smadi66, Author at GEOTILL provides geotechnical, construction testing and Environmental services Indianapolis Indiana

St. Louis Area Flood Plains and Levees

As water rushed toward St. Louis in May 2015, attention is on geotechnical runaway development that has occurred since the floods of 1993. ST. LOUIS, — Miles and miles of bigger and stronger levees have been built along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers since the deadly floods of 1993, and millions of dollars have been spent on drainage improvements. Building is happening on flood plains across Missouri, but most of the development is in the St. Louis area, and it is estimated to be worth more than $2.2 billion. Though scientists warn about the danger of such building, the Missouri government has subsidized some of it through tax financing for builders. The existing alignment of the Missouri River levee and embankment system is recognized to have breach/foundation distress from underseepage and boil activity concerns as a result of hydrologic conditions and flow constrictions. The repetitive cycle of repairing levees in place after each major flood event has resulted in increased O&M and RR&R costs, increased flood risk, and a general concern over the effective level of protection. Levee repairs in place do not reduce flood risk. Additionally, the current alignment of federal levees has acted to disconnect the river from its historic floodplain causing environmental degradation and impaired habitat for fish and wildlife. It several locations, bridges (rail and highway) and abutments, have encroached into the river’s conveyance area, increasing stages on the upstream side and increasing velocities on the downstream side, which also influence the performance of the levees.

By smadi66|November 25th, 2015|Saint Joseph, Saint Peters, Blue Springs, Chesterfield, Geotechnical Missouri, Jefferson City, St. Louis, Rolla, Kansas City, Liberty, Springfield, Independence, Columbia, Lee’s Summit|0 Comments

St. Louis Missouri Local News Releases

Current News 2015 - November 2015 - October 2015 - September 2015 - August 2015 - July 2015 - June 2015 - May 2015 - April 2015 - March 2015 - February 2015 - January 2014 - December 2014 - November 2014 - October Provide Geotechnical drilling in Missouri and St. Louis area

By smadi66|November 25th, 2015|Jefferson City, St. Louis, Rolla, Kansas City, Liberty, Springfield, Independence, Columbia, Lee’s Summit, Saint Joseph, Saint Peters, Blue Springs, Chesterfield|0 Comments

Percolation test

Testing method A percolation test consists of digging one or more holes in the soil of the proposed leach field to a specified depth, presoaking the holes by maintaining a high water level in the holes, then running the test by filling the holes to a specific level and timing the drop of the water level as the water percolates into the surrounding soil. There are various empirical formulae for determining the required size of a leach field based on the size of facility, the percolation test results, and other parameters. For leach line testing, a minimum of three test holes are drilled, most commonly six to eight inches in diameter. Ideally, these should be drilled to different depths from three to six feet below the surface. For better, more conclusive results, five drill holes are used in a pattern of one hole at each corner of the proposed leach field and one test hole in the center. Testing of these holes will result in a value with units of minutes per inch. This value is then correlated to a predetermined county health code to establish the exact size of the leach field. Testing for horizontal pits typically requires five to eight test holes drilled in a straight line, or along a common contour, from three to ten feet below the surface. Testing is identical to leach line testing, though the end result is a different type of septic system, established through a different calculation. Vertical seepage pits are slightly different in testing methods due to their large size, but the basic testing method is essentially the same. A hole, typically three to four feet in diameter is drilled to a depth of twenty or thirty feet (depending on the local groundwater table), and a fire hose is used to [...]

Contractor refuses to refund INDOT for crumbling asphalt | Construction Dive

Indiana highway contractor Brooks Construction said the transportation department's specifications are to blame for the state's asphalt problems. Indiana highway contractor Brooks Construction said it will not comply with the Indiana Department of Transportation’s (INDOT) ultimatum that the company either refund $5.15 million or re-install three miles of crumbling asphalt, according to a statement released by John Brooks, executive vice president of Brooks Construction. Brooks said INDOT conducted 72 successful tests on the asphalt mix in question during the course of the project, paid his company in full for their work, and even paid bonuses of $18,000 for "an asphalt mix that exceeded requirements." INDOT is currently testing asphalt samples from 188 recent road projects across the state, and up to $71 million worth of pavement may be defective and could deteriorate ahead of schedule due to flaws in the asphalt mix. Brooks Construction is the first contractor to be held responsible since INDOT begain its investigation into the faulty asphalt on state roads, and INDOT has not yet released any other results that implicate other highway contractors. INDOT maintains that the fault lies in the asphalt mix that contractors have been using, but critics of INDOT blame the road problems on the recycled asphalt INDOT incorporated into its specifications in 2010. In response to Brooks' refusal to comply with INDOT’s demand, an INDOT spokesman told WRTV that the department would seek to resolve the issue through Brooks' insurance company. "As a family-owned business building projects in Indiana for more than 100 years, we are committed to working with INDOT to resolve the state's widespread pavement issues,” Brooks said in his statement. “We will not, however, accept legal responsibility for an industry problem caused by INDOT's specifications and quality assurance program.” Source: Contractor refuses to refund INDOT for crumbling asphalt | Construction Dive

