What types of tests may be included in subsurface investigations for tanks?

• A. Temperature Tests
• B. Soil Borings
• C. Pressure Tests
• D. Radiographic Tests

Answer: (B)

Subsurface investigations for tanks primarily focus on understanding the soil and geological conditions beneath a proposed or existing tank site. This helps to ensure the stability of the tank structure and assess potential environmental impacts.

Soil borings are a fundamental part of this investigation process. They involve drilling into the ground to collect soil samples at various depths, which can then be analyzed to determine soil composition, strength, and other critical properties. This information is vital in designing tank foundations and ensuring that the tanks can safely contain the liquids they hold without risk of structural failure or ground contamination.

Temperature tests, pressure tests, and radiographic tests, while important in other contexts related to tank integrity and maintenance, do not specifically pertain to subsurface investigations. Temperature tests might assess thermal properties of materials, pressure tests often evaluate the integrity of tank shells, and radiographic tests are used for welding quality verification. However, they do not provide the necessary data concerning subsurface soil conditions, making soil borings the right choice for this question.