A multi-dimensional ultrasonic vibration drilling device for enhanced in-situ soil detection

Abstract Soil detection is critical for a spectrum of applications, ranging from precision agriculture for optimizing crop inputs to geotechnical engineering for foundation assessment and environmental monitoring. However, the accuracy and efficiency of these efforts are often compromised by conventional drilling methods, which suffer from high resistance and poor sample quality in the drilling and soil extraction process. These limitations frequently necessitate the use of bulky automated machinery and cumbersome soil pretreatment processes. This paper presents a new design methodology for in-situ soil detecting based on a longitudinal–bending hybrid ultrasonic vibration-assisted drilling (LBHUVAD) system. By simultaneously exciting longitudinal and bending vibrations in the drill, the system generates an Intermittent Impact Effect and an Intermittent Reaming Effect, which can reduce soil drilling resistance significantly. Comparative experiments demonstrate that the LBHUVAD system reduces drilling resistance and resistance moment by up to 32.19% and 25.29%, respectively, compared to conventional methods. Besides, the resulting borehole walls exhibit superior surface integrity, free from pits or cracks. This method significantly mitigates probing resistance, prevents continuous soil compaction, and enhances sample consistency. It thus provides an automated and efficient new strategy for high-quality in-situ soil detection in both agricultural and industrial fields.