Michaela Varnier, EI, Project Specialist with Red Rock Consulting, recently discovered the joys of drilling within a suspected TCE plume at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma.
Michaela at Vance AFB in Enid, OK
Darth Varnier
Nov 6
Michaela's First Day on the Rig
Michaela Varnier, EI joined the Red Rock Consulting team as a Project Specialist in October of 2010. She is a graduate of Oklahoma University with both a Bachelors and a Masters of Science in Civil Engineering. Her Masters thesis research concentrated on colorimeter testing of sulfate rich soils.
Since joing RRC, Michaela has been busy learning about drilling rigs and field testing, including dilatometer testing. In the office, Michaela is learning about different aspects of project management, data analysis and report writing. Michaela has already established herself as a valuable asset.
Welcome, Michaela! Keep up the GREAT work!
Michaela on a project site in McAlester, OK
Dilatometer Arrives
Oct 6
Attaching Drill Rod to the Dilatometer
Adam Bench with GP&E out of Gainsville, Florida, delivered the new dilatometer equipment to our project site in Walters, Oklahoma on October 5, 2010. Adam stuck around to introduce us to the equipment setup, measurement procedures and analysis software. After a rough start (who knew moisture could get into a nitrogen tank?!), the project went relatively smoothly. After a hard day at work, Adam was treated to an outing in Lawton, Oklahoma with DSO and RRC.
Brad Bettes (DSO), Todd SImpson (DSO), Kristi Bumpas (RRC) and Adam Bench (GP&E)
The Marchetti flat dilatometer test (DMT) providesa a rational, inexpensive method to determine the engineering parameters for the design of earthworks and structural foundations. The test is performed insitu by pushing into the soil a blade-shaped probe that has an expandable membrane on one side. Stopping at depth intervals as close as 6 inches, the operator performs the DMT by expanding this membrane. From the data the engineer can obtain a stratigraphic profile of commonly used soil engineering properties for analysis. These include soil type, shear strength, deformation modulus, preconsolidation stress, insitu horizontal stress, insitu porewater pressure and the rate of consolidation in soils ranging from coarse sands to clays. (Federal Highway Administration ”Guidelines for Using the CPT, CPTU and Marchetti DMT for Geotechnical Design”, FHWA-PA-87-024+84-24 Volume III, US Department of Transportation, Washington, DC, 1988)
Dilatometer Gauges
BRIDGE Certified
Jul 2
In June, 2010 Red Rock Consulting was certified as a Building Resources In Developing & Growing Enterprises (BRIDGE) business by the City of Tulsa.
The City of Tulsa’s BRIDGE program is much like ODOT’s DBE program, where larger firms are encouraged to use firms owned by minorities and women. ODOT and the City of Tulsa frequently specify a percentage of a project must utilize DBE/BRIDGE certified companies when possible.
Livin’ on Tulsa Time…
Jun 29
A recent project site in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Red Rock Consulting and DSO recently completed two projects in Tulsa, Oklahoma. One was a commercial development and the other was a municipal pavement project.
Our team travels all over Oklahoma and north Texas to provide geotechnical engineering services. We have worked from Woodward, Oklahoma to Marshall, Texas and many places in between.
Kristi Bumpas (RRC) and Todd Simpson (DSO) at a project site in Tulsa, June 2010
Thank You, Veterans
May 31
- Memorial Day
Red Rock Consulting would like to thank all veterans for their selfless contributions to our country and our freedom. Happy Memorial Day!
Updated Resumes
May 24
Hey all! Please check out the “About” section of this website. I just updated my resumes and put them up. Let me know if you need a resume for another project type. Happy Monday!
Pedological Project
May 11
Dr. Jim Nevels takes samples for a pedological project.
I recently spent a day with Dr. Jim Nevels. Jim taught me how to correctly identify soil series in the field and the “backsloping” sampling technique. Both of these are important when conducting a pedological soil survey.
For a pedological survey, the proposed alignment of a roadway is plotted on county soil survey maps to determine which soil series are intersected. Then the soil series are located and sampled in the field. The soil series can be found along the alignment or a short distance away. Sometimes the soil series is exposed, as with a creek bed (see picture, left) and can be sampled using the “backsloping” technique. The samples are tested for soil classification, pH, resistivity, sulfates (as appropriate) and resilient modulus.
ODOT geotechnical specifications state that pedological surveys are required for new highway alignments, new parallel construction of grade (embankment and/or cut) adjacent to existing highway alignments and the raising of grade on and above existing highway alignments.
This pedological survey was for Interstate 40 in Del City, Oklahoma.
Valley Hope
May 11
Brad Bettes (DSO) takes a break from drilling at Valley Hope in Cushing, OK
Red Rock Consulting and DSO drilled a project at Valley Hope in Cushing, Oklahoma in April, 2010. While Brad was not admitted, he did think the fried chicken dinner sounded tasty.
The project included a three story addition to a building that was originally the home of a local oil baron built in the 1920′s.
Valley Hope Treatment Facility
Work It
Mar 31
What recession?! Red Rock Consulting has been very fortunate to be busy the past 9 months. And now that we are through the winter and funding has thawed a little, the RFPs and new projects are funneling in. It is great that our local economy has stayed “above average” and seems to be picking up the pace. Keep ‘em coming!
Hard at work in Edmond
