The Challenge

  • Severe erosion and seepage led to USACE reconstruction from 1999 to 2002
  • Reconstruction included removal of old embankment, reservoir drain construction, and new embankment preparation
  • GTX challenge was to provide an on-site quality assurance of soil compaction testing during the construction of the rolled-earth dam and of the dike embankment

The original Quincy Reservoir Dam (located in Braintree, MA) was built in 1888 to create a water supply reservoir on Town Brook in Quincy, Massachusetts. Severe erosion and seepage prompted a reconstruction of the original dam. To alleviate flooding along Town Brook, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) redesigned and rebuilt the dam. Reconstruction took place from 1999 to 2002, requiring complete removal of the old embankment, construction of a reservoir drain structure, and preparation of the foundation for the new embankment and dike.

The Solution

GeoTesting Express (GTX)’s challenge was to provide the USACE with on-site quality assurance of its soil compaction testing during the construction of the rolled-earth dam and of the dike embankment. GTX also maintained a full-time field presence during placement and compaction of materials used on the project. In addition, GTX provided laboratory testing on soils proposed for use in construction. Tests included were index, permeability, and strength. An example of a strength test conducted on soils containing high amounts of gravel was 6” diameter x 12” high consolidated undrained triaxial shear (ASTM D 4767).

Services Provided

Geotechnical Testing

Index, permeability, and strength tests were performed in the field during construction

Field Personnel Oversight

GTX sent highly qualified field personnel to perform quality assurance oversight of testing

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Value Delivered:

Ability to provide client with timely sample pick up and
test results
In-house Laboratory Information Management System
(LIMS) allowed GTX to handle and track the large number of
samples
Permeability testing maximized the utilization of low-cost
materials from the CA/T projects
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Value Delivered:

Testing over 1,000 samples in house, eliminating
the need for the client to seek multiple labs to handle the
large capacity of samples
Completed over 4,000 tests within the client’s
required schedule

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