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Geotechnical Soil Sampling Methods

Soil sampling is performed by geotechnical engineers to obtain information about soil and rock properties at a site to help design foundations and investigate issues caused by subsurface conditions. It involves surface and subsurface exploration using techniques like trenching, boring, and in situ tests to obtain disturbed and undisturbed soil samples. Disturbed samples have altered structure while undisturbed samples preserve natural structure and material properties. Effective soil sampling involves digging shallow holes, slicing soil from the hole walls in 1-inch sections, mixing subsamples in a bucket, and placing about a pint in a labeled bag for analysis.

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Lerry May del Rosario
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96 views10 pages

Geotechnical Soil Sampling Methods

Soil sampling is performed by geotechnical engineers to obtain information about soil and rock properties at a site to help design foundations and investigate issues caused by subsurface conditions. It involves surface and subsurface exploration using techniques like trenching, boring, and in situ tests to obtain disturbed and undisturbed soil samples. Disturbed samples have altered structure while undisturbed samples preserve natural structure and material properties. Effective soil sampling involves digging shallow holes, slicing soil from the hole walls in 1-inch sections, mixing subsamples in a bucket, and placing about a pint in a labeled bag for analysis.

Uploaded by

Lerry May del Rosario
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Introduction
  • Purpose of Soil Sampling
  • What is Soil Sampling?
  • Disturbed Samples
  • Undisturbed Sample
  • Introduction to Sampling Method
  • Sampling Method
  • Collection and Mixing of Samples

Soil Sampling

Soil Sampling is performed by


geotechnical engineers to obtain
information on the physical
properties of soil and rock around
a site to:

1) design foundation for proposed


structures

2) for repair of distress to


earthworks and structures caused
by subsurface conditions
What is Soil Sampling?

Soil Sampling is also known as Geotechnical Investigation.

A geotechnical investigation will include surface exploration and


subsurface exploration of a site.

To obtain information about the soil conditions below the


surface, some form of subsurface exploration is required.

Methods of observing the soils below the surface, obtaining


samples, and determining physical properties of the soils
and rocks include, trenching (particularly for locating faults and
slide planes),boring, and in situ tests.
Disturbed Samples

 A disturbed sample is one in


which the structure of the soil
has been changed sufficiently
during the sampling operations.

These are also called


representative samples
Undisturbed Sample

Natural structure of the soil


and material properties
remain preserved.

An undisturbed sample is one


where the condition of the
soil in the sample is close
enough to the conditions o f
the soil in-
situ,so that tests of structural
properties of the soil can be
approximated
Soil Sampling
How?
Is it just digging holes?
Insert the shovel straight into the ground, about 6 inches
deep for flower and vegetable gardens, and 4 inches deep
for new and established lawns. Lift out the shovel full of soil,
leaving a D-shaped hole in the ground.

Take about a 1-inch slice of soil from the straight, vertical side
of the hole, making sure to keep the slice as even as possible.
The important consideration is to make sure all layers of soil
are included in the sample.

With a knife, a trowel, or even by hand (if the soil is soft),


remove both sides of the slice on the shovel, leaving
approximately 1 inch in the center. The resulting sample
will be 1 inch thick, 1 inch wide and 6 inches long. This is
called a subsample. See the diagram next page.
Place this strip of soil in the clean pail and move on to the next
sample location. For gardens less than 500 square feet, take at
least three subsamples to give an adequate representation of the
soil. For gardens and lawns 500 to 10,000 square feet, take at least
five subsamples. Each subsample from an area should be added to
the pail. Do not mix subsamples from different areas. For
example, the subsamples from the lawn will be mixed in the same
bucket, but will be kept separate from the subsamples from the
garden.

Once all subsamples for an area are placed in the bucket, break
up soil clumps and thoroughly mix all of the soil together. Once
it is mixed, pour about a pint of soil into a clearly labeled plastic
sample bag and discard the rest of the soil in the pail. Clean out
the bucket and utensils if another area will be sampled.

Common questions

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The main purposes of soil sampling in geotechnical engineering are to obtain information on the physical properties of soil and rock around a site for the design of foundations for proposed structures and for the repair of distress to earthworks and structures caused by subsurface conditions .

Subsurface exploration methods in a geotechnical investigation include trenching to locate faults and slide planes, boring to observe and obtain samples, and conducting in situ tests to determine physical properties. These methods help in characterizing soil and rock properties and are chosen based on the type of information needed for the site's subsurface conditions .

To take a soil subsample, insert a shovel into the ground to the required depth, lift out a shovelful of soil, and take a 1-inch slice from the vertical side of the hole. Remove the sides of this slice, leaving a strip 1 inch wide by 1 inch thick, and collect in a pail. Consistency is important to ensure each sample provides comparable data that accurately reflects the surveyed area's soil characteristics, minimizing variabilities that could skew analysis .

Including all layers of soil in a sample is necessary to ensure that the sample accurately represents the site's soil profile, which is critical for assessing the variations in physical properties that affect construction and foundation design. Missing layers can lead to inaccurate data and potentially flawed engineering assessments and conclusions .

Obtaining a disturbed sample involves processes where the soil structure is altered during sampling operations, useful for general soil composition but not structural properties. An undisturbed sample, by contrast, requires techniques that preserve the soil's natural structure and properties, making it vital for accurately assessing in-situ structural properties. This distinction is crucial because it impacts the type of information that can be derived from subsequent tests, such as compressive strength versus general composition .

Soil Sampling
Soil Sampling is performed by geotechnical engineers to obtain information on the physical properties of soil and rock aro
Soil Sampling is also known as Geotechnical Investigation. A geotechnical investigation will include surface exploration an
Disturbed Samples A disturbed sample is one in which the structure of the soil has been changed sufficiently during the
Undisturbed Sample Natural structure of the soil and material properties remain preserved. An undisturbed sample is one
Soil Sampling
How? Is it just digging holes?
Insert the shovel straight into the ground, about 6 inches deep for flower and vegetable gardens, and 4 inches deep for new
Place this strip of soil in the clean pail and move on to the next sample location. For gardens less than 500 square feet, t

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