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Recent content by DarthSoilsGuy

  1. DarthSoilsGuy

    Haul Road Construction

    i have used bx-1100, a lot, and over some real crap. i've never been deeper than 2 feet of crushed stone, but it would be isolated layers. can't you build on top of the 8" & grid that's out there... seems like such a waste to demo it. if it's pumping and rutting now, it will be pure goose s##t...
  2. DarthSoilsGuy

    nuclear gauge

    Ok... i have to admit that i've only tried to drive a pin in compacted ABC a few times and all without success. so i am not qualified to criticize it. all i've ever tested is hard granite-based ABC stone. with the ABC stone i've worked on, you have a hard enough time making the "undisturbed"...
  3. DarthSoilsGuy

    Model rockeries in SlopeW

    make sure to check out the other threads on this topic if you haven't already... i remember there was a good link to a federal highway study on rockeries Advanced search "rockeries" also this thread has the link (if this works) thread255-186861
  4. DarthSoilsGuy

    nuclear gauge

    make sure you're using the right equipment, there are Nukes that do the top 2" in Backscatter (BS) mode (these are called thin lift nukes and are for asphalt) and there are nukes that scan the top 6" in BS mode. it's true that the surface compaction affects this reading greater than the base...
  5. DarthSoilsGuy

    Silty-Clay Visual Classification

    fine clayey SILTs can be very tricky. in the region i worked previously (area between mountains and sea of NC of USA), the standard operation was: 1. Field observation --- "It's a Clay" 2. Lab testing follows --- "ok, so it's a Silt." my gut reaction is assume all "field observed clays" are...
  6. DarthSoilsGuy

    Commercial site grading plan

    In USA, each State has a permitting process for stormwater management (or at least all the states i've worked in). A permit is issued by the state. Anyone can go to a State website and download adobe pdf files of permitted projects. There must be thousands out permitted commercial site plans...
  7. DarthSoilsGuy

    Footing Excavation Testing

    side note.. avoid using the word "undercut" unless you're talking about unsuitable soils that must be undercut and then backfilled with structural soil. i believe you are talking about "excavation" for a 2.5' deep strip footing which is most likely designed for frost protection. Ignoring the...
  8. DarthSoilsGuy

    Building fills with SW-SM Material

    If confinement is playing a major factor, it will show itself by good density testing procedures. if using a nuke gauge (a sand-cone would also work, but don't try to test sands with a drive tube Hahaha), take density testing at different probe penetrations. With surface testing (no probe...
  9. DarthSoilsGuy

    Detecting sand filler and clay

    What's the application? a sieve analysis has to be the most simple for knowing general info about sand vs. clay proportional breakdown in a bulk sample, but i can't say if it is appropriate. i too have no idea what the SE test is? feel free to educate
  10. DarthSoilsGuy

    Building fills with SW-SM Material

    is the Geotechnical Engineer who did the preliminary soils report the same as the Geotechnical Engineer running the show on the testing side during construction? Which of the two rejected it? And by rejecting it, was it based on field observations of what's in the trucks by someone on-site...
  11. DarthSoilsGuy

    Asphalt Design

    ppars, if you work in the USA, there may be some free state design guides too. Some state departments of transportation adopt the AASHTO pavement design book and publish their own requirements which are very.. very.. similar. In Vermont, we bought that book, and then i discovered that all the...
  12. DarthSoilsGuy

    Site Balence of Cut and Fill

    saw a similar clusterf##k go down where a multi-story building addition was lowered maybe 2" inches to save the footings because all of the anchor bolts were set low (TOF was surveyed low for the 1st footing and it became a horrible "benchmark"). all the columns were fabricated so the 2" had to...
  13. DarthSoilsGuy

    Site Balence of Cut and Fill

    i agree with francesca about little excesses never come up. they just magically disappear. also, what about suitable/unsuitable fill soils? raising the whole site will require more suitable soils for the areas where you need it. it's possible that you only have enough of the good stuff right...
  14. DarthSoilsGuy

    GeoGrid Limitations

    wudn't me [angel]
  15. DarthSoilsGuy

    GeoGrid Limitations

    msucog, you haven't explored emoticons well. may i suggest: [curse] [soapbox] [banghead] [hairpull3] [cannon] another thing i was thinking about.. The blocks play a major part too. For complicated walls with a lot of junk in them, we specify "Large Modular Segmental Retaining Wall Units" i...
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