Total sounding

Geotechnical investigation method

Total sounding (TS) is a sounding method performed as part of geotechnical investigation. The sounding combines conventional rotary-pressure sounding with bedrock drilling, including rotation, ramming and flushing modes. The result indicates sediment stratification, occasionally soil type and may verify depth to bedrock.^[1]

History

The rotary-pressure sounding method was developed by the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) and the Public Roads Administration (NPRA) in 1967.^[2]

References

^ "Geotechnical Methods | Norges Geologiske Undersøkelse".
^ Rygg, N. O. (1989). "Rotary-Pressure Sounding: 20 Years of Experience". Norwegian Geotechnical Institute Publication (177).

External links

Geotechnical engineering

Offshore geotechnical engineering

Investigation
and
instrumentation

Field (in situ)	Core drill Cone penetration test Geo-electrical sounding Permeability test Load test Static Dynamic Statnamic Pore pressure measurement Piezometer Well Ram sounding Rock control drilling Rotary-pressure sounding Rotary weight sounding Sample series Screw plate test Deformation monitoring Inclinometer Settlement recordings Shear vane test Simple sounding Standard penetration test Total sounding Trial pit Visible bedrock Nuclear densometer test Exploration geophysics Crosshole sonic logging Pile integrity test Wave equation analysis
Laboratory testing	Soil classification Atterberg limits California bearing ratio Direct shear test Hydrometer Proctor compaction test R-value Sieve analysis Triaxial shear test Oedometer test Hydraulic conductivity tests Water content tests

Field (in situ)

Core drill

Cone penetration test

Geo-electrical sounding

Permeability test

Load test
- Static
- Dynamic
- Statnamic

Pore pressure measurement
- Piezometer
- Well

Ram sounding

Rock control drilling

Rotary-pressure sounding

Rotary weight sounding

Sample series

Screw plate test

Deformation monitoring
- Inclinometer
- Settlement recordings

Shear vane test

Simple sounding

Standard penetration test

Total sounding

Trial pit

Visible bedrock

Nuclear densometer test

Exploration geophysics

Crosshole sonic logging

Pile integrity test

Wave equation analysis

Laboratory
testing

Soil classification

Atterberg limits

California bearing ratio

Direct shear test

Hydrometer

Proctor compaction test

R-value

Sieve analysis

Triaxial shear test

Oedometer test

Hydraulic conductivity tests

Water content tests

Soil

Types	Clay Silt Sand Gravel Peat Loam Loess
Properties	Hydraulic conductivity Water content Void ratio Bulk density Thixotropy Reynolds' dilatancy Angle of repose Friction angle Cohesion Porosity Permeability Specific storage Shear strength Sensitivity

Structures
(Interaction)

Natural features	Topography Vegetation Terrain Topsoil Water table Bedrock Subgrade Subsoil
Earthworks	Shoring structures Retaining walls Gabion Ground freezing Mechanically stabilized earth Pressure grouting Slurry wall Soil nailing Tieback Land development Landfill Excavation Trench Embankment Cut Causeway Terracing Cut-and-cover Cut and fill Fill dirt Grading Land reclamation Track bed Erosion control Earth structure Expanded clay aggregate Crushed stone Geosynthetics Geotextile Geomembrane Geosynthetic clay liner Cellular confinement Infiltration
Foundations	Shallow Deep

Mechanics

Forces	Effective stress Pore water pressure Lateral earth pressure Overburden pressure Preconsolidation pressure
Phenomena/ problems	Permafrost Frost heaving Consolidation Compaction Earthquake Response spectrum Seismic hazard Shear wave Landslide analysis Stability analysis Mitigation Classification Sliding criterion Slab stabilisation Bearing capacity * Stress distribution in soil