Method Advantages Disadvantages

Mechanically excavated trial pits  Ability to recover bulk  Requires suitable access.
samples for earthworks Smaller machines may be
assessments; used but that limits power
 High productivity in open or and therefore depth;
‘wet’ areas;  Difficult to carry out precise
 Ability to penetrate ‘hard’ in situ testing at depths
strata such as ‘Clay with greater than 1m below
flints’; and ground level;
 Trial pits give a less  Higher H&S risk having
conservative assessment of large open excavations;
soakage for water disposal.  High water flows into the pit
can prevent further
excavation;
 Risk of pit wall instability
and therefore destabilising
nearby structures and
underground services; and
 Reinstatement can be
problematic in sensitive
areas. Surplus spoil is
usually left proud of the
positions to allow for future
settlement.
Hand excavated trial pits  Can be carried out in areas  Pit depths are limited to 1m
of limited access depending below ground level unless
upon plan area of proposed the pit is shored;
pit;  Pits are typically terminated
 Bulk samples can be immediately upon
recovered; and encountering water or the
 Precise in situ testing can be excavation becomes
carried out depending upon unstable;
man access into excavation.  Greater exposure to
contaminative problems for
site personnel; and
 The intensity of labour limits
the number of pits
excavated per man per
shift.
Windowless sampling  Recovery of undisturbed  Can only carry out in situ
samples for shear strength testing by cutting the liner
or effective stress testing; thus making the
 Doesn’t necessarily require undisturbed sample a
supervision as the liners disturbed sample;
containing the soil samples  This system has larger
can be delivered to the diameter tubes that are
laboratory for subsequent harder than window
logging; and sampler tubes to drive into
 Can typically achieve the ground at depth;
deeper depths than a JCB  Access for a tracked
3CX or similar mechanical machine can be
excavator; and problematic; and
 Ability to case the borehole  The fuel based engine for
through unstable soil working the rig means that it
conditions. cannot be used within
enclosed spaces without
adequate ventilation.
 Bulk samples cannot be
recovered.
  

Window sampling  Equipment can be carried  Samples are small

(hand held equipment) therefore as long as you can disturbed only;
walk to the borehole  Difficult but not impossible
location, the borehole can to penetrate unstable
be carried out; ground;
 Use of petrol or electric  All equipment has to be
breaker to progress the carried which can be tiring;
boreholes. The electric
breaker unit means that
boreholes can be carried out
in enclosed spaces;
 Carry out precise in situ
testing within the tube
including hand vanes, dial
gauge penetrometer;
 Can achieve greater depths
than windowless equipment
as tube of 2m or 3m in
length can be used;
 Can achieve greater depths
than a JCB 3CX or similar
mechanical excavator; and
 Can achieve depths of up to
15m below ground level
depending upon the ground
conditions.
Cable Percussion Boring  Ability to achieve depths  Requires a large plan area
greater than 30m below to set up;
ground level;  Continuous noise as
 Unstable soils may be opposed to intermittent
cased; levels from window
 Recovery of both disturbed sampling;
and undisturbed samples;  Can often be a messy
 Bulk material may also be process;
recovered although not as  Shallow boreholes take
much as you would retrieve longer to carry out than
from a mechanically compared to window
excavated trial pit; sampling;
 Easy installation of  The winch associated with
gas/water monitoring wells; the rig is run using a diesel
and engine and therefore cannot
 Cable percussion equipment be used in enclosed spaces
is capable of taking in situ unless a specialist and
testing like SPT. expensive electric rig is
used; and
 Standard rig is 7.5m to 8m
in height. Reduced height
rigs can be used but they
are not common and
therefore expensive.
  

Rotary Boreholes  Continuous sampling with  Requires a large plan area

recovery of undisturbed to set up;
samples if using liners;  Continuous noise as
 Can core cohesive materials opposed to intermittent
or rock; levels from window
 Bulk material may also be sampling;
recovered although not as  Can often be a messy
much as you would retrieve process;
from a mechanically  Shallow boreholes take
excavated trial pit; longer to carry out than
 Easy installation of compared to window
gas/water monitoring wells; sampling;
and  The rig runs off a diesel
 Rotary equipment is capable engine and therefore cannot
of taking in situ testing like be used in enclosed
SPT. spaces; and
 Rig heights vary but with
the mast in the vertical
position there are usually
issues relating to work
carried out in restricted
height areas.

Sampling

Type Advantages Disadvantages

Small disturbed  Typically easy recovery from  Specialist laboratory testing
any exploratory hole; such as shear strength
 Used to provide the testing cannot be carried
engineer’s log in accordance out;
with BS 5930; and  Cannot assess soil structure
 Samples can be used for a from disturbed samples; and
wide range of classification  A small disturbed sample
tests for geotechnical and if will not contain enough
appropriate containers are material for more complex
used, environmental. geotechnical testing such as
compaction assessments,
MCV, PSD, etc.
Bulk disturbed samples  Typical easy recovery from  Specialist laboratory testing
appropriate exploratory hole; such as shear strength
 Used to provide the testing cannot be carried
engineer’s log in accordance out;
with BS 5930. Of  Cannot only be recovered in
assistance when describing quantity from mechanically
granular soils; and excavated trial pits; and
 Samples can be used for a  Take up a large amount of
wide range of classification space in transport and
tests and complex storage.
geotechnical testing as well
as environmental analysis if
appropriate containers are
used.
  

U100 samples  Specialist testing such as  Requires a cable percussion

An undisturbed sample shear strength and effective rig to obtain samples at
stress analysis can be depth; and
carried out;  Must be transported and
 Able to obtain details of stored under very strict
structure when extruded; conditions.
 Still able to carry out most
classification testing; and
 Limited environmental
testing mat be carried out on
recovered samples.

UT100 samples  Specialist testing such as  Requires a cable percussion

A new method of U100 sample shear strength and effective rig to obtain samples at
involving thin walled tubes stress analysis can be depth;
supposedly to improve the quality of carried out;  Must be transported and
sample  Able to obtain details of stored under very strict
structure when extruded; conditions;
 Still able to carry out most  Very expensive to recover
classification testing; and over 300% more than a
 Limited environmental U100 sample as the
testing mat be carried out on sampling tube can be
recovered samples. damaged very easily and
require replacement.
Rotary Cores  Provides a continuous  Requires a rotary rig to
‘picture’ of the soils recover samples;
encountered;  Cores are stored in boxes
 Specialist testing such as that are awkward to carry
shear strength and effective out store; and
stress analysis can be  The cost per metre recovery
carried out if liners are used; is very expensive.
 Able to obtain details of
structure;
 Still able to carry out most
classification testing; and
 Limited environmental
testing mat be carried out on
recovered samples.