Tender: soil investigation / Addam Abdul Razak

Soil surveys must be carried out to determine the bearing capacity of the soil, its sedimentation rate and the position of the water level. One of the simplest methods is to dig an experimental hole and a visual inspection is carried out then samples with minimal disturbance are collected for the next laboratory test. Where possible, drilling should be done as this allows one to obtain an undisturbed sample from which solution rate and bearing capacity can be obtained. For loose soils, such as sand and gravel, plate bearing tests can be used to determine the insitu bearing capacity of the soil and to design static loads at the site of the spread. If the strength of the soil is not sufficient for the increased load, the foundation should be repaired by inserting piles or enlarging the site and strengthening it better to maintain the increased load.