Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 1859c547-c10c-4ce4-ad2e-e54f7b66d4ef
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Laboratory Investigations of Soils and Rocks for Engineering Analysis and Design of Nuclear Power Plants + HISTORY – HISTORY 07/2014 – DG-1256 , Proposed Revision 3 08/2001 – DG-1109 , Proposed Revision 2 (Rev. 3)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1318/ML13186A032.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.138
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
ved under OMB control number 3150-0011, 3150-0151, and 3150-0093 respectively. The NRC may neither conduct nor sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information collection request or requirement unless the requesting document displays a currently valid OMB control number. B. DISCUSSION Reason for Revision The guide was revised to reflect the current standards for testing procedures. Much of this revision involved updating of references. The most significant change is in Section C.6.3, “Resonant Column Tests,” which provides an alternative method for resonant column and torsional shear testing of soil and rock samples. Background In the course of site investigations and analyses for nuclear power plant facilities, the purpose of a laboratory-testing program is to identify and classify soils and rocks, and to evaluate their physical and engineering properties. The NRC staff reviews the information obtained from site investigations and DG-1256, Page 3 laboratory tests and considers the safety aspects of applying the data to the design and construction of nuclear plants. Consideration of public safety imposes particularly stringent requirements on the design and construction of nuclear power plant facilities. Therefore, it is essential that investigators carefully plan and carry out all phases of a site investigation program to ensure that the associated field and laboratory testing realistically determines the properties of the soil and rock. The site and laboratory investigations will depend on actual site conditions, the nature of problems encountered or suspected at the site, site parameters defined by the design of the nuclear power plant to be built on the site, and design requirements for foundations and earthworks. Therefore, the site investigation program should be flexible and tailored to each site and plant design as the site and laboratory investigations proceed. Experienced engineers and geologists who have demonstrated competence in