4. Types of Sub-Surface Exploration.

(Reference: Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering by K.R. Arora)

There are mainly three types of sub-surface exploration:
I. Direct Method:
The direct method can be divided into two categories.

a) Pits and trenches :-

Fig. 1: Pits & Trenches

Trial pits and trenches excavated at the site to inspect the

strata. The size of test pit should be sufficient to provide
necessary working space. As per IS-4453-1980 a clear working
space of 1.2m*1.2m is required at the bottom of the pit. Shallow
pits up to 3m depth can be made without any lateral support. For
deep pits, the lateral support in the form of sheeting and bracing
system are required. For depth greater than 6m, bore holes are
more economical than open pits. The trenches are more suitable
than pits for exploration on slopes.

b) Drifts and shafts:-

Fig. 2: Drifts & Shafts

IS-4453-1980 recommended that a drift should have the

minimum clear dimensions of 1.5m width and 2.0m height in
 hard rock. Drifts are useful for establishing the minimum
excavation limits to reach sound rock and locating faults, shear
zones and buried channel in the river section. However, drifts are
generally expensive. Shaft are larger vertical hole made in the
geological formation. These may be rectangular or circular in
section. The minimum width of a rectangular shaft is 2.4m and
for a circular shaft, the minimum diameter is 2.1m. Shaft are
used to reach a particular stratum at a depth of 4m or more.

II. Semi-Direct Method:

Boring:
When the depth of exploration is large, boring are used for
exploration. A vertical bore hole is drilled in the ground to get the
information about the subsoil strata. Sample are taken from the
bore hole at various depth and tested in a laboratory. The bore
hole may be used conducting in-situ tests and for locating the
water table. The common method are used as follow:

1. Auger boring

Fig. 3:Helical Auger Fig. 4: Post Hole Auger

2. Auger and shell boring

Fig. 5: Auger & Shell Boring

3. Wash boring

Fig. 6: Wash Boring

4. Rotary boring

Fig. 7: Rotary Boring

5. Percussion drilling

Fig. 8: Percussion Drilling

6. Core Drilling

Fig. 9: Core Drilling

7. Shot Drilling

Fig. 10: Shot Drilling

III. Indirect Method:
(a) Penetration test:-The most following penetration test are:

1. Standard penetration test (SPT)

Fig. 11: Standard Penetration Test

2. Static cone penetration test (SCPT)

Fig. 12: Static Cone Penetration Test

3. Dynamic cone penetration test (DCPT)

Fig. 13: Dynamic Cone Penetration Test

 4. In-situ vane shear test (VST)

Fig. 14: Vane Shear Test

5. Plate load test (PLT)

Fig. 15: Plate Load Test

(b) Geophysical method:

The stratification of soils and rocks can be determined by
geophysical method of exploration which measures changes in
certain physical characteristics of this material. This method at best
provides some missing information between widely spaced bore
holes but it cannot replace bore holes. Thus, these methods are
suitable for investigation large areas quickly as in preliminary
investigation of sub-soil strata. The following are commonly used in
geophysical methods:
1. Seismic Refraction Method

Fig. 16: Seismic Refraction Method

2. Electrical Resistivity Method

Fig. 17: Electrical Resistivity Method