Geotechnical Drilling Jacksonville Beach How Can You Fix an Unstable Structure With Geotechnical Drilling?
Jacksonville Beach, Louisiana geotechnical drilling firms are kept quite busy because the Gulf Coast is one of the most challenging regions of the continent when it comes to geotechnical engineering. This is because regions of Louisiana, Florida, Alabama and Texas (amongst other regions) are plagued by loose, sandy soil, combined with soft bedrock and a higher than average frequency of sinkholes.
When it comes to site investigations that utilize geotechnical drilling, Jacksonville Beach area developers and builders only started utilizing this form of site investigation in recent decades. This means that there are many older structures that are on unstable ground and at risk of catastrophic failure or collapse. But this is an area where geotechnical drilling can be useful, as you can gain the information you need to make modifications that can repair a structure’s instability.
How Do You Repair a Damaged Structure Using Geotechnical Drilling?
Jacksonville Beach area builders, engineers and architects frequently hire a geotechnical drilling firm to perform an investigation at a site where you have a structure that’s ailing. Some of the most common situations include:
- A building that is showing signs of “sinking” and shifting
- A building that is atop a known underground void, which could collapse into a sinkhole at any time
- A structure in a location that was damaged by an earthquake, flood or other natural event
- A structure that’s showing unexpected or premature structural degradation that cannot be attributed to the architectural design (and is therefore believed to be a result of a change in the underlying earth.)
All of these cases share one thing in common: the underlying earth appears to be lacking integrity and strength, resulting in damage and a serious safety risk in many cases.
With geotechnical drilling, Jacksonville Beach natives can evaluate the ground composition, the stone and bedrock integrity, the moisture content and the overall stability of the earth. In cases where an underground void is present and at risk of collapse, the drilling team can evaluate the void, which may then be pumped full of cement to prevent collapse.
Based on the findings of the drilling operation, engineers and architects can develop a plan to modify the structure, by adding reinforcements, supports and other measures to render the structure safer and more stable. It’s also possible to drive poles down into the bedrock, affixing those poles to the foundation for support.
*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Amdrill Inc*
