PETRA III: Documentation of the foundation soil analysis

Soil exploration
In order to convert PETRA III into a brilliant synchrotron radiation source, app. 280 m of the
2.3 km long storage ring have to be completely reconstructed. A new experimental hall will
be built in the north-eastern area, between halls 47 and 48.

PETRA III is expected to provide highly brilliant x-ray radiation, whose diameter will not be
thicker than a single hair. Vibrations can interfere a stable alignment of the X-ray beam. There
is a tolerance of a few micrometres only.
Therefore the demands on the soil are very high. One of the most important criteria for the
construction is stability and an absence of vibrations. The base has to be built extremely
solidly to avoid a lowering of the basement, even after many years. So the analysis of the soil
conditions is an important feature for the future construction. For testing the subsoil, soil
samples have been taken in a depth of 3 to 25 m, at five different places. The samples have
been tested by company GuD Consult GmbH, Berlin, regarding their composition and
compressibility. The expertise will clarify if a reinforced concrete paving slab will be
sufficient as a basement for the experimental hall or if an additional profoundation with piles
will be necessary.

Boring at the hall 47 b, end of July 2005

Figure 1: Figure 2:

One of the last sampling took place in front of hall 47b. Two employees of company
Nortmann carried out drillings at five different places. In order to retain the samples, some
preparatory work had to be rendered. First of all, an external pipe was counter-sunk 3 m deep
into the ground and the surplus soil was drawn out by a spiral drill. Therefore there was no
untroubled sampling possible at the first 3 m, as the original structure of the soil has been
destroyed during the drilling, but some so-called bowl samples were taken instead.

1
Figure 3:

Afterwards, the workers installed the sample taking pipe onto the hammer drill. The sampling
case has the shape of a long plastic pipe which is surrounded by an outer steel cylinder, and is
pulled out of the steel pipe later on. The steel cylinder has a diameter of 10 cm and is
therefore smaller than the outer pipe. After being attached to the drill pipe, the hammer drives
the sampling case into the ground with some 150 kg per beat. Per metre ground, a so-called
liner sample is taken, i.e. a core sample that shows the soil mostly untroubled, as it is found
on site.

2
Picture 4:

A coloured mark on the steel rope shows the master builder when the hammer has driven the
sampling cylinder 1 m deep into the ground.

Picture 5:

During the sampling procedure

3
Picture 6:

After examining the sample core, the drillmaster can already assess the composition of the
soil roughly. The boring at the northern part of the site unearthed mostly sandy ground,
whereas at the more southern sites predominantly marl was found.

Picture 7:

Drillmaster Mrbach is marking the 1 m long drilling cores after sample drawing. In order to
prevent the ends from drying up, they are closed by a plastic membrane and a lid.

4
Picture 7a:

After being closed, the samples are ready for being sent to Berlin for examination. This one
was taken at drill site No. 5 at a depth of 13 - 14 m.

Picture 8:

In order to be able to take samples at a depth of 25 m, the outer pipe has to be extended resp.
elongated after some metres.

5
Picture 9:

The spiral drill clears the borehole for the next trial drill.

Picture 10:

At a depth below 16 m we encountered ground water. From this depth on a so-called valve
drill is being used, a special apparatus that enables the workers to dig within the water-bearing
stratum and to avoid a leaking of the sample and a turbulence at the sample core at the same
time.

6
Picture 11:

The sample cylinder has a core-catcher at the end that prevents the soil from slipping out of
the core.

Exploratory drilling of the north-eastern part of the subsoil

The pdf file shows the results of the exploration. The profile of the core consists mainly of
sand.
http://adweb.desy.de/p3/03-Buildings/WP3-01_Experimental_Hall/GuD/G61_05_A3-4.pdf

Exploratory drilling of the south-eastern part of the subsoil

The pdf file shows the results of the exploration. The profile of the core consists mainly of a
sand-marl-boulder clay.
http://adweb.desy.de/p3/03-Buildings/WP3-01_Experimental_Hall/GuD/G61_05_A3-5.pdf