Red Rock Consulting

Red Rock Consulting, an Oklahoma geotechnical engineering firm

Dilatometer Arrives

Oct 6

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Attaching Drill Rod to the Dilatometer

Attaching Drill Rod to the Dilatometer

Adam Bench with GP&E out of Gainsville, Florida, delivered the new dilatometer equipment to our project site in Walters, Oklahoma on October 5, 2010.  Adam stuck around to introduce us to the equipment setup, measurement procedures and analysis software.  After a rough start (who knew moisture could get into a nitrogen tank?!), the project went relatively smoothly.  After a hard day at work, Adam was treated to an outing in Lawton, Oklahoma with DSO and RRC. 

  
Brad Bettes (DSO), Todd SImpson (DSO), Kristi Bumpas (RRC) and Adam Bench (GP&E) in Lawton, Oklahoma

Brad Bettes (DSO), Todd SImpson (DSO), Kristi Bumpas (RRC) and Adam Bench (GP&E)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Marchetti flat dilatometer test (DMT) providesa a rational, inexpensive method to determine the engineering parameters for the design of earthworks and structural foundations.  The test is performed insitu by pushing into the soil a blade-shaped probe that has an expandable membrane on one side.  Stopping at depth intervals as close as 6 inches, the operator performs the DMT by expanding this membrane.  From the data the engineer can obtain a stratigraphic profile of commonly used soil engineering properties for analysis.  These include soil type, shear strength, deformation modulus, preconsolidation stress, insitu horizontal stress, insitu porewater pressure and the  rate of consolidation in soils ranging from coarse sands to clays.  (Federal Highway Administration “Guidelines for Using the CPT, CPTU and Marchetti DMT for Geotechnical Design”, FHWA-PA-87-024+84-24 Volume III, US Department of Transportation, Washington, DC, 1988)

 

Dilatometer Gauges

Dilatometer Gauges

 

 

BRIDGE Certified

Jul 2

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In June, 2010 Red Rock Consulting was certified as a Building Resources In Developing & Growing Enterprises (BRIDGE) business by the City of Tulsa. 

The City of Tulsa’s BRIDGE program is much like ODOT’s DBE program, where larger firms are encouraged to use firms owned by minorities and women.  ODOT and the City of Tulsa frequently specify a percentage of a project must utilize DBE/BRIDGE certified companies when possible.

Livin’ on Tulsa Time…

Jun 29

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A recent project site in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

A recent project site in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Red Rock Consulting and DSO recently completed two projects in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  One was a commercial development and the other was a municipal pavement project.

Our team travels all over Oklahoma and north Texas to provide geotechnical engineering services.  We have worked from Woodward, Oklahoma to Marshall, Texas and many places in between.

 

Kristi Bumpas (RRC) and Todd Simpson (DSO) at a project site in Tulsa, June 2010

Kristi Bumpas (RRC) and Todd Simpson (DSO) at a project site in Tulsa, June 2010

Thank You, Veterans

May 31

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Memorial Day
Memorial Day

Red Rock Consulting would like to thank all veterans for their selfless contributions to our country and our freedom.  Happy Memorial Day!

Updated Resumes

May 24

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Hey all! Please check out the “About” section of this website. I just updated my resumes and put them up. Let me know if you need a resume for another project type. Happy Monday!

Pedological Project

May 11

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Dr. Jim Nevels takes samples for a pedological project.

Dr. Jim Nevels takes samples for a pedological project.

 
I recently spent a day with Dr. Jim Nevels.  Jim taught me how to correctly identify soil series in the field and the “backsloping” sampling technique.  Both of these are important when conducting a pedological soil survey.
 
For a pedological survey, the proposed alignment of a roadway is plotted on county soil survey maps to determine which soil series are intersected.  Then the soil series are located and sampled in the field.  The soil series can be found along the alignment or a short distance away.  Sometimes the soil series is exposed, as with a creek bed (see picture, left) and can be sampled using the “backsloping” technique.  The samples are tested for soil classification, pH, resistivity, sulfates (as appropriate) and resilient modulus. 
 
ODOT geotechnical specifications state that pedological surveys are required for new highway alignments, new parallel construction of grade (embankment and/or cut) adjacent to existing highway alignments and the raising of grade on and above existing highway alignments.
 
This pedological survey was for Interstate 40 in Del City, Oklahoma.

Valley Hope

May 11

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Brad Bettes (DSO) at Valley Hope in Cushing, OK

Brad Bettes (DSO) takes a break from drilling at Valley Hope in Cushing, OK

 
Red Rock Consulting and DSO drilled a project at Valley Hope in Cushing, Oklahoma in April, 2010.  While Brad was not admitted, he did think the fried chicken dinner sounded tasty.
 
The project included a three story addition to a building that was originally the home of a local oil baron built in the 1920’s.
Valley Hope Treatment Facility

Valley Hope Treatment Facility

Work It

Mar 31

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What recession?!  Red Rock Consulting has been very fortunate to be busy the past 9 months.  And now that we are through the winter and funding has thawed a little, the RFPs and new projects are funneling in.  It is great that our local economy has stayed “above average” and seems to be picking up the pace.  Keep ’em coming!    
Hard at work in Edmond

Hard at work in Edmond

Special Requirements at Vance AFB

Feb 24

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Red Rock Consulting and DSO recently completed a project at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, that had special requirements.  US Army Corps of Engineers required the geotechnical team to core bedrock materials.  The Corps also requested that environmental precautions be taken because the project site was located within the base’s trichloroethylene (TCE) plume.

Rock coring is not a standard procedure in many parts of Oklahoma.  It requires that the rock be drilled using wet rotary methods. 

Wet Rotary Drilling

Wet Rotary Drilling

A five foot long three inch diameter core barrel was used to recover bedrock materials which consisted of siltstone with shale layers.  
Core Barrel

Core Barrel

 

Core Sample

Core Sample

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to coring bedrock, the auger and wet rotary soil cuttings had to be contained in a drum.  Soil samples were then sent to an environmental laboratory to be tested for contamination.  The lab results will determine how the drum of soil will be disposed of.

Placing Suspected Contaminated Soil into Drum

Placing Suspected Contaminated Soil into Drum

Sulfates in Soil, Part IV

Feb 24

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HOW TO PREVENT FAILURE

Known Sulfate Counties

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TexDOT) keep a record of known sulfate counties in their respective states. 

These are counties where sulfates have been verified through laboratory testing and/or sulfate heave has been a problem in the past.  These maps of known sulfate occurrences are helpful for the government agencies and consultants who may have projects in the areas.  If sulfates have been found in or near their project area, sulfate testing and/or preventative measures in design can be taken.

The sulfates counties for Oklahoma and Texas are shown below, courtesy of ODOT and TexDOT (Harris, Sebesta, Scullion, 2004).

 

 Sulfate Counties in Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sulfate Counties

  

            

Sulfate Counties in Texas

Texas Sulfate Counties