Geotechnical Drilling Apollo Beach Why geotechnical drilling in Apollo Beach is so important
Geotechnical drilling is an efficient technique that’s used to determine the integrity and composition of the site of a future structure, from buildings, to bridges and everything in between.
When hiring a firm to perform geotechnical drilling, Apollo Beach developers will gain important insight into the exact thickness, composition and quality of each layer of stone and soil. This information is vital when planning a build, particularly in areas of the nation such as Florida, where the state is supported by a layer of limestone, topped with sandy soil. Limestone can be especially problematic from an engineering perspective because acidic water may cause the stone to dissolve and disintegrate. This can impact the integrity of the earth, making it unsuitable for building.
Underground water flow may also erode the limestone, creating massive voids. These cavities can collapse under the weight of the ground above, creating a sinkhole.
Apollo Beach developers can obtain a great deal of insight from the ground samples that are extracted during a geotechnical drilling effort. The process, which may take anywhere from a day or two to several weeks or even longer depending upon the site’s size, involves the usage of large drilling rigs which drill deep into the earth, extracting samples called cores.
These core samples are analyzed for composition. The quality and strength of the stone and soil is evaluated too. Multiple cores are typically extracted from various locations throughout the site. Drilling may even reveal the presence of underground voids that would leave the area prone to a sinkholes. When these voids are identified, sinkhole remediation contractors can drill into the voids, filling them with concrete to reduce the risk of collapse.
Other investigative measures such as ground penetrating radar scans may be performed in conjunction with geotechnical drilling. Apollo Beach developers typically pass along the data to the project’s engineers and architects, who collaborate to create a structural design that will be suitable for the site. In some cases, the structure may need to be built on an entirely new site; in other cases, the findings may necessitate the inclusion of special features, such as stabilization anchors – large metal poles that are driven into the bedrock and secured to the foundation.
If geotechnical drilling and other investigative measures are not performed, the structure may ultimately experience a catastrophic failure. An underground structure could collapse, while an above-ground building may slowly sink and shift, resulting in major structural damage.
*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Amdrill Inc*
