Soil (treatment)

Soil is suited for many architectural applications provided it meets the corresponding conditions. As it is important for you to know for which applications a batch of soil can be used, Geo Measuring & Analysis nv has the necessary expertise to perform various tests on soil samples.  

• Classification to check if the soil is suited for being used, for instance, for the replenishment of sewage trenches or as sub-foundation (tests specified in the standard specifications SB 250) is executed very frequently.
• Drawing up a normal or enhanced Proctor curve to establish at which water content the material in question can be compacted best.
• Defining the IPI or CBR value: these parameters are a measure for the bearing capacity of the soil and can be combined with subsequent on-site plate load tests, which – in turn – check the compaction.
• By taking on-site samples of the compacted soil using cutting rings, the degree of compaction can be determined by establishing the density of the soil sample.
• A lime study involves mixing the soil with 1, 2 and 3% of lime. For each of these mixtures, a new Proctor curve is drawn up and the bearing capacity is established. This results in a suited binding agent dosage.
• A cement study is conducted according to the same principle, except that here test pieces are made that after a given period of time are subjected to tests, the compressive strength being the most important value here.  

Geo Measuring & Analysis nv has the knowledge and the equipment to take representative on-site samples. In short, based on laboratory tests you can acquire more information on, a/o, the processability and suitability of the material in question, which will save a lot of time and money on site.

Hydraulically bound mixtures

Hydraulically bound mixtures consist of a material such as soil, sand or rough granulate and a binding agent (lime, cement, fly ash...).  

Both the raw materials and finished product of hydraulically bound mixtures must meet certain quality requirements.  

A preliminary study will be conducted to determine the composition of the mixture and includes the following tests:

• Grading
• Optimum water content based on Proctor curve
• Cement content to be added (making test pieces at the ideal water content and with different cement contents, after which these test pieces are kept for a certain period of time in a temperature-controlled environment and subsequently tested).