Onshore Geotechnical Investigation

MS Geotech’s onshore geotechnical investigation services involve comprehensive soil and rock sampling and testing to determine site stratification and engineering properties. Key aspects include strength, deformation, and hydraulic characteristics, essential for designing foundations, addressing settlement, groundwater issues, slope stability, retaining walls, and more. Our services include borehole drilling, plate load tests, static and dynamic cone penetration tests, and various field tests, ensuring economical and effective substructure design for diverse construction projects.

Borehole Investigation

MS Geotech conducts geotechnical investigations by drilling boreholes onshore to explore surface and subsurface conditions. This process determines the engineering properties of soil, assessing site suitability for proposed projects. Our investigations are crucial for designing stable foundations for onshore structures, ensuring safety and reliability for buildings, bridges, roads, and other infrastructure.

Plate Load Test

MS Geotech performs plate load tests to determine the actual soil bearing capacity by applying 1.5 times the design load on a steel plate to measure settlements. This test is conducted at the foundation level where higher loads are expected.

Static Plate Load Test

The static plate load test is used in earthworks, foundation engineering, and road construction. It determines load settlement lines to evaluate soil deformability and load capacity.

Cyclic Plate Load Test

The cyclic plate load test evaluates soil strength and deformation under repeated loading by applying cyclic vertical loads to a rigid plate and monitoring settlement.

Static Cone Penetration Test (SCPT)

MS Geotech offers Static Cone Penetration Tests (SCPT) to assess soil bearing capacity and penetration resistance. This method provides a continuous record of cone and friction resistance variations with depth, ideal for soft clay, silt, and fine to medium sand deposits. Though SCPT doesn’t yield soil samples, it offers valuable geotechnical data for foundation design.

Dynamic Cone Penetration Test (DCPT)

MS Geotech’s Dynamic Cone Penetration Test (DCPT) measures soil resistance to a cone, determining mechanical properties like strength and bearing capacity. Performed by dropping a hammer from a specific height and counting blows per depth, DCPT is a quick and efficient method to evaluate soil properties on-site, aiding in rapid geotechnical assessments.

Field Tests

At MS Geotech, we offer a comprehensive range of onshore geotechnical field tests to assess the properties of soil and support informed decisions for construction and engineering projects. Our field tests include:

Field Density by Sand Replacement Method

This method determines in-place soil density through three steps: calibration of a sand-pouring cylinder, measurement of soil density, and determination of water content and dry density.

Field Density by Core Cutter Method:

Used to determine the in-situ dry density of fine-grained cohesive soils without stones, this method employs cylindrical core cutters to measure bulk soil density.

Field CBR (California Bearing Ratio) Test:

CBR measures the subgrade strength of roads, pavements, and foundations. It evaluates the penetration or settlement under load to assess the strength of the subgrade materials.

Field Vane Shear Test:

This test measures the undrained shear strength of cohesive soil using equipment with vanes mounted on a rod that is inserted and rotated in the ground.

Cross Hole Seismic Test:

Cross-hole testing measures the travel time of compression (P) and shear (S) seismic waves between boreholes to determine seismic velocities and geodynamic parameters like Young's modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson's ratio.

Field Percolation Test:

This test evaluates soil suitability and permeability for drainage fields, ensuring contaminants are removed before reaching the water table by assessing the rate at which water soaks into the soil.

Field Permeability Test:

This test measures the rate of water flow through soil by forcing water at a constant pressure through a soil specimen and determining the flow rate, crucial for assessing soil drainage capabilities.

Electrical Resistivity Test:

The electrical resistivity method gathers subsurface information by measuring and interpreting electrical properties, helping to identify soil composition and characteristics.

Pile Integrity Test

Pile Integrity Test (PIT) involves striking the pile head with a light hand-held hammer and recording the response using an accelerometer. The hammer blows generate compressive stress waves that travel through the pile, providing data on the pile’s integrity and identifying any defects or discontinuities.

Concrete Cube Testing Services

Concrete cube testing involves sampling freshly mixed concrete, allowing it to cure, and then crushing the cubes to measure their compressive strength. This test ensures the concrete meets required strength specifications, validating its quality and suitability for construction projects. MS Geotech provides accurate and reliable concrete cube testing services to guarantee structural integrity.