Introduction

Regions like Ohio, which were once glaciated, have highly variable soil conditions. This variability, coupled with the need to determine in-situ properties of geologic media for investigation of highway subgrade and design of shallow and deep foundations, and to monitor the migration of chemical and biological constituents underground, make it highly desirable to be able to perform subsurface investigations rapidly and with minimal disturbance to the area. Efficient and cost-effective techniques for characterizing subsurface conditions on a more continuous basis for new or rehabilitated pavements provides valuable pre-design and pre-construction information. Reclamation of contaminated properties, such as Brownfields, requires extensive subsurface characterization and investigation. Cone penetrometer technology (CPT) offers a fast and relatively economical way to characterize the subsurface conditions of most sites.

Features

The ORITE equipment for subsurface exploration consists of:

• A CPT truck with the capacity to apply a maximum load of 25 tons on a cone penetrometer rod extending to a maximum depth of 200 feet.
• Two ground-penetrating radar (GPR) sets with 100 MHz and 2.5 GHz antennas.
• Automated Dynamic Cone Penetrometer.

Application

Using the CPT truck with a cone penetrometer rod, the strength of the underlying material and moisture content are plotted with depth while soil and water samples may be obtained at any test depth. CPT probes provide a continuous profile of the underlying site stratigraphy and, when combined with environmental probes and field or lab analysis of CPT-extracted soil, water, and gas samples, can provide a detailed three-dimensional view of any subsurface environmental contamination.

The radar sets help to further characterize the geologic profile. The 100 MHz GPR is used for cross-hole tomography, while the 2.5 GHz radar is employed for examining roadways and other structures.

The Automated Dynamic Cone Penetrometer is designed to measure in-situ properties of pavement base and subgrades to a depth of five feet. This device quickly locates weak layers within the pavement substructure and identifies the cause of localized structural failures.

Contact Information

For further information please contact:

Dr. Gayle Mitchell
Director, ORITE
141 Stocker Center
Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701
(740) 593-1465
(740) 593-0625 Fax

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