Dear David,
Our lab. procedures for students are based on: Carter, M. and Bentley, S.P.
(1986) "Practical Guidelines for Microwave Drying of Soils", Canadian
Geotech. Jnl., 23 (4) pp 598-601.
The procedure we use is:
Place soil in microwave oven at high power setting.
After 5 mins. remove the sample and weigh.
Replace for further 1 minute and reweigh.
Repeat until readings do not differ by more than 0.01g.
David Toll
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Dr David Toll
University of Durham
School of Engineering
South Road
Durham, DH1 3LE, UK.
Tel: (+44/0) 191 374 2566 Fax: (+44/0) 191 374 2550
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
www: http://www.dur.ac.uk/~des0dt/
-----Original Message-----
From: Geotechnical Engineering Email List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of David Muir Wood
Sent: 23 July 2002 19:11 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: rapid drying of samples
Colleagues!
I recall discussion somewhere about the pros and cons of using a
microwave oven for rapid drying of soil samples.
We are interested in doing this for student laboratory work where it
is the concept and calculation of water content that is important
rather than great numerical accuracy.
Does anyone have relevant experience - guidance on power levels and
drying times?
Thanks - David
----------------------
David Muir Wood University of Bristol
[log in to unmask] Department of Civil Engineering
Professor of Civil Engineering Queen's Building
phone: 0117-928-7706 University Walk
fax: 0117-928-7783 Bristol BS8 1TR, United Kingdom
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