Laboratory Tests

METHODOLOGY
All samples recovered during the investigation shall be described according to Company procedures which is based
on relevant BS ASTM Standards and ‘Code of Practice for Site Investigations’. Laboratory tests are performed in
accordance with BS 1377:1990, ‘British Standard Methods of Test for Soils for Civil Engineering Purposes’.

The sections below briefly detail the tests performed, both offshore and onshore.

CLASSIFICATION PARAMETERS
This group of parameters is used to classify the principal soil type including the material plasticity and particle
characteristics where appropriate.

Water Content
Moisture content tests were carried out immediately on samples recovered in the field and subsequently performed
in the onshore laboratory on specimens tested for strength and compressibility.

Density
Bulk (or wet) density was determined on appropriate extruded samples in the field and also on undisturbed
specimens included as part of the tests carried out onshore for undrained shear strength and compressibility.

Specific Gravity
The specific gravity (or particle density) is the ratio between the mass of dry solids and the mass of distilled water
displaced by the dry soil particles. Tests were carried out on selected specimens chosen for sedimentation analysis
and are used as part of the calculation of results.

Atterberg Limits
The index properties relate only to cohesive soils (silts and clays) and are determined using liquid and plastic
(Atterberg) limit tests. These have been performed on both disturbed and undisturbed sub samples, where possible
on specimens selected for strength and or compressibility testing.

Particle Size
Particle size distribution tests have been carried out in the onshore laboratory. The mechanical analysis of soil
using sieves (of approved size) is to determine the size distribution of granular (sand and gravel) materials. The
grading of finer materials has been determined using sedimentation methods. For soils containing both coarse and
fine particles, composite tests using both sieving and sedimentation methods have been performed where
appropriate.

CHEMICAL TESTS

Carbonate Content Tests

Carbonate content tests have been carried out on selected samples by the rapid titration method, although
sometimes the gravimetric method is used.

Organic Content Tests

Organic content tests have been carried out on selected samples using the dichromate oxidation method.

STRENGTH TESTS
Strength tests to measure the shear strength of cohesive soil are undertaken both offshore in the field and on
preserved specimens in the onshore laboratory. This was achieved in the field using miniature vane, torvane and
pocket penetrometer methods in selected parts of the recovered samples and by performing undrained triaxial tests

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on specially prepared sub samples. Undrained triaxial tests are performed on specimens in the onshore laboratory
to confirm the validity of the tests performed in the field.

Miniature Vane
Motorised laboratory miniature vane tests are performed in the field on cohesive samples prior to sample extrusion.
This test is most suitable for very soft to firm clays especially when the soil is too soft for conventional undrained
triaxial tests.

Remoulded miniature vane tests were also performed on selected samples.

Torvane & Pocket Penetrometer

Torvane and pocket penetrometer tests are performed in the field following sample extrusion and description and
give a good indication of the shear strength of cohesive soils. Generally they are used to confirm consistency with
the miniature vane and undrained triaxial results but in particular used where triaxial tests are not practicable.

Unconsolidated Undrained Triaxial Tests

The unconsolidated undrained triaxial (UU) tests results are presented in the form of stress-strain plots. Remoulded
unconsolidated undrained triaxial tests are performed onshore on selected samples.

Direct Shear Tests

Quick drained direct shear tests using the shear box apparatus were conducted on selected samples in the onshore
laboratory as an (additional) method of determining the internal angle of friction of non-cohesive (granular) soils.
The test specimens are reconstituted to a predetermined moisture content and density before the normal loads
were applied.

ONE DIMENSIONAL CONSOLIDATION TESTS

Incremental Consolidation Tests

One dimensional incremental consolidation tests are carried out on selected cohesive samples in the onshore
laboratory using the oedometer apparatus. A series of loading/unloading stages are applied based on the in situ
vertical effective stress and predicted over consolidation ratio.

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