SOIL INVESTIGATION

For construction of any structure, a knowledge about the ground condition is

important. Soil investigation must be undertaken to determine the bearing
capacity of the soil, its settlement rate and the position of the water table.
Soil Investigation or geotechnical investigation is a procedure that determines the
stratigraphy (study of rocks) and relevant physical properties of the soil underlying
the site. This is done to ensure that this substructure, which is eventually going to
hold up homes, is safe and enduring.
Field identification of soil is one of the important steps in soil investigation. It
includes visual examination, dilatancy, toughness, dry strength, organic content
and shine test. Based on the size of soil particles soil can be gravel, sand, silt or
clay.
SAMPLES TAKEN
Collected from different places,

Sample-1
Sample-2

Sample-3
Sample-4

Sample-5
SOME OF THE STEPS OF FIELD IDENTIFICATION OF SOIL
Now let us see some of the steps in field identification of soil. These are,
 Visual examination
 Dilatancy
 Toughness
 Dry strength
 Organic content
 Shine test.

Visual examination
 Bigger the particles: coarse-grained
 Smaller the particles: fine-grained.
 Color & shape of soils samples are also observed.
Samples are spread on a paper to observe,

 30% of coarse-grained soil. Light brown color, dry, angular.

 Clay dark colored soil. High moisture content.
 50% of soil is coarse. Pale brown color.
 Fine grained soil. Light brown in color.
 Black soil. Dark color indicates earthworm activity. Fine grained soil.
Dilatancy
It is based on the water movement in the soil sample. Take a slightly wet soil,
squeeze it in the hand.
If the water disappears immediately, it is silt.
If it takes some time for the water to disappear or if water doesn't go back then it
is clay.
The reaction is rapid, slow, or none according to the test results in the table.
Description Criteria
None These is no visible change in the soil
sample.

Slow Water slowly appears & remains on the

surface during shaking or water slowly
starts to disappears upon squeezing.

Rapid Water quickly appears on the surface

during shaking & water quickly starts to
disappears upon squeezing.
Toughness
The same sample of the dilatancy test is used and dry for a while. Try to roll it into
a 3 mm thread then find the plastic limit. Now after reaching the plastic limit, try
to roll it by using some extra pressure.
if it can roll further, it implies the soil has more toughness.
If we can’t roll it or it crumbles then it indicates low toughness.
Dry Strength
The same sample would be dried until it loses its water completely and then apply
pressure by fingers, then if it converts into powder then it implies it has low dry
strength.
If it requires strength from fingers, it implies it has medium-dry strength.
If it can’t be powdered with the application of strength also, it implies it has high
dry strength.
Organic content
It smells like a decomposed organic matter and it increases with an increase in
heating. The Color would be dark.
Acid test: To check whether the soil has Ca or not, tested using HCL. This soil may
show extra strength due to cementing capacity.

Shine test
Take a soil sample and cut with the knife, if it looks shiny it is plastic clay. If it has a
dull surface, it is a low plastic clay.