By smadi66|November 22nd, 2015|Construction Inspection indianapolis, Construction Inspection Indiana, Fort Wayne|0 Comments

Geotechnical Experts on site Today Developing a Plan at Wildcat Creek Bridge

August 8, 2015 Geotechnical Experts on site Today Developing a Plan at Wildcat Creek Bridge TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. – Geotechnical experts observed conditions at the I-65 northbound bridge over Wildcat Creek today and are working to test and analyze the soils and develop a detailed plan to address and prevent further pier settlement. INDOT Commissioner Brandye Hendrickson briefed Governor Mike Pence by phone today and he is monitoring the situation. What happened Structural engineers monitoring the I-65 northbound bridge over the Wildcat Creek noticed movement in the riverbank pier and ordered the bridge closed Friday afternoon. An estimated reopening date for the bridge will not be known until soils testing and analysis is completed. INDOT will work to provide updates as new information is available. Detour I-65 northbound merges to one lane and is diverted onto U.S. 52 at Exit 141 north of Lebanon. Follow U.S. 52 north for nearly 17 miles, then turn left at State Road 28. Follow S.R. 28 west for about 10 miles, then turn right onto U.S. 231. Follow U.S. 231 north for about 33 miles until it intersects I-65 again in White County. INDOT thanks the motoring public for their patience while engineers and other experts work to safely reopen the bridge. INDOT is installing temporary traffic signals at the S.R. 28 intersections with U.S. 52 and U.S. 231. Until those are completed late on Sunday, INDOT and law enforcement staff are helping to direct traffic. INDOT engineers are monitoring traffic flow on U.S. 231 signals and adjusting timing patterns. INDOT has asked contractors to suspend work where the official detour rejoins I-65 in White County. Message alerting travelers of the closure are posted on dynamic message signs as far south as the Louisville metro area. INDOT is working to identify and clear alternate routes [...]

Geotechnical Engineering | Civil and Environmental Engineering at Illinois

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BmZumw2Odo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfhrUYJHRjc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXRv7aSNUtI Geotechnical Engineering The Geotechnical Engineering program within CEE at Illinois has educated generations of experts in the use of natural material such as soil and rock in combination with engineered material such as concrete, steel and geosynthetics, in the design of dams, tunnels, on-shore and off-shore reclamation for airports, landfills, deep excavations, and foundations for structures of all kinds. Alumni of CEE's Geotechnical Engineering program have made significant contributions to major projects like subway systems in the nation’s largest cities, the Hoover Dam and the World Trade Center. Today, geotechnical engineering faculty members have expertise in earthquake engineering, soil mechanics behavior, foundation engineering, rock mechanics and tunneling, and advanced numerical modeling techniques. Research interests of the Geotechnical Engineering faculty include: Deep excavations Earthquake engineering Numerical modeling Static and dynamic Soil-structure interaction. Engineering properties, construction problems, and ground modification technology in soft clays and silts, stiff clays and soft rocks, and granular materials Soil-structure interaction Reliability-based design Mechanically stabilized earth and earth support systems Ground improvement methods and their effect on structures Soil liquefaction during earthquakes The static and seismic stability of natural and excavated slopes Source: Geotechnical Engineering | Civil and Environmental Engineering at Illinois Geotechnical Engineering Illinois

By smadi66|October 19th, 2015|Decatur, Orland Park, Tunneling, Des Plaines, Palatine, Geotechnical Illinois, Elgin, Peoria, Chicago, Evanston, Rockford, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Aurora, Joliet, Skokie, Berwyn, Mount Prospect, Springfield, Bloomington, Naperville, Tinley Park, Bolingbrook, Normal, Waukegan, Champaign, Oak Lawn, Wheaton, Cicero, Oak Park, Pile Foundation, Woodridge|0 Comments

California highway landslide leaves vehicles buried – video

Aerial footage shows work crews clearing mud and debris following flash floods that left nearly 200 vehicles stuck in up to 5ft (1.5 metres) of mud. The Leona Valley, about 20 miles north of Los Angeles, saw extensive downpours on Thursday, with 3.58 inches (9 cm) of rainfall during a 30 minute period. Elsewhere in southern California, several roads were washed out and there were reports of motorists having to be rescued from torrential flooding

