Tube sampling disturbance—forgotten truths and new perspectives

Abstract

The past decade has seen a considerable improvement in the understanding of the causes of tube sampling disturbance, as a result both of comparative studies of the performance of different sampling methods, and the development of new analytical techniques. This has built on the pioneering work carried out in the 1930s and 1940s, reviewed and interpreted in the seminal works of Hvorslev. Much of this knowledge, both old and new, has yet to be used widely in engineering practice, both in the UK and elsewhere. This paper reviews some of the major issues which must be addressed if samples of acceptable quality are to be obtained for laboratory soil testing, and draws on both old and new sources.