Monday, December 19, 2016

An Overview About The Boring Methods Involved In A Subsurface Investigation

By Daniel Murphy


Geotechnical investigation is the process of performing several methods and tests for obtaining information about the physical properties of the rocks and soil. The tests are being done in particular sites for designing foundations and earthworks for the proposed structures and also for the distress repair structures and earthworks that are being caused by some specific conditions. Persons who will conduct these investigations are the geotechnical engineers or the engineering geologists.

The completeness and accuracy of a subsurface information must be considered importantly since this is very important in the civil engineering projects. Inadequate and misleading subsurface data are the two main reasons for structure failures. Auguring is a method in subsurface investigation wherein holes are placed down into soft sediment. Bore holes are created for greater depth to be penetrated.

Percussion drilling. In this method, the bit will be suspended from rods or cables and will be jumped both up and down to break the rocks. For the bit to remain cool and to make slurry, the hole is added with water. The debris are also removed through a bailer. For chips to be recovered for its identification, pounded rocks are mixed in water from the slurry. Drilling progress rate and cost are varied from 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. Tabular bits with lower cutting edges are being used here. These are rotated in holes. Bits are composed of many different forms, some have diamonds while some are hard abrasives to penetrate the hard rocks. Diamond drills are the most commonly used types in sampling and in an exploratory bore.

Core barrels. Structural drilling aims on recovering an undisturbed core in which the structural feature measurements are being made. The process may be achieved through the use of either multiple tube core or large diameter barrels. Geophysical methods. This will help in locating, mapping, and characterizing the subsurface features through making some measurements in the surface for responding to electrical, chemical, and physical 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. The GPR uses electromagnetic waves in high frequency for acquiring subsurface information. The energy will be radiated downward to the ground coming from the transmitter then reflected back into receiving antenna. Reflected signals are then recorded, producing shallow subsurfaces conditions.




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