Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing the surface of a region of soil for further testing involves the gradual removal of soil disturbed during the drilling of a borehole. An initial hole may be bored with an auger having a removable nose cone, then a trimming tool may be pushed into the borehole and rotated so as to gradually and controllably remove the soil as the tool is advanced. This removal of the soil portion disturbed during drilling results in the preparation for testing of a soil sample which is less affected by the drilling operation itself and therefore more representative of the actual soil conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing soil involves a probe with an inner cylinder insertable into the sample to be tested and rotatable through a limited arc of rotation. The inner cylinder may be rotated by an impulse, from an initial condition or by an oscillatory motion. An outer cylinder may be provided concentric to the inner cylinder and spaced therefrom to facilitate the measurement of liquefaction resistance and soil degradation. A motion sensor mounted on the inner cylinder enables the recording of the response of the cylinder and the soil to a particular rotary excitation. A shield may be provided about the upper end of the inner cylinder in order to allow measurements to be obtained from a region sufficiently below the surface of the soil so as to be relatively free from surface effects. A surface compression unit may be provided between the inner and outer cylinders which is operable to supply a pressure to compensate for the loss of overburden in downhole applications.