Geotechnical Drilling Bloomingdale The ins and outs of geotechnical drilling

Geotechnical drilling is a specialized drilling technique that’s utilized to provide developers and engineers with information about the integrity and composition of a prospective building site. In most cases, geotechnical drilling is performed prior to the construction of a new building or a large structure, such as a parking garage or bridge.

As a result of geotechnical drilling, Bloomingdale developers can gain valuable insight that can be used to engineer a structure that will maintain its integrity for many years to come. This information is especially important in certain regions of the country, such as Florida, where the entire state is supported by a layer of sandy soil, which is situated atop a slab of limestone.

Limestone is especially prone to problems in terms of integrity because acid rainwater has the power to dissolve and disintegrate the stone over time. The water may carry away the remnants of the dissolved stone, resulting in the formation of an underground cavity or void. If this void collapses due to the weight of the overlaying earth and structures, it will result in a sinkhole.
Therefore, it’s crucial for developers to investigate the exact quality of the earth where a structure will be constructed. Otherwise, the building may suffer from chronic problems, such as sinking into the ground and gradual shifting. This can cause cracks and other damage that may affect integrity.

Bloomingdale developers gain very useful insight from geotechnical drilling. Bloomingdale drilling contractors may spend anywhere from a couple days to several weeks or even longer extracting core samples at the site, depending upon the total size of the area that’s being investigated.

Core samples — which are large vertical columns of soil and stone that are pulled out of the ground — can be analyzed for composition. The quality of the stone will also be evaluated. This information, combined with information from other testing methods, like ground penetrating radar, can reveal whether the site is suitable for a particular building project.

Based upon the findings, the engineers and architects may need to alter their plans for the site. Measures may range from opting for a smaller building or a different type of structure, to using sinkhole remediation techniques to fill in any voids that are discovered. Special stabilization techniques can also be utilized. One method involves sinking massive metal poles into the bedrock; these poles are then anchored to the building’s foundation.

If a structure is constructed atop poor quality earth, the building may be at risk of cracking, sinking and other structural damage that may ultimately render the site unsafe.

*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Amdrill Inc*