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Relating Undrained Shear Strength to non-engineers

Relating Undrained Shear Strength to non-engineers

Relating Undrained Shear Strength to non-engineers

(OP)
Hi all,

I'm trying to come up with some examples of every day materials which I can use to describe the stiffness/undrained shear strength of mine tailings to a non-engineering audience.  The specific case deals with mine tailings which range between approx. 100 and 800 psf undrained shear strength.  

Its easy to say "oh that's as soft as toothpaste", but I really would rather have something to back me up when I say that.

thanks

RE: Relating Undrained Shear Strength to non-engineers

For 100 psf (5 kPa), try "loon shit" - a non-technical term for the ooze on the bottom of a lake.  800psf (40kPa) is considerably stiffer . . . - why not give the rough field guide about thumb imprint . . . see: Table 3.5 in
http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/uconowner.gf?n=200610120954411

RE: Relating Undrained Shear Strength to non-engineers

(OP)
Thanks for the reply BigH

I had actually begun with a similar table, but wanted to take it a step further to take out the process of people having to think "what types of things are readily dented with strong pressure of my thumb".  I came up with this table with a little brainstorming help from my co-workers (this would append to a table similar to the table you pointed out above.

Very Soft    Toothpaste, Mashed Potatoes, Jello

Soft    Play-doh

Medium Stiff    Stick of butter right from fridge, silly putty

Stiff    Tub of ice cream

Very Stiff    Fully inflated basketball, unopened bottle of soda

Hard    Hard candy, ice cube
 

RE: Relating Undrained Shear Strength to non-engineers

Tub of ice cream . . . depends on the temperature at which it was stored, I have had some where I had to cut it with a knife just to be able to get a scoop in - that I would hesitate to say very stiff . . .

RE: Relating Undrained Shear Strength to non-engineers

Thanks......

RE: Relating Undrained Shear Strength to non-engineers

(OP)
tub of ice cream was the last one I had...  couldn't think of anything else that would work

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