Exploration in soils: Investigation methods

Methods of determining the stratification and engineering characteristics of subsurface soils are as follows

Trial pits

Hand auger borings

Site investigations and soil mechanics

Mechanical auger borings

Light cable percussion borings

Rotary open hole drilling

Wash borings

Wash probings

Dynamic cone penetration tests

Static cone penetration tests

Vane shear tests

Pressuremeter tests

Dilatometer tests

Plate bearing tests

Detailed descriptions of the above methods as used in British practice are given in BS 5930

Site Investigations. Brief comments on the applicability of these methods to different soil and site conditions are given in the following Sections 1 42—1 45