PROTOTYPE DRILL FOR CORE SAMPLING FINE-GRAINED PERENNIALLY FROZEN GROUND

An inexpensive drill has been modified to provide researchers with the ability to auger an open hole or to acquire continuous, undisturbed 76-mm-diam core samples of a variety of perennially frozen materials that are suitable for chemical and petrographic analysis. It was developed by field testing in support of research from 1980 to 1983. Operation of the drill is based mainly on using a minimum of power to cut through frozen ground with tungsten carbide cutters on a CRREL coring auger. The ice content, temperature and grain size of the frozen sediments are important variables determining the sampling depth. Perennially frozen sediments with temperatures in the range of -0.5 deg C to -8.5 deg C have been continuously cored with this drill. Drilling and sampling are most efficiently conducted when ambient air temperatures are below freezing and the active layer is frozen. The self-contained light weight drill is readily transportable off-road by helicopter or tracked vehicle, or by towing over roads. It is locally self-mobile by use of a winch. Total cost of the drill and modifications is estimated at approximately $10,000. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

  72 Lyme Road
  Hanover, NH  United States  03755-1290

  U.S. Geological Survey

  F Street Between 18th and 19th Street, NW
  Washington, DC    20244
• Authors:
  • Brockett, B E
  • Lawson
• Publication Date: 1985-1

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: 34 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Augers; Core samples; Cutting tools; Drilling; Fine grained soils; Frozen soils; Sampling
• Old TRIS Terms: Auger borings; Core drilling; Cutters
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00395688
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: CRREL Rpt 85-1
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1985 12:00AM