SHRINKiT: Automated measurement of shrinkage limit for clay soils

Hobbs, P.R.N.; Jones, L.D.; Roberts, P.D.; Haslam, E.. 2010 SHRINKiT: Automated measurement of shrinkage limit for clay soils. Nottingham, UK, British Geological Survey, 51pp. (IR/10/077)

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Abstract/Summary

This report describes the development at the British Geological Survey (BGS) of a new automated apparatus, titled ‘SHRINKiT’, for measuring the shrinkage limit of a clay soil. This has been developed at the BGS’s geotechnical laboratories, in part with NERC Innovations funding. The new method is intended to replace two British Standards (BS1377) methods which have fallen into disuse at BGS, in common with many other laboratories in the UK, and to some extent worldwide, partly as the result of safety concerns in their required use of large quantities of mercury. During the test the cylindrical specimen is allowed to air-dry and shrink. The apparatus carries out repeat measurements of diameter, height and weight; the dimension-measuring component being in effect a simple laser scanner. Each test takes a few days to complete; the duration depending on specimen size, soil type, initial water content and environmental conditions. The output of the test is a plot of water content vs. volume from which the shrinkage limit of the soil can be calculated using the graphical construction method described in BS1377. The shrinkage limit is defined as the water content below which there is little or no further structural shrinkage of the soil. Additional information may also be obtained from the results. The test may be carried out on a wide variety of soil types in an undisturbed, remoulded or compacted state.

Item Type:	Publication - Report
Programmes:	BGS Programmes 2010 > Land Use, Planning and Development
Funders/Sponsors:	Natural Environment Research Council, British Geological Survey
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	This item has been internally reviewed, but not externally peer-reviewed. Item made open by author in March 2020.
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences Electronics, Engineering and Technology Agriculture and Soil Science
Date made live:	20 Mar 2020 14:01 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/19121

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