Recent content by dmoler

Vertical or lateral?

There was several columns, 5000 psi concrete, and for some reason large patches were needed. Apparently something happend where patches from perhaps 6 inches to 18 inches in diameter and from only about 3 inches to as much as 6 inches deep were needed in the columns. Columns were max 3 feet...

ummm....yes, that is the intent of the original question restated, which is basically is this a waste of time or reliable way based on published studies. Where would a published reference be that states this is acceptable (ie. ACI manual does not provide this that I could find, nor any other...

Windsor probe is for concrete, but is there a way to check grout strength with it? Is there a published reference somewhere that someone can give me to correlate the probe with grout? Is there a published reference where results of research says that correlations are not possible?

Trojans work best, and for testing purposes also.

Are you asking about group bearing capacity or group settlement? They are not related in all cases. Simply reducing the individual pile design capacity does not mean that the settlement will be reduced. The pile group would simply be larger (more piles) but the same stress would be transferred...

Sorry, have to disagree. There is no driving of piles involved in anyway with ACIP. The soil is augered, and there is stress relief like the drilled shafts for the surrounding soil. The grout installed with pressure only keeps the hole from collapsing, the pressure being, say, a 10 foot grout...

Merry Christmas - I have enjoyed this! Hope everyone has a happy new year and a much better year than the last. We may not always get what we want, we may not always get what we need, just as long as we dont get what we deserve (haha)!

Really high N values for true worrisome organics. I dont think that Schmertmann's method is really good for this type of thing. I would suggest preloading as some have done above, but the verification would be problematic. I install settlement plates for shallow settlements, and after...

Use polymer slurry instead of bentonite? Much better anyway to avoid cake build-up. Why not use a pressure tremie that starts at the bottom.

Larger gain in moisture content for the LL than I am used to seeing. Usually the reduction in PI comes from substantial increase in the PL, with a little movement for the LL value. The high LL and PL values would not be detrimental, since the soil is modified, and the water is 'bound' in the...

I have the CBEAR program on a floppy disk, upon which my coffee cup rests on my desk. Best use for it I could find.

The internal angle of friction for cohesionless soils is the natural angle of a stable slope with the same angle and same soils, in theory at least.

I got the new LPILE Version 5 Plus, since this thread started, and I find it really easy to use.

I make them pour it in 2 phases. First phase is to pour the concrete to bring to bottom of footing grade. Then after concrete set for 7 days, the footing may be formed and poured. A cold joint is needed between the 'mass' concrete and the actual footing.