Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how important designing the proper foundation support for a structure can be.
The public may assume that the ground we are standing on is pretty much stable and should be able to hold whatever we build on it, without consideration of soil quality.
However, there are examples throughout history of structures that were built upon soil conditions that were not suitable for their weight. Perhaps the most famous is the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
With better soil quality, it may have been known today as the Tower of Pisa
Unfortunately for the constructors, the Tower was built upon a patch of soil that was too soft on one side for the pressure the structure would exert as it’s height climbed. The Tower actually had begun leaning during the construction process and had quite a tilt before it was even completed.
Over time, builders began to realize that in order to build magnificent structures and to have them endure over time, they had to understand the geology they were building on.
They had to be able to translate an understanding of the soil quality that is not able to be seen into foundation designs that would support even the tallest skyscrapers we build today.
Through lots of experimentation, science, engineering, and creative solutions, we’ve been able to evolve our understanding of how to perform a variety of soil tests and how to link that to solid design and construction methods that will support structures as varied as highway bridges and high-rise buildings.
As you explore the resources that we’ve provided in our CPT University, you’ll learn about a variety of soil tests and the advantages of each. Tests such as Standard Penetration Tests (SPT), Cone Penetration Tests (CPT), and other forms of testing all have their place. By understanding the impacts of soil quality and how the information is used, you can begin to build a vision for your soil analysis business.