Clair-Mel Geotechnical Drilling Examining the Advantages Offered by Geotechnical Drilling
Clair-Mel developers are faced with some challenges due to the region’s potentially unstable ground, resulting from the sandy soil, limestone bedrock and the heavy rainfall at certain times of year. But there is an option for identifying potential problem areas: geotechnical drilling.
Clair-Mel developers and engineers can gain valuable data and information gleaned from the analysis of core samples that are extracted during a geotechnical drilling operation. The land must be well-compacted, stable and free of underground voids in order to support a large structure and this drilling technique helps developers obtain the crucial information they need to properly evaluate a site’s suitability.
What’s Involved in Geotechnical Drilling?
Clair-Mel geotechnical drilling technicians will transport a portable drill rig to the site, which will be evaluated and the drilling sites identified. Numerous core samples are extracted to provide a more complete view of the land’s underground geology.
The core samples are enclosed within a tube of sorts when they’re extracted from the earth. They provide the developers with a vertical sample, which captures all of the different layers. Those core samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis and testing. The technicians will determine the composition and density of each layer, along with the water content, the degree of compaction and the strength of the bedrock.
While drilling at the site, the technicians may encounter an underground cavity or void. This is a significant finding because those voids have the potential to collapse, forming a sinkhole. Sinkholes are very dangerous and serious structural damage (or total destruction) is common. For this reason, any voids that are discovered are usually filled with concrete. This reinforces the cavity and prevents collapse.
The timeframe for the drilling operation varies dramatically depending upon the types of materials that are located underground, the number of drilling sites, and the required depth for each core sample. If you’re drilling through granite, dense clay-rich soil and other harder materials, the drilling process takes longer, whereas if you have sandy soil and porous, relatively soft limestone — as is the case in Florida — the process is significantly faster. The timeframe and the size of the site are the primary factors that are considered when determining price.
In all, geotechnical drilling offers a cost effective option for evaluating a site. Based upon the findings, the developers may opt to perform remediation at the site or alter their building plans. In some cases, a new building site may need to be found.
*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Amdrill Inc*
