VISUAL INSPECTION

The soil, a fairly abundant material with practical use in the

development of a construction project, often does not meet the
properties or characteristics for its use. For this reason, one resorts to
carry out the analysis and tests on him, to achieve certainty in
stability over time.

Sampling.

Generalities

The first thing to note in obtaining a sample is

that this is representative of the land. An adequate sampling and
representative is of primary importance, as it has the same
value than that of the tests themselves. Unless the obtained sample
truly representative of the materials that are
intends to use, any analysis of the sample will only be applicable to the
own sample and not the material from which it comes, hence the need
that the sampling be carried out by knowledgeable personnel
work.

The samples can be of two types: altered or unaltered.

it says that a sample is altered when it does not keep the same
conditions that when he was in the land from where
proceed, and unchanged otherwise.

The sample must be easily identified in the laboratory, for this

the reason must indicate: project name, location, well number,
horizon
which belongs, name of the person who took it and if it is contained
in one or more containers.

Sample collection

Recognition
Any study of the soil must begin with a detailed assessment.
of the land handled by experienced personnel. The objective of this
recognition is having prior geotechnical backgrounds to
program the exploration.

Through the observation of natural and/or artificial cuts resulting from

from erosion or landslide it will be possible, in general, to define the
main units or strata of surface soils.

There is no method of recognition or exploration that is of

universal use, for all types of existing soils and for all
the structures or works that are studied, but if the identification of
these through the procedures that are presented.
Identification of soils

The problem of soil identification is important.

fundamental; identifying a soil is, rigorously speaking, to categorize it into a
previous classification system. In the case of this work, it is to place it
within the unified soil classification system. The
Identification allows knowing the mechanical properties and
soil hydraulics, attributing them to the group in which it is situated,
Naturally, experience plays an important role in usefulness.
that can be taken from the classification. In the unified system there is
criteria for soil identification in the laboratory; these are
of the granulometric type and plasticity characteristics. In addition, and
this is the advantage of the system, criteria for identification are offered
in the field, that is, in those cases where it is not available
laboratory equipment to carry out the necessary tests for
a strict identification. These criteria, simple and expedient, are
detailed below.

Identification of coarse soils

Materials made up of coarse particles are identified

practically in a visual form. Extending a dry sample of
soil on a flat surface can be judged, in form
approximately, of its graduation, particle size, shape and
mineralogical composition. To distinguish gravels from sands
a size of ½ cm equivalent to mesh 4 could be used, and for the
estimation of the fines content is enough to consider that the particles
of size corresponding to mesh 200 are the smallest and
they can be distinguished at first glance. Regarding the graduation of the
material for having quite a bit of experience in the visual exam, because
the poorly graduated materials are compared to the well graduated ones,
obtained in the laboratory. In some cases, it is important to determine
the integrity of the constituent particles of the soil, in which case
a careful examination is carried out. The particles of igneous origin are
they are easily identified, the weathered particles are recognized by
the discolorations and the relative ease with which they disintegrate.
Identification of fine soils

One of the advantages of this system is the identification of soils

fine with some experience. The best way to acquire this
experience is still learning alongside those who already possess it.

The main criteria for identifying fine soils in the

field is the research of the characteristics of dilatancy, of
tenacity and resistance in dry state. The color and smell of the soil
they can help especially in floors organic.

The test set is carried out on a previously selected sample.

sifted through a 40 mesh, in its absence, previously subjected to
a manual equivalent process.
In any case, when scheduling an exploration, the ...
following general guidelines:

1. Locate prospecting points at approximately distances

equal, then to intensify the exploration if deemed appropriate.
2. Prospect those sectors that will support fill or embankments
of importance and those where the alignment is located very close to the
land natural (h < 0.6 m).
3. Inspect those areas where there are cuts of
importance, locating the points of transition from cut to embankment
to know the material at the subgrade level.
4. Inspect the subsurface in those points where works are located
of art y structures important.

The most used methods for surface studies that

lead to the recognition of the stratigraphic profile are:

Test pits
The test pits allow for direct inspection of the soil that is desired.
to study and, therefore, it is the method of exploration that
usually delivers the most reliable and complete information.
soils with gravel, the pit is the only means of exploration that
it can provide reliable information, and it is a very effective medium
for exploration and sampling of foundation soils and materials
construction at a relatively low cost. Each test pit is given
you must make an appropriate record that will become part of the
respective report. The visual description of the different strata is
present with all the necessary information.

Graphic stratigraphy is presented through the symbolism that is

show below:
Soils can be grouped into three primary groups, without
embargo, in nature there are compounds, but it is possible
discern the predominant component and assimilate the sample to that
group. The main distinction is made based on size. The
visible individual particles form the coarse fraction and the
too small to be individualized they make up the fraction
Fine. The organic components of the soil consist of matter.
decomposed plant material or in the process of decomposition, what it
it imposes a fibrous structure on the ground. They can be identified by
its dark colors and distinctive smell.