By smadi66|October 19th, 2015|Greenfield, Bloomington, Mishawaka, Terre Haute, Greenwood, Calumet, Shelbyville, Vincennes, Highland, Columbus, Portage, Hammond, Landslides, La Porte, Evansville, Louisville, Gary, Geotechnical Engineer Indiana, Lebanon, Fort Wayne, Geotechnical Kentucky, Carmel, Geotechnical Engineer Indianapolis, New Albany, Kokomo, Geotechnical Tennessee, Fishers, Geotechnical Indiana, Noblesville, Lafayette, Geotechnical Ohio, Brownsburg, Soil Testing, Plainfield, Michigan City, Geotechnical Illinois, Crawfordsville, Drilling, Seymour, Muncie, Geotechnical Michigan, Elkhart, Indianapolis, Westfield, Richmond, Geotechnical Missouri, Goshen, Anderson, West Lafayette, South Bend|Comments Off

Interstate 10 in California closed east of Coachella after bridge collapse

A 30-foot section of a bridge on the 10 Freeway in Desert Center east of Coachella co A 30-foot section of a bridge on the 10 Freeway in Desert Center east of Coachella collapsed Sunday, closing Interstate 10 indefinitely. The 10 Freeway was shut down from Desert Center to the Arizona state line as a result of the bridge collapse and heavy flooding, authorities said. llapsed Sunday, closing Interstate 10 indefinitely.Source: Interstate 10 closed east of Coachella after bridge collapse

By smadi66|July 22nd, 2015|Pile Foundation, Geotechnical Indiana, Construction Inspection Indiana, Geotechnical Kentucky, Geotechnical Tennessee, Geotechnical Ohio, Geotechnical Illinois|0 Comments

Construction of Wind Farm Project in Indiana

Pattern Development Completes Financing and Starts Construction of Amazon Wind Farm Project in Indiana 150 MW wind project to use American-made turbines and create more than 300 jobs; Power to be acquired by Amazon SAN FRANCISCO , May 4, 2015 /CNW/ -- Construction is ramping up at the Amazon Wind Farm (Fowler Ridge) project. Pattern Energy Group LP ("Pattern Development") today announced the closing of financing on the 150 megawatt (MW) Amazon Wind Farm (Fowler Ridge) project located in Benton County, Indiana . The project has entered into a 13-year power purchase agreement with Amazon to supply electricity to the electric grids that service Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) datacenters. View gallery . "The Amazon Wind Farm project has successfully closed financing and is moving ahead on schedule," said Mike Garland , President and CEO of Pattern Development. "We look forward to helping Amazon power its customers' businesses with domestic clean energy harnessed from the winds of Indiana . We are now working with Amazon, Google and Walmart, demonstrating that America's leading corporations are increasingly investing in, or buying power from, non-polluting energy sources like wind power. We see this growing trend driving the development of more new projects." The Amazon Wind Farm (Fowler Ridge) project will utilize 65 Siemens 2.3 MW turbines with 'Made in America' components. The turbine blades are being manufactured at the Siemens factory in Ft. Madison, Iowa and the nacelles are being assembled at the Siemens facility in Hutchinson, Kansas . The turbine towers will be sourced from Michigan and Wisconsin . Transformers for the project will be manufactured at the Siemens facility in Richland, Mississippi . "Siemens is proud that our 'Made in America' wind components will be used at the Amazon Wind Farm. Wind power is an increasingly important part of our nation's energy [...]

Discovery hinders Indianapolis transit center construction

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Work has halted on part of a new downtown Indianapolis transit center after workers discovered an old building foundation several feet below ground. IndyGo spokesman Bryan Luellen says the foundation might date as far back as the late 1800s. He says workers also found objects including pieces of glass, flatware and chunks of vases that were left behind when the building was demolished. Construction has stopped on the part of the site where the foundation lies. Luellen tells The Indianapolis Star (http://indy.st/1cDdYSP ) that the transportation agency has hired architects to determine whether the foundation is historically important. The $20 million transit center could still open partially finished and on time later this year.

By smadi66|May 15th, 2015|Greenfield, Geotechnical Indiana, Greenwood, Construction Inspection indianapolis, Noblesville, Construction Inspection Indiana, Plainfield, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Kokomo, Lafayette, Carmel, Fishers, Crawfordsville, Geotechnical Engineer Indianapolis|0 Comments

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