, buried channels, lateral changes, faults, and dissolution.

Ground penetrating radar. GPR utilizes the electromagnetic waves having high frequencies to acquire the subsurface information. An energy is radiated downwards into the ground from the transmitter and after, being reflected back to a receiving antenna. Signals which are reflected will be recorded and will produce some conditions of shallow subsurfaces.




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