METHOD OF DIAGNOSING SOIL LOAD BEARING CAPACITY Russian patent published in 2009 - IPC G01N33/24 

FIELD: physics; measurement.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to diagnosis of soil conditions of foundations of engineering systems in unfavourable natural-climatic and geological engineering conditions under the effect of vibro-dynamic, technogenic and other factors, particularly diagnosis of soils of transport engineering systems during their construction and operation in perpetually frozen conditions. The method of diagnosing load bearing capacity of soil involves installing a sensor for measuring temperature of the vapour-liquid phase of soil in the near-foundation zone, measurement of temperature T₁ and T₂ of the vapour-liquid phase before and after applying dynamic load and determination of the difference between measured parametres δT=T₂-T₁ from which the load bearing capacity of the soil is determined. Also in the same zone of the foundation, a sensor is installed for measuring relative electrical conductivity of the soil. Relative electrical conductivity of soil σ₁ and σ₂ is measured before and after applying dynamic load. The difference between the measured parametres δσ=σ₂-σ₁, is determined, and the soil load bearing capacity is determined from the values of δT and δσ: if δσ≤|0.2|% and δT≤|0.02|°C the soil is stable, and if δσ>|0.2|% and δT>|0.02|°C the soil is unstable.

EFFECT: more reliable assessment of the state of soil in perpetually frozen conditions by measuring thermodynamic parametres of the soil, which best reflect reaction of the soil to the effect of vibro-dynamic load.

4 cl, 4 ex, 4 dwg