A system configured to determine a property of a paving-related material is provided. The system includes a measuring device configured for measuring a property of a paving-related material and a cellular computer device configured for being in communication with and receiving data from the measuring device.

A method of designing an underground excavation may involve the steps of: Developing a plurality of input parameters for the underground excavation; performing a first design iteration to determine an initial ground support system design; evaluating a kinematic stability of the initial ground support system design; determining whether the kinematic stability meets a predetermined factor of safety; and reiterating the initial ground support system design until the kinematic stability meets the predetermined factor of safety.

A test device has been invented for determining three-dimensional consolidation properties of soils, using a flexible ring permitting displacements and dissipation of the excess pore pressures in both horizontal and vertical directions, and affording determination of coefficients of consolidation in the horizontal and vertical directions, and the modulus of elasticity. The flexible ring consists of a filter fabric around the soil specimen, a rubber membrane around the filter, circular shaped segmented stainless steel plates around the membrane and rubber bands around the plates. Both the incremental loading or triaxial type loading systems can be used with this device. A calibration device for calibration of the flexible ring is used to determine the modulus of elasticity of elastic elements, required for calculating lateral resistance provided by the flexible ring during the test.

A test device has been invented for determining three-dimensional consolidation properties of soils, using a flexible ring permitting displacements and dissipation of the excess pore pressures in both horizontal and vertical directions, and affording determination of coefficients of consolidation in the horizontal and vertical directions, and the modulus of elasticity. The flexible ring consists of a filter fabric around the soil specimen, a rubber membrane around the filter, circular shaped segmented metal plates around the membrane and rubber bands or rings around the plates. Both the incremental loading or triaxial type loading systems can be used with this device. A calibration device for calibration of the flexible ring is used to determine the modulus of elasticity of elastic elements, required for calculating lateral resistance provided by the flexible ring during the test.