PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
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When your solar project needs to be done fast and done right, call the firm that can help you to perform your field testing services right.
PILE LOAD TESTING
In the solar industry, three types of load tests have become common: lateral, axial tensile, and axial compressive. Lateral tests are used to simulate a combination of the horizontal wind, seismic, and motor torque forces, axial tensile tests simulate wind uplift forces, and axial compressive tests simulate a combination of the downward wind, snow, and equipment loads. Combined, these tests help to minimize material costs and ensure structural performance for the thousands of piles supporting a solar project
PILE DRIVING
In suitable locations, driven piles are more cost and time-efficient than are concrete and helical pile designs. Solar Geotechnical Testing has special equipment and unique engineering solutions to minimize the risks of rejected piles during installation.
PRESSUREMETER TESTING
Pressuremeters are devices for carrying out insitu testing of soils and rocks, primarily for strength and stiffness parameters. They are generally cylindrical, long with respect to their diameter, with the central part of instrument being covered by a flexible expanding membrane.
Pressuremeter testing is becoming increasingly recognized as one of the key tools available to any geotechnical engineering design project.
SOIL INFILTRATION TESTING
A soil infiltration test is a type of field test conducted to determine the infiltration rate of a particular area’s soils and to explore the subsurface conditions underneath the soil. The “infiltration rate” refers to the speed at which water enters into the soil.
Soil infiltration testing is typically conducted early in the planning and design process to determine if an infiltration-based design is suitable for a specific site and at what locations within the solar site.
TEST PITS
Test pit excavations are also a valuable tool as an option to soil test borings. Excavation characteristics of the soil can be evaluated, excavation sidewalls will expose soil stratification boundaries, perched seasonal ground water can be observed and representative bulk soil samples for laboratory testing can be collected from the excavation spoils.
FIELD ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY TEST
Solar Geotechnical Testing performs Soil Resistivity Testing for clients who need to determine soil conductivity to design efficient electrode grounding systems in solar projects. To accurately calculate soil resistivity, SGT employs the Wenner four-pin method according to ASTM G57. Our technicians perform the Wenner test by lining up four equidistant electrodes in the ground and using the two outer electrodes to inject current into the soil. The two inner electrodes measure voltage, after which technicians can calculate the soil’s electrical resistance.
DRILLING SERVICES
For any large design and construction solar projects, Solar Geotechnical Testing offers geotechnical drilling services with talented and licensed drillers, a diverse equipment fleet of truck and track mounted rigs, and decades of project management experience in all types of geological conditions.