What Does
Test Bore Mean?
A test bore is a borehole created for the preliminary investigation of soil conditions at a trenchless construction site. To determine the viability of a project and the tools and methods required, a geotechnical report is produced based on data gathered from the test bore. The results help construction project leaders make important decisions about the operation.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Test Bore
The purpose of a test bore is to sample the soil and understand its physical properties, so that contract managers and engineers will know how to approach the project.
Borehole samples are only one source of information for geotechnical reports. Data is also collected from penetration tests and water pressure tests. The report also takes into account the topography and surrounding landscape.
The type of boring done with a test bore might be different from the eventual boring method for the project. A small-diameter bore may be all that is needed for examination of soil and rock cuttings. The method depends on the soil to be excavated and the scale of the operation.
Another use of the term test bore has to do with limited tunneling before approval of the whole project. In 1880, workers began tunneling under the English Channel in a cooperative effort with the French to build a railroad tunnel under the sea. A tunnel boring machine was used to create a pilot bore seven feet in diameter. Work was stopped on the project because of political disagreement.