During the last 10-15 years, the ground investigation industry has been aware of the harmonization of geotechnical industries within Europe through the introduction of a new Eurocode; Eurocode 7.
      
 
Parts 1 & 2
                                                                                   
The new Eurocode consists of two parts, Part 1, General Rules, (published 2004); and Part 2, Ground Investigation and Testing (published  2007). Eurocode 7 can coexist with current national standards until March 2010, after which time EC7 supercedes all relevant BS documentation. 
    
    
Emphasis towards in-situ testing
 
The new EC7 introduces many significant changes to the UK geotechnical industry, including a greater emphasis towards in-situ-testing and the establishment of a Class 1 soil sample requirement for undisturbed laboratory machine tests. 
  
     
Open tube sampler 50% area ratio
 
EC7 states that Class 1 samples can only be obtained from soil samplers that have an area ratio of 15% or less. The current UK driven open tube (U100) sampler has an area ratio of some 20%; and when used in conjunction with the common practice of a plastic liner, the area ratio increases to a massive 50%.
   
Development of an appropriate and compliant sampling system has not been forthcoming from the drilling industry, although it is understood that a consortium of contractors are attempting a re-design of the driven open tube (new article, modified UT100 sampler).
    
  
So what does this mean? 
   
The cone penetration/piezocone test (CPT/CPTU), is an acknowledged tool for providing accurate soil stratigraphical logging as well as the derivation of certain soil properties.
   
In addition, the CPT/CPTU platform is ideal for deploying specialist modules to analytically measure soil parameters in situ; such modules include the full displacement push pressuremeter, seismic cone, penetration shear vane, soil moisture probe, high quality piston and push samples as well as a variety of environmental probes.
   
For those projects of low to medium risk, Eurocode 7 will offer the CPT/CPTU a large competitive advantage and opportunity over conventional cable tool boring and sampling techniques.
   
As for the driven open tube sample (U100)? - Eurocode 7 surely must mark the beginning of the end. 
R.I.P.  1934 - 2010