Guidelines for constructing and maintaining aquaculture ...

Appendix 2: Minimum soil
testing requirements
Soil property to be
tested
Testing methodology Testing frequency Discussion Guide to assessing soil suitability for
construction
Soil grading
using unified soil
classification system
(USCS)
AS 1726 Tests should be undertaken on all
strata identifi ed in the foundations of
containment structures and on each type
of fi ll being used in embankments.
Material to be used for pond sealing is to
be of a quality that will minimise seepage.
A suitably qualifi ed person must, for each
stage, test and verify the permeability of
the material for the pond sealing.
The USCS is based on the grading of
constituent particles (soil particle size
distribution), the plasticity of the fines
fraction and organic matter content. It
gives information on the ability of the
soil to resist seepage, its attainable
compaction, and its load bearing capacity.
Refer to Appendix 3.
Atterberg limits and
linear shrinkage
AS 1289.3.1.1. to 3.4.1 Tests should be undertaken on all
strata identifi ed in the foundations of
containment structures and on each type
of fi ll being used in embankments.
Material which is to be used for pond
sealing is to be of a quality that will
minimise seepage. A suitably qualified
person must, for each stage, test and verify
the permeability of the material for the
pond sealing.
Tests to determine the expansive and
shrinkage behaviour of soils include the
Liquid Limit together with the Plastic Limit
and Linear Shrinkage. The Liquid Limit is
proportional to the compressibility of a soil
and therefore its load bearing capacity and
traffi cability when wet.
Non-dispersive soils with a low shrink/
swell potential (22%) undergo
extensive cracking upon drying but usually
seal well when saturated.
Refer to Appendix 3.
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