rockman

Standards and Codes

ASTM Updates for March, 2012

April 16, 2012 rockman Comments Off

American Society of Testing Materials Logo - ASTM This post contains a list of new, revised and otherwise updated ASTM standards that pertain to the geotechnical engineering, materials testing and related fields. Standard C39/C39M for testing the compressive strength of concrete cyllinders was updated, as was C42/42m for obtaining and testing drilled cores and sawed beams of concrete. The month of March also saw several geosynthetic standards being updated or added, including new standards for selecting the test method for geomembrane seams, and for testing the flexural rigidity of geogrids and other geosynthetics. There are also a few updated standards related to asphalt mix design and sampling of asphalt. Click through for updated ASTM Standards relating to geoprofessionals.

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The Titanic wreck didn't sink into the sediment because it rests on a million year old marine landslide.

Titanic now resting on million year old marine landslide

April 16, 2012 rockman Comments Off

A marine geologist with Natural Resources Canada, Steve Blasco, wondered why the wreck of the Titanic did not sink completely into the ocean sediments at its resting place 4 km below the surface. Mr. Blasco […]

Giroud-Han Method for Geosynthetic-Reinforced Unpaved Roads

April 16, 2012 rockman Comments Off

A 2004 paper by J.P. Giroud and Jie Han provides a practical design method for geosynthetic-reinforced unpaved roads. The method outlined in the paper was very detailed, and the authors wanted to provide a summary […]

Jury Returns Verdict for HDR in Lawsuit by Tampa Bay Water

April 13, 2012 rockman Comments Off

A federal jury deliberated only 3 hours to return a verdict in favor of HDR, exonerating them of claims by Tampa Bay Water that they had violated the standard of care in the design of […]

Google Earth 6.2 released for Android and iOS

April 12, 2012 rockman Comments Off

Google has released Google Earth 6.2 for iOS and Android, including the long awaited ability to work with KML files. Frank Taylor reports that some of the more advanced features of KML files such as […]

Landslide or snow melt causes retaining wall failure that kills one motorist on Austrian Autobahn

Fatal retaining wall failure in Austria

April 12, 2012 rockman Comments Off

A retaining wall failed along the A13 autobahn in Schonberg, Austria. Few details are available at this point, but the wall did fall onto a passing truck, killing the driver. Snowmelt was likely a factor […]

The photo above shows a crack measuring roughly 500 ft in length that is part of the evidence in Tampa Bay Water's lawsuit against HDR.

Updated: Tampa Reservoir Failure Lawsuit Heats Up

April 12, 2012 rockman Comments Off

[Update 4/13/12] A verdict in favor of HDR was reached earlier this week. They have been exhonerated of the charges and will pay no damages to Tampa Bay Water District. Read more on this GeoPrac.net […]

Updated – Video: Wolf Creek Dam Grouting

April 10, 2012 rockman Comments Off

[Update 4/11/12] Hayward Baker (a GeoPrac sponsor) is the geotechnical contractor performing the grouting under subcontract to the JV, thanks for the correction Tanner. The JV is performing the cut-off wall work. I should also […]

Environmental Data Management for Site Holders

April 9, 2012 rockman Comments Off

Many site-holders engage a variety of consultants, laboratories, and in-house staff to collect, manage and report their environmental data.

Unfortunately this often results in data being trapped in various pdf reports, GIS layers, emails, excel workbooks, or even in hard copy. This data becomes increasingly difficult and time consuming to manage and retrieve as more data is collected and as legislative reporting requirements become more rigorous.

[Editor] Click through for the rest of this interesting article. [/Editor]

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Freeport Wharf stabilized with multi-strand anchors in soft clay

Failing Freeport Wharf stabilized with anchors in soft clay

April 3, 2012 rockman Comments Off

A new portion of the Freeport, Texas Wharf was meant to allow an additional two container ships to be unloaded each day. However, before it was put into service, the entire 800 foot by 109 […]