Inspecting Small Steam Engines, Gas Engines, Pumps, Etc. Inspecting and Testing Second-hand Steam Engines. Inspecting and Testing Large Steam Engines, Pumps, Etc. A System for Keeping Print Records on the Original Tracing. A Simple System for Recording "Foreign" Print Movements. ENGINEERING OFFICE SYSTEMS AND METHODS CHAPTER I COLLECTION OF PRELIMINARY DATA FOR ENGINEERING PROJECTS INTRODUCTION It is proposed in this chapter to give lists of "reminders," outlines. of methods, etc., incidental to the collection of preliminary data in the field, on which to base engineering designs, estimates, reports, etc. In most cases, on important work at least, an engineer will be sent from the office to obtain the requisite information; on smaller work, however, and where only approximate estimates and reports are required, the information may be gathered and submitted by local men, and to the latter, particularly, this chapter is addressed. For the projects as a whole, "reminders" only are given; but in the case of detail operations applying to a variety of investigations, sufficient information has been given to enable the engineer to make his own tests, even though the class of work be somewhat foreign to his own particular experience. SEC. I. QUALITATIVE FOUNDATION TESTING FOUNDATION TESTING AND SUB-SURFACE PROSPECTING: GENERAL OBSERVATIONS The tools and methods used for obtaining information concerning foundation conditions and for sub-surface prospecting are, in most cases, identical, and can well be considered under one heading. While in prospecting it is only required to ascertain the character of the underlying strata, in foundation testing it is also sometimes necessary to determine their bearing value under applied loads. The methods, therefore, may be classified as qualitative and quantitative. It is trite to state that the subject is of the greatest importance, recurring failures of large structures constantly remind us of this, but a point that does not seem to be generally borne in mind is that on smaller work, even, a slight expenditure of time and money in foundation testing will often be many times repaid. Even if the completed structure does not fall or settle it is often possible to save tremendously in the cost of foundations by using a design based on absolute knowledge and one best adapted to the conditions. The following is one instance among many that have come to the personal attention of the writer; any engineer of a few years' experience will be able to recall similar occurrences. |