"Neese" Bar test for soil bearing

[pw1]

Has anyone ever heard of the "Neese" Bar used for determining soil bearing? It is a 1" steel rod that has a steel flange welded to the rod about half way up the rod. A steel weight (steel cylinder with hole in it) that weighs 25 lb. is dropped from 3 ft above the flange. The weight is hand lifted and dropped to advance the rod into the soil.
You count the number of blows of the weight to advance the rod a ft..
The bar is marked evry 1 ft.
There is a chart that comes with this "apparatus" which shows "Bearing Value" for "granular,intermediate,and cohesive" soils based upon the umber of blows.
This is somewhat like the standard penetration test but without the split spoon and witn a lighter weight and differ et diameter rod.

An Architect said that Engineers and contractors use this quite often to get an idea of bearing for foundations where they cant get a regular rig in.

I have never heard of this test and after searching I still haven't found anything about it-including nothing in my soil mechanics text books from 1970 and recent books.

The Chart values I ASSUME are ultimate values as they are quite high for soils-ranges are from 2000 psf to 10,000 psf.
There is no instruction booklet,no commentary of any sort ,unknown "inventor" /author.

If you have ever used this or have any info, on this I would appreciate any info, you can provide. Thanks

 

[BigH]

I've never heard of the "Neese" bar - and this Eng-Tips site has had more than many discussions on dynamic cone penetration tests (Mackintosh Probe, TRRL dynamic cone, Canada's Pentest, Sower's dynamic cone set-up, etc). You indicated that you had a chart - any idea of who developed the chart? Perhaps it is a local "invention"? I'll keep looking . . . but . . .

 

[hokie66]

It is definitely a penetrometer of some type, homemade or otherwise. Where are you located?

 

[pw1]

Thank You both for your comments. I am in Pennsylvania. I am also thinking its a "homemade" device. The Architect and contractor have used it and claim other Engineers they know have used it over the years. Probably some local Engineer(maybe now deceased) had it fabricated and made the chart. I am working with the Architect on an old(1920's) Church renovation project. We are adding a signifcant
load to some of the old steel columns. We drilled holes through the concrete floor slab to see how much of a footing is under the columns. Turns out, it has a pretty small footprint.
I calced loads to the columns and footings and wanted to get an idea as to existing footings and approximate allowable soil bearing pressure. The Architect and contractor suggested this tool.

I must use a good bit of Engineering judgement on this as I do not have solid confidence in the chart. I can refer to some Soil Mechanics books and maybe come up with a conservative value for bearing based upon this data,I suppose.

 

[hokie66]

I would have a geotechnical engineer, armed with a more modern dynamic cone penetrometer, provide you with advice. Similar to the old device, but with more confidence in the results.

 

[BigH]

Be careful of using any equipment or chart that has not been thoroughly vetted and that has no background references.

 

[rconner]

I noticed there is an engineer named Michael "Neese" who just happens to work for the "materials testing" group of Terracon, I suspect out of their Des Moines, Iowa office. While it is probably a longshot, you could probably still get hold of him via the contacts in the doc e.g. at

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...r4CABQ&usg=AFQjCNE9rQNMcfHSk1rH_mygr-W_atxOvg

to see if by any chance he is related (as I know there is quite a history of soil engineering/testing/geotech, sometimes kept in the family, in this general area I grew up). At one time the soils/geotech business may have been much more localized than it is now.
Good luck and all have a good weekend.

 

[dicksewerrat]

That thing sounds to me to be a very small pile driver.

Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.

http://WWW.amlinereast.com