Re question 1)
ASTM D4643 gives a method for moisture content by microwave. They suggest
about a 700W oven with variable power settings. The procedure is to heat
your sample for 3 min and weigh. Break up and mix the sample, re-heat for 1
min, weigh again. Repeat until you reach constant weight. Concerns are
overheating the sample yielding a higher water content than you would find
by the standard oven methods.
We tried this method offshore, but eventually abandoned as it was quite a
lot of work to do a good job on the heating and re weighing. If you have
time, standard oven drying is a lot easier.
Regards
Eric Parker
D'Appolonia
----- Original Message -----
From: "shbm msnbsh" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 2:08 PM
Subject: Geotechnical Problems
> Hello everyone.
> I have few questions. I will start with the following
> one.
> 1) When conducting moisture content test on a soil
> sample, can microwave oven be used as an alternative
> to the normal oven? Actually the soil sample was
> placed in a 900 watt microwave oven for 5 minutes.
> Any comments on this procedure.
>
> 2) Can a slip circle failure occur within the
> embankment material itself? The embankment is 16m high
> with a 2m wide berm for every 6m. The embankment has
> an inclination of 45 degress (V:H, 1:1). The
> embankment has surface drainage.
> I understand that for fill slopes ( embankments) the
> mode of failure should be in the soft foundation,
> where the toe of the embankment will heave.
>
> 3) There is another case where the fill materail of
> the embankment is from mudstone origin. Actually the
> is a small stream (wet weathered stream) flowing
> underneath the embankment. I think the embankment
> should fail with time as the fine particles at the
> embankment toe are washed with the stream flow. Any
> comments on that?
>
> I wish someone could comment on the above posted
> issues.
> I had to post again as the first time I forget to put
> in the Subject.
> TQ.
>
>
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