The vacuum preloading method uses atmospheric pressure as a temporary surcharge to accelerate soil settlement and improve its characteristics. The process involves the application of vacuum pressure into a separated soil mass to decrease atmospheric pressure and pore water pressure, resulting in soil consolidation. The vacuum preloading technique was proposed by
Read More
Scan line survey, also known as discontinuity survey, is essential for the estimation of rock mass quality in rock mechanics and underground structures. This process involves scanning the outcropped rock surface, followed by data collection for rock mass analysis. Scan line surveys are thus useful for the preliminary design of structures
Read More
Weight sounding test is a form of penetration test conducted at construction sites to assess liquefaction susceptibility, soil profiling, determination of the bearing capacity of shallow and deep foundations, etc. The test consists of two stages, namely, static penetration and rotational penetration, and yields quicker results when conducted through an electrical machine instead
Read More
Blasting is an economical compaction method that can be applied for various soil types such as granular, silt, clay, loess, etc. Not only is the technique highly effective in loose soil, but also capable of compacting granular soil down to a depth of 40m. The blasting method involves the determination of
Read More
You may not have realized it, but praseodymium, terbium, and gadolinium are as important to your work as the soldering iron, multimeter, and oscilloscope. Respectively, these rare earth elements (REEs) help make possible lasers and certain magnets, fluorescent lamps and sonar systems, computer memories and X-ray tubes. There are seventeen REEs, and
Read More
Soil instability is the inclination of soil for upward, lateral, or downward movement due to natural factors like pore water pressure, cracking, earthquakes, etc. It is crucial to understand the factors that cause slope instability for two reasons. First, for the construction and design of new slopes, and second, for repairing
Read More
Climate Change Vs. Coronavirus. Whether their state is opening up or locking down again, Americans are generally staying home more during the COVID-19 pandemic. One result has been a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which could be as much as 7 percent lower in 2020 than they were in 2019. What
Read More
Soil compaction is the removal of voids in soil by applying static or vibratory vertical forces, resulting in higher soil density that can withstand greater loads. Various types of compaction machinery are available that can be selected for any given project. The choice of too light or too heavy a compaction
Read More
Geosynthetics are artificial synthetic materials made of polymeric or natural materials in the form of strips, a sheet, or a three-dimensional structure. They are easy to prepare and transport, and can help make construction projects more eco-friendly. They perform five pivotal functions when applied in construction – separation, reinforcement, filtration,
Read More
A Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a non-destructive technique used for investigating the characteristics of the subsurface. It is a real-time NDT instrument that employs high-frequency radio waves to study the underground surface. This technique provides high-resolution data within a short period. GPR employs electromagnetic waves to image the subsurface. GPR is
Read More
