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Boring methods of exploration

The boring methods are used for exploration at greater depths where direct methods fail. These provide both disturbed as well as undisturbed samples depending upon the method of boring. In selecting the boring method for a particular job, consideration should be made for the following: The materials to be encountered and the relative efficiency of the various boring methods in such materials. The available facility and accuracy with which changes in the soil and ground water conditions can be determined. Possible disturbance of the material to be sampled. The different types of boring methods are : 1.Wash boring. 2.Auger boring. 3.Rotary drilling. 4.Percussion drilling.

Wash boring
Use of limited equipments. The advantage of this is the use of inexpensive and easily portable handling and drilling equipments. Here first an open hole is formed on the ground so that the soil sampling or rock drilling operation can be done below the hole. The hole is advanced by chopping and twisting action of the light bit. Cutting is done by forced water and water jet under pressure through the rods operated inside the hole. Just by noting the change of colour of soil coming out with the change of soil character can be identified by any experienced person. It gives completely disturbed sample and is not suitable for very soft soil, fine to medium grained cohesionless soil and in cemented soil.

Wash Boring

Wash Boring

Auger boring
Fast and economical, using simple, light, flexible for large to small holes. It is very suitable for soft to stiff cohesive soils and also can be used to determine ground water table. Soil removed by this is disturbed but it is better than wash boring, percussion or rotary drilling. It is not suitable for very hard or cemented soils, very soft soils, as then the flow into the hole can occur and also for fully saturated cohesionless soil.
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Augers

Boring tools
Auger boring

Percussion drilling
This method is used for making holes in rocks, boulders and other hard strata. Lifting and dropping of a heavy chisel in a vertical hole. Advantages of percussion drilling 1. Used for all types of materials. 2. Useful for boring holes in glacial hills containing boulders.

1. 2. 3.

Disadvantage Material is obtained in the disturbed state More expensive Difficult to determine minor changes in the properties of the strata penetrated.

Depth of Boring
Exploration should be carried out to a depth at which increase in pressure due to structural loading is likely to cause significant settlement or shear failure. Such depth is called significant depth. It depends upon 1.Type of structure

2. Weight of structure 3. Size of structure 4. Shape of structure 5. Deposition of loaded areas 6. Soil properties

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Rules for depth of exploration.


1. Square footing-1.5 times the width of the footing. 2. Strip footing-3 times the width of the footing. 3. Pile foundation-1.5 times the width of pile group. 4. Foundation on rock- 3m into the bed rock 5. Dams- 1.5 times bottom width of the dam. 6. Road cuts-Width of the cuts.

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Number of explorations
Small and less important building- One bore hole or trial pit at centre. Compact building-5 boreholes ,one at the centre and four near corners. Multi storied building-At all important spaces and at corners. Spacing may be kept 10m to 30m.

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