Consolidation test Lab 1

[CivGeoEngineer]

Hello

Does anyone know a lab that can test soil samples at a pressure higher that 500 psi?

We are trying to reach the preconsolidation pressure from glacial till samples.

 

[BigH]

Dang, that's 36 tsf or 3500 kPa. That's a lot of stress. Are you really going to be running pressures up near that high?

 

[molerat2210]

Our machines have gone to 444 psi (32 tons). With a little adjustment we can get over 500 psi. EBA Engineering, Balt. MD.

 

[fattdad]

Yeah, I'd like to know the engineering application that needs to know such data. What problem are you solving?

f-d

¡papá gordo ain’t no madre flaca!

 

[BigHarvey]

And if somebody talks about installing vertical drains to accelerate consolidation just shoot right between the eyes !

 

[molerat2210]

Sometimes you need to find the OC ratio of a highly OC clay.

Did you have a bad wick drain experience Harvey? They work fine for some people.

 

[BigHarvey]

I install vertical drains, but never in OC soils or marls or tills ! More and more we face inexperienced geotech engineers who associate automatically clay with consolidation time and therefore vertical drains. It's very difficult to install drains in soils where it's not necessary. You need drains and they work fine in clays with water content close or above LL, when you have Cu values below 40/50 KPa.
Otherwise you can install drains in whatever soil you wish but the cost might prove prohibitive.