Re: Piezocone

[JHByrne]

In a message dated 10/30/2002 11:31:20 AM Alaskan Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

The penetrometer with piezocone is a device pushed into the soil to collect
data:


http://www.tecnotest.it/Products/Soil%20Penetrometers/piezocone_description.htm

  This device may or may not be helpful in working out some potential design
issues.  Is real time data as the probe explores beneath
  the ice absolutely necessary?  Or rather, could the information be stored
in the device then later shot back through the ice after
  exploration then transmitted from the surface?

  Leonardo DiFrancesco, M.S., P.E.

I looked up the piezocone.  It is a bronze cone, which is attached to a sort of drill.  The piezocone measures pressure in a hole, as well as the relative density of in-ground obstacles, by an electronic feedback, which is readable on a laptop computer.

It IS an interesting concept, and WOULD be a great thing to attach to the front of an ice submersible.  Trouble is, the website is from an Italian company, and somewhat difficult to follow.  I don't know the price of a piezocone.  I don't know if it is really necessary, to simply cut a hole through ice:  sure, we're likely to run into rocks and gravel, but for Icepick iA, we shouldn't get sidetracked on including all sorts of gadgets on the probe that will only complicate matters.

Leonard, can you make a more complete pitch for the piezocone?

-- John Harlow Byrne