Dilatancy
In this test, a pill in the necessary water content
so that the soil acquires a smooth consistency, but not
sticky, it shakes alternately in the palm of the hand,
hitting it against the other hand, keeping it tight between
the fingers. A fine floor, not plastic, acquires with the previous
treatment, a liver appearance, showing free water in its
surface, while being stirred, while being compressed between
the fingers, the surface water disappears and the sample is
endures, until it finally starts to crumble like
a fragile material, when the pressure increases. If the water content
the pill is the right one, a new shake will make the
fragments, product of the crumbling return to
to be constituted. It changes its consistency and with which water appears and
it defines the intensity of the reaction and indicates the character
of the fine soil.

Tenacity
The test is performed on a specimen of soft consistency,
similar to putty. This specimen is rolled up into a small roll.
about 3 mm in approximate diameter, which is kneaded and returned to
roll several times. It is observed how the rigidity of the roll increases to
as the soil approaches the plastic limit. Exceeded the
plastic limit, the fragments in which the roll breaks come together
again and knead slightly between the fingers, until the
collapse final.

Resistance in dry condition

The resistance of a previously dried soil sample to
breaking under pressures exerted by the fingers is an indicator of
character of its colloidal fraction. The silts free of plasticity,
do not show any resistance in dry state and their samples
they crumble with very little digital pressure. The clays have
medium and high resistance to crumbling from digital pressure.

-Size: Coarse soils are those in which more than the

half of the particles are visible. In this estimation there
exclude coarse particles larger than 80 mm (3"); without
embargo, that fraction must be estimated visually and the
percentage indicated regardless of the material below
80 mm. The coarse fraction includes sizes of gravel and
sand, and the fine fraction the silts and clays.

Color: The predominant color must be indicated.

Smell: Recent samples of organic soils have an odor.

a badge that helps with your identification. The smell can be made
manifest warming a wet sample.

Humidity: In the recent samples, it must be recorded the

Humidity. Dry materials need an amount
considerable amount of water to achieve optimal compaction.
The wet materials are close to the optimal content. The
wet ones need to dry to reach the optimal, and the
Saturated soils are those located below a groundwater level.

Structure: If the materials present alternating layers of

various types or colors will be called stratified; if the layers or
 colors are thin, less than 6 mm, will be described as
laminated; fissured if there are defined cracks; lenticular if
presents inclusion of soils with different textures.

Cementation: Some soils show definite evidence of

cementation in unaltered state. This should be emphasized and
indicate the degree of cementation, described as weak or strong.
Checking with hydrochloric acid if it is due to carbonates and its
intensity like no other, weak or strong.

Densification: The compactness or relative density of soils without

cohesion can be described as loose or dense, depending on
of the difficulty that poses to the penetration of a wedge of
wood.

The consistency of cohesive soils can be determined on site or

about unaltered samples. The shear strength values are
based on correlations with used pocket penetrometer
frequently to estimate consistency.

The description of soils, especially their classification, is based on

visual examination and manual tests, and it should not contain refinements
that can only be determined with laboratory equipment, although
these may be contradictory. Occasionally the soils are described
with such a quantity of details; however, it is better to err on the side
of excessive details, which can be selected, to present
incomplete descriptions.

In any case, it is advisable to use as a guideline the

definitions and recommendations contained in the ASTM D standard
2488, called 'Soil Description' (Visual procedure-
Manual).

These visual descriptions must contain at least the

following background:

Identification of the test pit by a number, specified its

location with respect to the mileage of the axis or its coordinates,
name the laboratory technician
y date of the inspection.

Total depth.

Depth of the water layer, referred to the level of the natural ground
y observation date.

Depth of the different strata to be described, referred to the level

of the natural land.

Description of the soil using the terminology provided in

the figures of its symbolism presented earlier, depending on the case
of floors thick o fines respectively.

Quantity and type of samples taken in the pit.

Observations and other relevant characteristics.

All samples that are obtained must be perfect.

identified, including at least the following: identification of the
borehole; depth at which it was taken; name of the person who
the take and date of acquisition.

There are two types of samples that can be obtained:

- Disturbed samples. They are generally obtained from the walls of the
wells and commit certain strata or the sum of
some of them. These samples must be kept in bags
waterproof and of adequate resistance. Each bag must
identify themselves clearly and indelibly.

Samples in bags: The samples in bags are taken with a scoop,

crowbar or any other handy tool and it
they place in bags without trying to keep the ground unchanged,
these samples are used for:

Granulometric analysis.

Plasticity tests.

Compaction tests - optimal moisture.

CBR compaction tests in the laboratory, etc.