Cohesion in mixture of dirt, moisture, nonferrous particulates <10 mm

[researchdesign]

Has anyone heard of compression testing being done for a mixture of dirt, moisture, nonferrous particulates <10 mm? I am trying to quantify the amount of cohesion in metallic mixtures that contain moist dirt.

 

[arunmrao]

Are you considering green strength of the compact? Perhaps permeability too.

 

[researchdesign]

Really I guess I am asking what types of properties can easily be measured that have a proven relationship to moisture content or cohesion. I am trying to reduce moisture content by 5 percent or so, but need to determine qualitative assessment of cohesion before I can determine the amount of moisture that needs to be removed.

 

[EdStainless]

make a briquette and then crush it?
We used to do this with grinding swarf which is mostly broken down abrasive.

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Plymouth Tube

 

[Ron]

Have a geotechnical lab run either a direct shear or triaxial shear test on the material at the density you anticipate using. From this, they can determine the cohesion (likely near zero unless you have some clayey particles in the soil). They can also determine the relative strength of the material (shear strength, confined compressive strength, etc.)

Make sure that the non-ferrous materials will not be exposed to a degrading environment, or those tested properties will change.

...also, when you talk to the lab,don't call it "dirt"....those dirt guys get a little sensitive about that...it's "soil"!

 

[researchdesign]

Thanks everyone, I'm doing a tri-axial shear test in the lab at WPI.