In This Post
Importance of Soil Testing in Construction
Technicalities of Soil Testing Report
Five Important Types of Soil Testing
Undertaking a construction project is a daunting task that needs to be properly planned and executed, with little or no chances of error. The pre-construction phase is probably one of the most important stages of a construction project. It is the planning and preparation period for the project, right before the beginning of the construction activities.
Importance of Soil Testing in Construction: Geotechnical Investigation of Soil Conditions at Project’s Site
Soil investigation, which is commonly referred to as soil testing or soil analysis, is also a very integral part of the pre-construction phase. It’s a geotechnical investigation of the soil condition carried out at the site of the under-construction project.
Whether it’s a new building or the extension of an existing project, soil testing is a necessity for almost every type of construction. It is used to determine the soil properties including its structure, porosity, chemistry, and texture.
Technicalities Involved in the Formulation of Soil Testing Report for Construction
Some of the technical aspects regarding the soil testing report, which help builders and engineers of the project to plan actions accordingly have been listed as under:
- As discussed, soil investigation allows you to check the suitability of the soil. It is a detailed assessment of the location as to whether it is suitable to accommodate the planned construction project or not.
- A soil testing report in construction is prepared after drilling different spots on the site. It helps you to identify the soil composition of the land of your project’s site.
- Furthermore, the sample of the soil composition is tested in a special-purpose laboratory for strength, compaction, density, and any contaminants to figure out how it will hold up during the construction process.
- All the necessary technical and safety data is compiled in the form of a comprehensive report. These precise calculations are carried out to ensure the best outputs in terms of safety and sustainability of an under-construction project.
Types of Soil Testing for Construction Projects
Based on the properties and conditions of soil, the geotechnical investigation is carried out from different perspectives. This is why there are many different methods followed for soil analysis. In this blog, we will discuss five most commonly used types of soil testing in construction:
Gravity Test: It is used to determine the value of soil’s gravity, which is dependent on its grain-size. The soil’s mass is computed on the basis of the ratio of the soil’s grain-size and void space between the grains.
Moisture Test: The important stages of soil testing includes the assessment of the soil’s behaviour under varying conditions such as stress, loading, temperature, and most importantly moisture. The Moisture Content testing effectively gauges the performance and sturdiness of soil when it is in contact with moisture.
Dry Density Test: It is one of the most commonly used types of soil testing. It helps the builders and engineers to determine the weight and density of a certain amount of soil collected in an absolutely dry form.
Proctor’s Compaction Test: Carried out in a special-purpose laboratory, Proctor’s Compaction Test is used to generate a highly technical soil testing report for construction. It is carried out to find out the compaction characteristics of the soil, giving an idea of how well it can withstand excessive pressures and forces.
Atterberg Limits Test: It’s another highly technical type of soil testing carried out on a single soil grain as a sample. It helps to identify some very important characteristics of soil such as its shrinkage limits, and its behaviour upon transitioning into semi-solid, liquid, and plastic states.
Key Takeaway: Varying from case to case, all these methods help construction and engineering experts in conducting proper geotechnical investigations. The entire process helps them to come up with a consolidated soil testing report. Once the soil is tested and examined, the site is given a green signal to host construction activities.
This brings us to the end of our detailed piece on the importance of soil testing in construction and the different technical methods used to carry it out. We hope the information we have provided here will help you develop a better understanding of the technical essentialities of soil analysis in the field of construction.
Since you are here reading about construction, you may also like taking a look at the following blogs:
- Concrete Vs. Steel: Which is a Better Building Material?
- Benefits of Using Steel in Construction
- Types of Beams Used in Construction
- Tips for Buying the Best Construction Materials
- How to Save Money While Constructing Your Own House
For more informative pieces on top technology trends and other major developments in the field of construction, keep reading Zameen Blog. You can also stay up to date with the latest posts from our blog section by subscribing to our newsletter and liking our Facebook page
