An ultrasonic penetrometer may include an enclosure, an ultrasonic sensor, and a rod. The enclosure may include a channel having a first end and a second end. The ultrasonic sensor may be provided at the first end of the channel and may be configured to generate an ultrasound signal through the second end of the channel. An output from the ultrasound sensor may be used to determine a thickness or stiffness of sediment. The rod may have a proximal end facing the ultrasonic sensor and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The rod may be configured to move relative to the enclosure. The distal end may be configured to contact the sediment. The enclosure may be configured to be fluid-tight relative to an exterior of the enclosure such that the generated ultrasound signal travels in a single medium.

Disclosed is a wireless detection device for quickly positioning a throw-fill stone falling depth and long-term settlement in blasting silt-squeezing construction, including a gravity ball and a signal receiving, processing and controlling system. The gravity ball is internally provided with test mechanisms, signal collecting and transmitting apparatuses and batteries. Also disclosed is a wireless detection method implemented using the above wireless detection device. The device and the method can detect the throw-fill stone falling depth and distribution situation in a blasting silt-squeezing construction process in real time, so that the effect evaluation and quality control of blasting silt-squeezing can be monitored in real time, the situation that the falling of throw-fill stones is incomplete can be acquired in time, monitoring data support can be provided for corresponding processing measures, and long-term settlement and other monitoring can be carried out.

The invention relates to an impact compactor (10) and to a method and system of obtaining an indication of the soil strength of soil (100) by using an impact compactor (10). The impact compactor (10) includes a chassis 5 structure (12), at least one wheel (14) supportively mounted on the chassis structure (12), and at least one impact drum (16) which is displaceable relative to the chassis structure (12). The method includes travelling with the impact compactor (10) over a soil surface (100) while the drum (16) is in a raised position in which it is spaced from the soil surface (100) and 10 measuring, by using a measuring arrangement (20) which is connected to or forms part of the impact compactor (10), a rut depth (54) of a rut in the soil surface (100) which is formed by the wheel (14) as the impact compactor (10) travels over the soil surface (100).

Expandable Jacket surrounding a pressuremeter probe prevents barrel shape to form and maintains cylindrical shape with uniform radial displacement throughout its height, removing shortcomings of the existing pressuremeters. For the pressuremeter probe to determine horizontal stress versus plane strain relationship in soils and intermediate geomaterials, an expandable comprises of one layer of circular arch shaped segmented plates surrounded by flexible bands or rings. The expandable jacket surrounds a membrane which itself surrounds a porous tube with holes. Borehole less than the diameter of probe is drilled either by pre-boring or self-boring and then pushing the probe with cutter ring. For the pressuremeter probe to determine horizontal stress versus plane lateral strain relationship for rocks, the expandable jacket comprises of two layers of the circular arch shaped segmented plates surrounded by flexible bands or rings and first layer surrounding a plurality of pistons, and second layer surrounding the first layer.

The present invention concerns a device and method for selectively or simultaneously measuring shear strength and pore water pressure of a soil in the field. The device includes a rod adapted to be at least partially inserted into the soil and rotated. The rod has a soil engaging portion and an opposed coupling portion configured to be coupled to a torque applying machine or device. The device further includes at least one vane blade extending at least partially along and from the soil engaging portion of the rod for shearing the soil when rotated together with the rod. At plurality of pore water pressure sensors are operatively associated with at least one of the soil engaging portion and the at least one vane blade. The sensors are configured to sense pressure indicative of the pore water pressure of the soil while the at least one vane blade shears the soil.

The disclosure relates to the field of ocean engineering technical equipment, and specifically relates to a seabed geotechnical in-situ multi-parameter detection system and method. The system comprises two friction wheels symmetrically arranged in an integral frame, and collimating mechanisms are arranged above and below the butt joint position of the two friction wheels; a winch is fixedly arranged on the bottom surface of the integral frame on the rear side of the friction wheels, and a winch rotating wheel is connected with a servo motor; a flexible probe rod comprises multiple sections of rigid rod pieces connected through armored cables, a static sounding probe is connected with one end of the flexible probe rod, the flexible probe rod is wound on the winch, the end with the static sounding probe sequentially penetrates through a butt joint device and the collimating mechanism and then enters the space between the two friction wheels, and finally the static sounding probe penetrates into a soil body downwards. The system is high in stability.

A method (400) and a control unit (210) for ground bearing capacity analysis. The method (400) steps include determining (401) a shape of the terrain segment (130) ahead of a vehicle (100), based on sensor measurements; predicting (402) a distance between a sensor (120) of the vehicle (100) and the ground (110) at the terrain segment (130), before the vehicle (100) moves into the terrain segment (130); measuring (403) the distance between the sensor (120) of the vehicle (100) and the ground (110) when the vehicle (100) has moved into the terrain segment (130); and determining (404) that the terrain segment (130) is to be avoided due to insufficient bearing capacity when the predicted (402) distance between the sensor (120) and the ground (110) exceeds the measured (403) distance between the sensor (120) and the ground (110). Also, a method (600) and control unit (210) for route planning of the vehicle (100) are described.

Methods for strengthening soils under bases and foundations of buildings and structures with compaction of the base composed of weak mineral soils by determining the optimal design process parameters of the ground piles over the entire area of the base. The essence of the invention is that the method of compaction of bases composed of weak mineral soils that includes formation of a well, filling each well with the compacting material, and creation of a compacting effect on the compacting material by the hollow tubular working tool to form a ground pile. Preliminary engineering and geological surveys of the base area is performed to determine the values of the modulus of deformation, the Poisson's ratio, the internal friction angle, the specific cohesion, the specific gravity, and the initial void ratio of the weak mineral soil.

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for monitoring a structural foundation in a ground for a structure, wherein ground parameters are determined for the ground, based on the determined ground parameters a preliminary ground model is calculated by means of a computer unit, on which a design of the structural foundation is laid out taking into consideration specification data of the structure to be erected, during and/or after the production of the structural foundation measured values relating to settlements, distortions and/or forces on the structural foundation or the structure are recorded by means of measuring means, the measured values are forwarded to the computer unit which checks if the measured values are consistent with the preliminary ground model, and if the measured values are not consistent with the preliminary ground model, a subsequent ground model, in which the measured values are consistent with the new ground model, is calculated by the computer unit.

A probe for penetrating and measuring electrical properties of a soil comprises a probe tip connected, via a coaxial cable, to electrical circuitry. The probe tip is convex and includes first and second electrodes with an electrode insulator therebetween. The first electrode is tubular and includes an interior surface defining a central opening extending through the first electrode. The second electrode includes a convex section extending away from the first electrode, and the convex section is configured for insertion into soil. The one end of the coaxial cable is disposed within the central opening of the first electrode, and the inner conductive core of one end of the coaxial cable connected to the second electrode, and the conductive shield of the one end of the coaxial cable connected to the first electrode.