GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION
Our extensive fleet of drilling rigs, in-situ and lab testing equipment enables us to provide a comprehensive and versatile range of geotechnical ground investigation techniques from simple trial pitting to more sophisticated drilling and in-situ testing methods which include:
DRILLING AND SAMPLING
Our expert drillers are experienced in the selection of subsurface exploration equipment and methodology most suited to geotechnical data needs and geologic conditions to improve sample recovery and to achieve high quality and timely results.
Our resources include the following:
- Wireline and conventional Coring
- Open hole drilling
- Continuous flight solid and hollow stem auger borings
- Disturbed, undisturbed soil and rock core sampling
IN-SITU TESTING
Rotech carries out a range of in-situ testing techniques to supplement ground investigation data and substantiate geotechnical laboratory results.
- Standard Penetration Tests (SPT)
- Cone Penetration Tests (CPT)
- Pressuremeter Test (PMT)
- Static and Cyclic Plate Load Tests (PLT)
- Field Vane Shear test (VST)
- Dynamic Probing Tests (DPT)
- Field CBR test
- Thermal Conductivity (TCT)
- Single and Double Packer Field Permeability Test
- Full-scale pump-out tests for dewatering design
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
- Seismic Refraction Tests.
- Ground Improvement Solutions
- Down-Hole Seismic test (DHST)
- Cross-Hole Seismic test (CHST)
- Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW)
- Multi-Channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW)
- Electrical resistivity Test (ERT)
- Ground-penetrating radar (GPR)
LABORATORY TESTING
Rotech has a fully-fledged geotechnical laboratory with facilities for testing soil, rock, and groundwater samples.
The laboratory tests we provide are listed below.
Soil Tests
- Classification tests
- Moisture/water content
- Sieve and sedimentation analysis
- Liquid and plastic limits (Atterberg limits)
- Bulk and dry density
- Particle density (specific gravity)
- Compaction
- Chalk crushing value
- California bearing ratio
- Oedometer consolidation
- Oedometer swelling
- Swell or collapse/soil expansivity
- Constant (or falling) head permeability
- Laboratory vane and torvane – shear strength
- Direct shear strength
- Unconfined compressive strength
- Quick undrained triaxial compression
- Thermal and electrical resistivity
Rock Tests
- Moisture/water content
- Porosity and density
- Point load index
- Uniaxial compressive strength
- Triaxial compressive strength
- Sound wave velocity – propagation of compressive and shear waves
- Elastic parameters (shear and Young’s moduli, Poisson’s ratio)
- Thermal and electrical resistivity
Chemical Analysis
pH value, sulphate content, and chloride content tests – determining the aggressiveness of ground and groundwater to concrete and steel structures.
GEOTECHNICAL CONSULTANCY
- Geotechnical Interpretative Reports (GIR)
- Proof Checking, Peer Review of Third-Party Foundation Designs
- Design of Shallow Foundations
- Design of Deep Foundations
TOPOGRAPHIC LAND SURVEY
Rotech provides the land survey with the following detailed services:
- Mapping the contours of the ground and existing features above or below the earth’s surface (i.e. trees, buildings, streets, walkways, manholes, utility poles, retaining walls, etc.).
- Perimeter boundary lines and the lines of easements on or crossing the property
- Benchmarks/control points will be established with respect to the national grid coordinates (chart datum)
- Based on the survey results and field observation, a digital elevation model (DEM) of the area surveyed will be provided
- Mapping will be provided based on the survey results and a survey map will be prepared on scale 1:500 (may vary as per contract conditions) using AutoCAD Civil 3D software