Difference between soil exploration and site investigation
Answers
Site investigation or soil explorations are done for obtaining the information about subsurface conditions at the site of proposed construction. Soil exploration consists of determining the profile of the natural soil deposits at the site, taking the soil samples and determining the engineering properties of soils. It also includes in-situ testing of soils.
GENERAL: Soil is used as:
a)Construction material as, for example, in the construction of dams, pavements, buildings etc.,
b)Supporting material (Foundation) for carrying the loads of the super-structure through their foundations.
The function of a properly designed foundation is to support loads resting on it without causing excessive stresses within the soil mass at any depth beneath foundation. Stresses are considered excessive if a complete rupture within the soil mass occurs (Shear failure), or if detrimental settlements result (failure due to excessive settlement).
Therefore it is apparent that one of the most important steps in the solution of a foundation problem is determining underground conditions that will affect the design. Field and laboratory investigations required to obtain necessary information about geology, hydrology, and soil conditions; geotechnical properties of soil at the prospective building site, and the performance of various soil types encountered when acted upon by structural loads, water and temperature are called sub-surface investigations or soil exploration programme.