2. Introduction
Benefits of soil sampling: Soil sampling is done for soil testing of a particular site
before the construction phase. It is done to check mainly two factors the load
bearing capacity and the settlement of soil.
CONTENTS
Soil sampling
Types of soil samples
Types of samplers
Sample disturbance
3. SOIL SAMPLING
A soil sample is the representative of the whole lot from which it is taken. It
completely represents all the characteristics from which it is recovered.
4. Sampling Procedure
Field area to sample
Time of sampling
Sampling tools
Sampling depth
Amount of sample
Sampling process
Sample I.D. and
shipping
6. Disturbed Samples
Disturbed samples are those in which natural soil structure gets modified or
destroyed during sampling operation.
But with suitable precautions, we can preserve the natural moisture content
and the proportion of mineral constituents which is called as Representative
samples, even though they are disturbed samples.
Disturbed samples are generally use for determining index properties.
8. Undisturbed Samples
Samples in which natural structure of the soil and water content are retained
intact.
Used for determining engineering properties.
10. Types Of Samplers
The samplers classifies as thick wall or thin wall samplers depending up on the
ratio.
Thick wall samplers are those having the area ratio greater than 10 to 25%.
Depending up to the mode of operation, they may be classified in the following
common types:
Open drive,
Stationary piston, and
Rotary
The open drives can be both thick and thin wall sampler.
The stationary piston and the rotary types are thin wall sampler.
15. Rotary Sampler
These are the core barrel types having an outer tube provided with cutting teeth
and a removable thin wall liner inside. It is used for firm to hard cohesive soils.
16. Sample Disturbance
Depends upon design samplers and method of sampling.
Design features governing the degree of disturbance.
a) Cutting edge
b) Inside wall friction
c) Non-return valve
The following ratios of the cutting edge and the sampler are shown:-
17. Inside Clearance
The soil is under great stress as it enters the sampler and has a tendency to
laterally expand.
It reduces the frictional drag on the soil sample from the wall of sampler,
which otherwise cause disturbance.
The inside clearance should be large enough to allow a part of lateral
expansion to take place
Inside clearance =
𝐷3−𝐷1
𝐷1
× 100
It should not be so large that it permits excessive deformations and cause
disturbances of the sample.
For undisturbed sampling inside clearance should lie 0.5 to 3%.
18.
19. Outside Clearance
It prevents frictional drag between the outside surface of the sampling tube
and the walls of the borehole or hence facilitates easy driving and withdrawal
of the sampler.
Outside clearance =
𝐷2−𝐷4
𝐷4
× 100
For undisturbed sampling process the ratio should be within 0 to 2%.
20. Area Ratio
The degree of disturbance of the sample collected by various methods
can be a term called the area ratio,
Area ratio =
𝐷2
2−𝐷1
2
𝐷1
2 × 100
The penetration resistance of the sampler,
The possibility of entrance of excess soil All increase with
Danger of disturbance of sample increase in area ratio.
21. The allowable area ratio intended for obtaining undisturbed samples depend up on
a) diameter,
b) design
c) method of operation of the sampler.
The area ratio should be preferably be less than 10%
The greater area ratio can be tolerated when the sampler is provided with
a) A stationary piston
b) The cutting edge having very small angle of taper
22. Recovery Ratio
It represents the disturbance of the soil sample.
For good sampling the recovery ratio should be 96 to 98%.
Wall friction can be reduced by suitable inside clearance, smooth finish and oiling.