Sediment compaction and change of penetrability at depth of alluvial sediment in parts of the Land Lab, California State University San Bernardino

SMSU Event Center BC

A penetrability study of disturbed and undisturbed alluvial sediment which counts the strikes of a drop hammer required to drive rebar into the ground in 2 inches intervals up to 8 inches. Sediment samples were also collected in 2-inch intervals from a pit and were treated with hydrochloric acid to determine calcium carbonate content. Results suggest that penetrability of the sediment decreases at depth and samples with lower amounts of calcium carbonate are more penetrable than samples with higher amounts. Penetrability is also connected to rainfall which could be dissolving calcium carbonate that can create caliche and increase penetrability once the sediment dries.