Angled Sampling Tube for Undisturbed Soil Consolidation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for preparing soil samples for indoor tests cause significant disturbance and make it difficult to cut and separate samples from bulk soil samples, leading to poor sampling quality.
Innovation Solution
An indoor soil sample preparation instrument featuring a consolidation box with a water filter layer and a sampling tube at an angle, integrated with arc-shaped vertical plates and a soil pressure detection apparatus, which minimizes disturbance and facilitates easy sampling by allowing direct insertion and real-time consolidation monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an existing sampler is pressed into bulk soil samples, then soil samples can be obtained, but disturbance to consolidated soil samples is large and cutting and separation from surrounding soil body are difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling tube is pre-installed in the consolidation box at an angle before consolidation, allowing the sampling hole to be formed in advance. This preliminary positioning enables the tube to reach the required depth without requiring post-consolidation insertion, thereby avoiding disturbance to the consolidated soil structure while maintaining easy accessibility for sampling.
Solution Approach 2:
The sampling tube is positioned at an angle relative to the vertical direction, forming a diagonal sampling path through the soil profile. This angular arrangement allows the tube to access deep soil layers more effectively while maintaining a smaller cross-sectional footprint, reducing disturbance to the surrounding consolidated soil body during insertion and sampling operations.
2Productivity
If a sampler is inserted into consolidated soil samples, then samples can be collected, but the consolidated soil structure is disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling tube is installed before consolidation begins, establishing the sampling path in advance. This allows the consolidation process to complete fully without interruption, preserving the integrity of the consolidated soil structure. The tube remains in place throughout consolidation and is only removed after sampling is complete, avoiding any disturbance to the stabilized soil composition.
Solution Approach 2:
The sampling tube serves as an intermediary element that is installed in the consolidation box before consolidation. It acts as a pre-positioned conduit that allows sample collection without requiring insertion into the consolidated soil mass. The tube's presence during consolidation does not disturb the soil structure because it is already in place, and it facilitates efficient sample collection when needed.
3Productivity
If bulk soil samples are prepared, then soil tests can be conducted, but cutting and separation from surrounding soil body are difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling tube divides the bulk soil sample into a discrete, removable sample segment. The tube acts as a mold that defines the boundaries of the extracted sample, allowing clean separation from the surrounding soil body. This segmentation enables the sample to be easily removed intact without requiring complex cutting operations, while still providing sufficient material for comprehensive soil tests.
Solution Approach 2:
The sampling tube is positioned and secured in the consolidation box before consolidation begins. This pre-positioning creates a pre-defined sampling zone that is isolated from the surrounding soil body throughout the consolidation process. After consolidation, the tube can be easily removed with the sample attached, providing clean separation without requiring cutting operations, thus improving both preparation efficiency and ease of separation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces sample disturbance, improves sampling quality, and simplifies the separation process, enabling accurate and efficient preparation of soil samples for indoor tests.
Implementation Method 1
a water filter layer being laid on a bottom of the consolidation box
Implementation Method 2
an end of the sampling tube being connected to the water filter layer, a certain angle being formed between the sampling tube and the water filter layer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Disclosed in the present invention is an indoor soil sample preparation instrument. The indoor soil sample preparation instrument includes: a consolidation box, with a water filter layer being laid on a bottom thereof, and with a drain provided in the bottom of the consolidation box; and a sampling tube, having a tubular structure, the sampling tube being disposed in the consolidation box, an end of the sampling tube being connected to the water filter layer, a certain angle being formed between the sampling tube and the water filter layer. In such an arrangement, the sampling tube is installed in the consolidation box of the present invention. Compared with pressing of an existing sampler into a bulk soil sample, a conventional process of pressing a sampling tube into soft clay is not required in the present invention, and sample preparation and sampling are integrated, so that disturbance to soil samples can be avoided, thereby improving sampling quality, and cutting and separation from surrounding soil body are easier.