I've been out of the materials testing business for a few decades now and I am wondering if new research has been done to replace the Proctor lab test for granular soil compaction. I seem to recall a maximum density shake table type test but never saw it widely adopted. Anything new out there...
I have noticed a variety of MSE wall exterior surface patterns, presumably for asthetic purposes. I have not seen a pattern that could be used by wildlife, particluly birds, for homes or shelter and I am wondering why not. Cliff swallows would love an above-ground place to build a nest with an...
With all this discussion of 95% compaction going on in the other forums, I would like to grind a personal axe and suggest that acceptance of compaction should be done using statistical methods rather than the pass/fail technique commonly used. If the mean of the test values met or exceeded the...
A coworker brought up this problem and I thought it would make a worthy topic of discussion on the forum.
An existing warehouse is to be retro-fitted to house power generating equipment. The records of the existing foundation are scanty and contradicting, some say piles and some say spread...
I was recalling how I had to ship samples from Wyoming to the company laboratory in Forida [auto] and thought it might be a worthwhile topic for discussion/opinion.
As I recall, samples are prepped in the field by removing any loose material from the top and a small amount from the tip to allow...
I was reading another thread regarding GWL uncertainty in clay soil and it reminded me that the historic GWL can be approximated by where the clay changes color from brown to gray. This is the result of the oxidation of ferrous iron Fe+2 into ferric iron Fe+3 by oxygen above the water level, or...
I'm curious to know if much has been done to research or specify an 'automatic' hammer for SPT sampling. There was some talk of this in the late 70's. Anyone know of developements? Maybe the CPT has supplanted the need for added uniformity in the SPT? It was my understanding that a device...
