Brief of The static pile load Test

The static pile load test is the most common method for testing the capacity of a pile and it is also considered to be the best measure of foundation suitability to resist anticipated design loads.Procedures for conducting axial compressive load tests on piles are presented in ASTM D 1143 — Standard Test Method for Piles under Axial Compressive Load.  

The pile load test can take a considerable amount of time and effort to properly set-up. Thus only one or two load tests are often recommended for a particular site.

Slump of Hydraulic Cement Concrete

Slump test is one of the process to control quality of water cement ratio in field condition. It conforms ASTM Designation C 143. Now the procedure is discussed below.  

Equipment and Materials

 
Frustum of a cone made of noncorrosive sheet metal, not less than 1.14 mm (0.045 inch) thick, 30.5 cm (12 inches) in height, with a 20.8-cm (8-inch) base, having a diameter at the top of 10.2 cm (4 inches), with foot pieces and handles as shown in Figure 1. There should also be a metal base plate with clamps that engages the foot pieces while the concrete is being poured into the slump cone and tamped with the tamping rod.

• Round steel tamping rod 16 mm (⅝ inch) in diameter, having the tamping end rounded to a hemispherical tip, approximately 60 cm (24 inches) long. Suitable, graduated metal scale approximately 25 cm (1 ft) in length.

How concrete is mixed in concrete mixer

In large and important works machine mixing is preferred. Figure shows a typical concrete mixer. Required quantities if sand and coarse aggregates are placed in the drum of the mixer. 4 to 5 rotations are made for dry mixing and then required quantity of cement is added and dry mixing is made with another 4 to 5 rotations. Water is gradually added and drum is rotated for 2 to 3 minutes during which period it makes about 50 rotations. At this stage uniform and homogeneous mix is obtained.

Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)

Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is adecision making tool to predict the effect of activity/project on the environment,compare various alternatives for a project and identify best combination of economic, environmental and social costs and benefits.

Firstly this study procedure originated in the US in the late 70s and then spread to the developed world. It reached the developing world in the 80s that funding agencies like World Bank/ ADB adopted it in late 80s. Originally focused on environment alone but later on social and economic aspects added to its scope of study.

If erosion occurs somewhere

If erosion occurs somewhere, five main options are available

1 Do nothing
If erosion causes no problems, this is the favourite option.

2 Take away the cause of the problems
This is theoretically always the best thing to do, but since you need to know what the cause is and you have to be able to do something about it, it is not always feasible. A solution that comes close is to build groynes along a coast where the erosion is caused by long-shore transport. If the erosion is caused by cross-shore transport, groynes are useless! 

3 Supply sediment
This may seem a poor solution, since it cures nothing and it may have to go on forever, but it is often a good measure. It is very flexible and fits very well in environment strategies.Whether this is the right option depends mainly on costs and risks, since sediment is usually supplied with intervals of several years. For coasts and rivers this "soft" solution can be an attractive alternative. Further treatment of this option is part of morphological studies.