Samples for consolidation testing?

[abusementpark]

Just a general geotech question out of curiosity:

What is the preferred method to obtain a sample for consolidation testing??

Split Spoon Sampler?
Shelby Tube??

 

[oldestguy]

Expect a great variety of answer recommendations. I'd expect no one to recommend split-spoon samples.

 

[BigH]

Oldestguy's tongue in cheek is good one. No, you wouldn't use a split spoon. Block samples are the best. Depending on the "softness" of the soil, if very soft to soft, the Swedish foil sampler (which likely hasn't been used in years and years); then thin-walled tubes preferrably the piston set-up are the next best starting with as large a tube as you can get into the hole (5 inch or 4 inch tube samples are better than 2 inch ones). After piston sampling, hydraulic push or manual push.

 

[GeoPaveTraffic]

Agreed.

We always use 3-inch o.d. Shelby tubes (thin wall tubes).

 

[abusementpark]

Is this because Shelby tubes offer least amount of disturbance to the sample??

 

[msucog]

read this

http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/DOD/UFC/ufc_3_220_10n.pdf

 

[escrowe]

Like Bowles said, there is no such thing as an 'undisturbed' sample.
Just try not to drop it on the floor.