Engineering Drilling Sampling
Engineering drilling and sampling is an essential part of great deal of work undertaken in structural engineering, geology and geotechnical engineering in particular, but also in civil and environmental engineering. Samples obtained through engineering drilling can provide valuable information on the properties and behavior of soils, groundwater and rock. The process of obtaining these samples with engineering drilling is referred to as drilling and sampling.
The purpose of engineering drilling and sampling is to provide reliable information about any soil layers which might affect the design and construction of foundations, dams, dykes, tunnels, buildings and other engineering structures. Samples obtained through engineering drilling enable the engineer to determine the nature, and sometimes the strength of underlying soil layers. This can provide input for a geotechnical study that assists in determining the design of a foundation, embedment or a tunnel.
Drilling and sampling operations are divided in two parts: preparation and actual drilling and sampling. Preparation work involves charcterizing the site of the engineering drilling, to determine the required method, equipment, personnel and other parameters. Actual drilling and sampling require appropriate skill, tools and approaches in order to achieve correct and satisfactory results. Drilling method as well as sampling tools will depend on the type of material to be investigated.
Engineering drilling is typically done with either auger, vibratory and rotary core, thomson drill and jackhammers. Each type of drill is most suitable for different types of environmental materials or engineering applications, and the engineer should be familiar with the differences between the different types in order to choose the most appropriate one. Sampling is done by collecting a sample of material at, for example, every metre of depth, which is referred to as a common sampling interval.
The amount and type of samples obtained from a drilling and sampling operation will depend on the purpose and scope of the job. Common samples include bulk samples which are retrieved to determine the grain size distribution and characteristics, and core samples for determining the physical properties and geotechnical parameters of a material.
Once the samples have been retrieved, they must be prepared for further analysis. This may require the use of standard laboratory procedures such as sieving, sedimentation or oedometer test. The results of such analyses can be used to assess the physical properties and geotechnical parameters of the samples, to create a profile of the subsurface and to design the best engineering solutions.
In conclusion, engineering drilling and sampling are indispensable tools for engineering studies. The process of obtaining samples with engineering drilling involves significant preparation work, as well as skill, tools and approaches to achieve correct and satisfactory results. The samples obtained through engineering drilling are used to assess the physical properties and geotechnical parameters of a material and to determine the best engineering solutions.
