Journal Published Online: 07 September 2011
Volume 35, Issue 2

The Pocket Erodometer Test: Development and Preliminary Results

CODEN: GTJODJ

Abstract

Over the last 20 years, several tools have been developed in an effort to quantify the erodibility of a soil; however, they all require a significant amount of time for set up and sample preparation. The pocket erodometer test (PET) is a simple test which can be performed in a few seconds with an inexpensive, compact, and very light instrument. The pocket erodometer is a regulated mini jet impulse generating device. The jet is aimed horizontally at the vertical face of the sample. The depth of the hole in the surface of the sample created by 20 impulses of water is recorded. The hole depth is compared to an erosion chart to determine the erodibility category of the soil. This erosion category allows the engineer to make preliminary decisions in erosion related work. This paper describes the development of the pocket erodometer idea and the PET test procedure as well as the erosion chart. PET results are presented for various soils and compared to previous EFA test results. These parallel tests are used to introduce the values in the erosion chart and easily obtain the erosion category for the soil. The advantages and disadvantages of this very simple tool and its place as a preliminary erosion estimator are also discussed.

Author Information

Briaud, J.-L.
Zachry Depart. Of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX, US
Bernhardt, M.
Zachry Depart. Of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX, US
Leclair, M.
Zachry Depart. Of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX, US
Pages: 11
Price: $25.00
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Details
Stock #: GTJ102889
ISSN: 0149-6115
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ102889