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The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) hosted the 46th Annual Southeastern Transportation Geotechnical Engineering Conference (STGEC) 19 – 23 October 2015 in Greenville. Among the highlights of the event was a field trip to the Denver Downs Research Facility (DDRF) in Anderson, South Carolina, where attendees saw up-close how geosynthetics, plastic pipe, and erosion and sediment control materials are tested at a large-scale testing facility.
DDRF is part of TRI Environmental.
Approximately 40 joined the tour, which over the course of two hours included live demonstrations of tests and time for discussion.
Tests included:
- ASTM D6459 – Standard Test Method for Determination of Rolled Erosion Control Product (RECP) Performance in Protecting Hillslopes from Rainfall-Induced Erosion
- ASTM D7351 – Standard Test Method for Determination of Sediment Retention Device Effectiveness in Sheet Flow Applications
- ASTM D7208 – Standard Test Method for Determination of Temporary Ditch Check Performance in Protecting Earthen Channels from Stormwater-Induced Erosion
- ASTM D6460 – Standard Test Method for Determination of Rolled Erosion Control Product (RECP) Performance in Protecting Earthen Channels from Stormwater-Induced Erosion
- Floating Skimmer Flow Rate Evaluation
- National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) – Compact Burial Chamber for Evaluation of Long Term Service Life of Plastic Pipe
Jay Sprague, DDRF Laboratory Director, noted that attendee interest and quality were strong.
“It was a great geotechnical discussion,” Sprague said, “of tests and methods that can be use to help cement the validity of tests and procedures we use at Denver Downs Research Facility. I was very pleased with the engagement and discussion provided by those who attended the tour.”
SEE ALSO: Full-Scale Evaluation of Erosion and Sediment Control BMPs
STGEC INFLUENCE
The Southeastern Transportation Geotechnical Engineering Conference brings together agencies from around the region with geosynthetics, geohazards, erosion control, and other geotechnical professionals.
Situating the conference in Greenville, South Carolina was a strong choice. The area has supported a strong engineering community and DDRF, site of the tour, has previously hosted multiple professional development days for the erosion control and sediment control industry. DDRF also has constructed a trafficking study facility, used for investigations into geosynthetic and geotechnical applications for flexible pavement improvement.
These aspects helped make the tour of DDRF a great match for the attendees.
The multi-acre DDRF performs large-scale, outdoor testing of vegetated slopes, channel stability, trafficking, polymeric material weathering, long term service life of plastic pipe, and much more.
The next Southeastern Transportation Geotechnical Engineering Conference will be held 7 – 10 November 2016 in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Learn more about DDRF at www.erosiontest.com.
Learn more about STGEC at www.stgec.org.
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