Standards and Codes

ASTM Updates May 2009

May 26, 2009 rockman Comments Off

American Society of Testing Materials Logo - ASTM

In this month’s ASTM updates, there is a new standard for determining the laboratory density of soil specimens. Not having a standard for this item was a common problem for us in our practice. The lab would give us a density on ring samples by weiging, drying and weighing again using the known volume of the rings, but there was never any standard to go with it. Other updates this month include ones related to dimension stone, fiber reinforced concrete, sulfate content of soils, and calcium and magnesium content of water.

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Standards and Codes

ASTM Updates April 2009

April 27, 2009 rockman Comments Off

American Society of Testing Materials Logo - ASTM Our monthly ASTM standards update for those in the geotechnical, geo-environmental, hydrogeology and geo-construction fields. This month there are some new standards related to structural cementitious panels, revisions to standards related to slate and dimension stone, and a reapproved standard for monitoring well protection among others. Click through for more info.

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Screenshot from SRWall 4.0 software from the NCMA used for designing segmental retaining walls.

New NCMA Segmental Retaining Wall Design Manual and Software

April 14, 2009 rockman 4

Screenshot from SRWall 4.0 software from the NCMA used for designing segmental retaining walls. This summer, the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) will release the third edition of its Design Manual for Segmental Retaining Walls (DMSRW) along with SRWall 4.0 software for the design of segmental retaining walls. SRW walls with higher wall heights often make use of geotextile or geogrid reinforcement putting them in the category of mechanically stabilized earth retaining walls or MSE Walls. The first edition of the manual was published in 1993 and is routinely used for everything from landscaping walls to multi-tiered commercial and residential retaining walls. This summer is shaping up to be a busy one for those in the retaining wall business as the FHWA NHI 2009 MSE Wall Manual is set to be released around the same time frame as well. Read on for more info on the DMSRW. (Screen shot by Gabriela Mariscal from NCMA via CE News)

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JTFAP Document Will Affect Every Geotechnical Engineer and Engineering Geologist

April 7, 2009 rockman Comments Off

A document entitled “Engineering and Geology Practice Guidelines” has been prepared by the JTFAP or Joint Task Force on Areas of Practice. The JFTAP was comprised of representatives from The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists (AEG) and the Geo-Institute (G-I) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). A draft of the document was published in February of 2009 and members of AEG have already been providing comments to their board through the Section Chairs for possible revisions to the document or for opinions on whether or not AEG should adopt it. A recent email to AEG Members from the President of AEG, Mark Molinari, indicates that the G-I has released the document to their membership for review and comments. Read on for more info.

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Standards and Codes

ASTM Updates March 2009

March 30, 2009 rockman Comments Off

American Society of Testing Materials Logo - ASTM Our monthly update on new and revised ASTM standards that relate to geotechnical engineering, materials testing, hydrogeology, geosynthetics and related disciplines. This month there are a few notable revisions, including D1452 for Auger Borings, D3385 for Double-Ring Infiltrometer and D4595 for determining tensile properties of geotextiles by the wide-width strip method. There are also a few other geotextile, groundwater, lime, masonry and terminology standards that were added or updated. Click through for the full list.

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Standards and Codes

ASTM Updates February 2009

February 26, 2009 rockman Comments Off

American Society of Testing Materials Logo - ASTM GeoPrac’s monthly update on ASTM standards. There are a bunch of updates to C series for concrete, including standards for making and curing specimens in the field, shotcrete specs, and a handfull of geosynthetic and geomembrrane standards have been reapproved. Read on for a summary.

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Working Safely in Trenches and Test Pits

February 2, 2009 rockman Comments Off

The Associated Construction Publications organization have published an article on Working Safely Underground. It’s a good refresher for those of us who occasionally find ourselves working in trenches and test pits. Make sure you do […]

Standards and Codes

ASTM Updates January 2009

January 28, 2009 rockman Comments Off

American Society of Testing Materials Logo - ASTM This month there is a new standard related to nondestructive testing, revisions for several standards involving aggregates, cements and mortars, and the standard test method for expansion index of soils. Click through for the list.

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Standards and Codes

ASTM Standards December Update

December 29, 2008 rockman Comments Off

American Society of Testing Materials Logo - ASTM This month there are a number of changes to standards relating to masonry units, bricks, dimension stone, etc. There are also some changes to a few standards related to asphalt paving, and groundwater testing. ASTM D6453 – Standard Guide for Format of Computerized Exchange of Soil and Rock Test Data was withdrawn. Read on for the full list.

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Standards and Codes

ASTM Standards November Update

November 26, 2008 rockman Comments Off

American Society of Testing Materials Logo - ASTM November was a big month for updates to ASTM Standards…84 updates to be more specific. Several that caught my attention were D4546 One-Dimensional Swell or Settlement Potential, D7383 – Standard Test Methods for Axial Compressive Force Pulse (Rapid) Testing of Deep Foundations (a new standard), several standards that might affect shotcrete design and a large number of water testing standards. Read on for the list.

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