CBR Testing
The CBR test is normally used for road pavement design purposes to assess the strength of the subgrade. The test involves driving a cylindrical plunger of a defined area into the soil at a uniform rate. This requires the use of a reaction load, (usually a 4WD drive vehicle), to provide the force to the plunger and CBR press. |
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Plate Bearing Test
Plate bearing test is carried out in accordance with BS 1377 Part 9: 1990 Standards. In this test, a plate of known dimensions is jacked against a reaction load, usually the underside of a tracked excavator and deformation readings taken. The test is used to assess bearing capacity and a prediction of settlement can also be made. |
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Permeability Testing
Soakaways are a traditional way of disposing of surface water from buildings remote from a suitable public sewer or watercourse. A soakaway must have capacity to store immediate run-off from roofs and hard surfaces and the water must then be able to disperse into the surrounding soil quickly enough for the soakaway to be able to cope with the next storm. Percolation tests should be carried out to determine the capacity of the soil.
The BRE Digest 365 test is carried out in trial pits. Pits are often filled with gravel to ensure the sides remain stable. The permeability of the soil is determined by filling the pit with water from a bowser or tanker and determining the length of time for 75% of the volume of water to drain away. This is in effect a falling head test. NHBC 5.3 (formerly BRE151) test is a small scale Falling Head Permeability Test carried out in a hand auger borehole (up to 150mm diameter). Only 300mm of water is added to the borehole and the time taken for the water to drain away is measured. |
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Borehole Soakaways (Click here for further details)
Dynamic Cone Penetrometer
We have over 40 years experience with the use of penetrometer testing to characterising the strength of the ground and in the location of solution features, areas of made ground, soft deposits, tunnels and other underground voids and cavities. We can carry out Light (DPL), Heavy (DPH) and Super Heavy (DPSH-B) testing. |
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Monitoring & Testing
We provide a range of landfill / ground gas, groundwater, and other environmental monitoring and testing. Resources include:
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HNU & PetroFLAG Field TPH Test Kits - These test kits provide a quick and reliable method of determining concentrations of hydrocarbons in soil and water samples.
Infra Red Gas Analyser (Analox) - This instrument is used to measure concentrations of landfill gases (methane, O2, H2S, carbon dioxide), gas flow rates and pressures.
Oil - Water Interface Meter - The interface meter is used to measure the thickness of non-aqueous phase liquid layers (e.g. oil floating on water) within groundwater.
Photo Ionisation Detector (PID) - This instrument is used to measure concentrations of volatile organic compounds (e.g. fuels, solvents etc).
Water Quality Testing - As well as water sampling for laboratory contamination testing purposes, Southern Testing has monitoring equipment for the analysis of; pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Oxygen Redox Potential, Temperature, and Conductivity
Resistivity & Redox
The Resistivity Test assists in determining the level of corrosion protection needed for buried structures such as pipelines. It involves inserting 150mm copper pipes into the soil at 0.5 metre centres parallel to the route of the proposed pipeline, and passing a current into the ground between two electrodes and measuring the consequent apparent resistivity between another two electrodes, at equidistant spacing and between the first two electrodes.
The Redox Test is used to determine the electro-chemical potential of the soil. A calomel reference probe and platinum probe is inserted in the ground at least 150mm apart at the required depth and the two electrodes connected to a multimeter. The difference in electro-chemical potential between the two probes is then measured.
