Supplement 4 – Soil Sampling
The pictures below represent typical soil sampling procedures used for most projects in our area.
Figures 1 through 9 are of the standard penetration test (SPT).
Standard Penetration Test (disturbed sample):
Figure 2. Operator prepares to
Figure 1. Off-road drill rig. use 3- to 4-inch diameter
continuous-flight auger.
Figure 3. The operators uses the Figure 4. The SPT split-spoon
auger to drill down to the first sampler is placed at the bottom of
sampling depth. Soil pulled out the augered hole. A 140-pound
of the hole is noted so that the automatic-trip hammer, falling
driller can approximate the depth freely approximately 30 inches,
for each change of soil type. drives the sampler a depth of 18
inches. The driller records how
many "blows" it takes to drive the
sampler each 6-inch increment.
Figure 5. The endcap is removed Figure 6. ...and the split-spoon
from the sampler tube... sampler splits into its two halves.
Figure 7. Representative portions
of each sample are placed in one Figure 8. The sample jar lid
or more jars for each sampling (center) is marked with the boring
depth for lab testing. For some number (B1), depth of sample (1
projects (e.g. roads and bridges) a to 2.5 feet) and the blows (3-4-6).
field unconfined compression
(Rimac) strength test is performed
on an intact portion (cohesive
soil, only) of the sample.
Shelby (Thin-Walled) Tube (Relatively undisturbed sample)
Figure 10. The driller estimates
Figure 9. The Shelby tube how much of the soil was
sampler being removed has recovered in the tube. This type
already been pushed 24 inches of sampling is useful for getting
into undisturbed soil. relatively undisturbed soils in
cohesive (silty and clayey) soil.
It is very difficult to get samples
in very rocky (too hard) or sandy
(non-cohesive) soils.
Figure 11. End-view of the
deepest face of the soil sample
extracted.
Miscellaneous
Figure 12. Augers of different
configurations. The top four Figure 13. Rock tooth bit for an
augers are hollow stem. The auger.
center-top auger has a plug with
cutting teeth.
Figure 14. A diamond-tooth bit is
used to advance rock core
sampling. The bit grinds an
annular ring allowing a sample
recovery tube to slip around the
rock core. Rock coring is several
times the lineal foot cost of soil
sampling.
Shear Vane In Situ Test
Figure 15. The vane shear test is Figure 16. The shear vane is
used to attempt to get the shear inserted into the hole and
strength of the soil in its natural, carefully pushed about 1 foot into
undisturbed test. This can be undisturbed soil at the bottom.
useful especially in soils where
recovery is poor or there is
concern that conventional
sampling would disturb the soil
excessively and make shear
strength measurements in the lab
unreliable.
Figure 17. After allowing the
shear vane to sit in the soil for a
few minutes, the driller uses a
torque-wrench to apply torque to
the shear vane shaft. When the
shear vane reaches maximum
torque (indicated when shaft
begins to rotate), the torque is
recorded.
