Near-Surface Rapid Soil Characterization System

Hydrogeophysics proposes to develop a portable soil characterization tool to obtain the soil parameters of moisture, strength, and classification. Such a system would be the first to (1) automatically classify soils in the field according to the USCS; (2) collect both torsional shear and compressive strength of soils in the same instrument. The objective of the system is to demonstrate that these quantities can be acquired with minimal effort by unspecialized personnel operating in the theater of operations. The system will be comprised of two units, including a drill/impact hammer with a 3-foot auger with an attached cone. The second unit is a detached soil separator for classification. The hammer feature of the main unit will allow an estimation of the compressive strength of the soil; the drilling capability of the system will provide an estimate of shear strength. A feasibility study will be conducted to determine if the volumetric soil moisture or gravimetric soil moisture will be measured. The volumetric soil moisture can be determined with time domain reflectometry. Alternatively a soil decimation/desiccation system could measure the gravimetric soil moisture. The soil classification unit is designed to take the cuttings of the soil through a separator for classification.