_7 Ait-Operated Mechanica! Vibrator _> Core Pipe Fig. 1.46 Vibvacore aril for underwater sampling. (Courtesy of Alpine Geophysical Associates, nc.) Among the rigs that are placed on the ocean floor to obtain samples is the Vibracore (Fig. 1.46), The principal elements of this rg are an H-beam tower supported by four legs with foot pads; an air-operated mechanical vibrator; a 40-inch id. by 4S.inch od, core pipe containing a 4- or liner; and a portable penetrometer." The compressed air supplied at 100 to 125 psi by a shipboard ‘compressor having a minimum capacity of 300 ft?/min. The air is supplied to the vibrator via a 1J-inch hose and vented to the atmosphere by two similar hoses. In operation, the Vibracore is lowered to the ocean or river bottom by means of a crane or davits. Once the rigs in position, air is fed to the vibrator and the core pipe is driven for a length of 20 or 40 feet, depending on the size of the rig being used. During the sampling, the penetrometer on the rig measures the rate and amount of penetration and transmits this information via a signal cable to an onboard strip-chart recorder. Upon completion of the sampling operation, the entie rg is lifted to the deck of the barge for extraction of the plastic liner. ‘The ig is designed to sample sediments that cannot be penetrated by the more commonly used sampling devices. The time required for a complete cycle of lowering, sampling, iting, and sample extraction depends on the material sampled. The depth to which the unit may be used is limited by the length of the compressor lines, the size of the compressor, and the penetrability of the soil 1.17 PRESERVATION, SHIPMENT, AND STORAGE OF SAMPLES. 147.1 Sealing Samples, both disturbed and undisturbed, must be carefully sealed and packed prior to shipment to the laboratory. Sealing ‘Subsurtace Explorations and Sampling 61 is best accomplished with a microcrystalline wax such as Socony ‘Vacuum's Mobil Wax No, 2300 or 2308, Gulf Oil Corporation's Petrowax A, Humble Oil Company's Microvan No. 1650 or Standard Oil Company's Eskar $0, The US. Army Corps of Engineers has found that a mixture of $0 percent microcrystalline wax and 50 percent paraffin is also satisfactory. The use of paraffin alone should be avoided because it becomes brittle and. cracks easily, thereby breaking the seal. It is best to apply the wax at a temperature just above the congealing point. This is particularly true when sealing undisturbed samples, since the wax, which comes into direct contact with the sample, will harden on contact and thus will not penetrate the sample. 1.17.2. Preservation Jar Samples Small-volume disturbed but representative ‘samples, such as those obtained from drive samplers and those cextracted from the top and bottom of undisturbed samples, should be placed in large-necked, round, screw-top, air-tight glass jars. These jars are commercially available in various sizes, ‘The size used should be such that the sample wil fill the jar as nearly as possible. This will prevent loss of moisture from the sample through evaporation and subsequent condensation ‘on the walls of the jar. Samples should be placed in the jars as soon as they are retrieved and the jars should immediately be. capped and sealed to preserve the original moisture content as closely as possible. Sealing is accomplished by dipping the cap and threads into wax. ‘The jars used for preserving the samples are commonly supplied in cardboard boxes with corrugated cardboard inserts to separate one jar from another. I the laboratory is nearby or ifthe samples are to be transported in a car, itis normally satisfactory to pack the jars in these boxes. However, if the jars are to be shipped by a commercial carrier, it ig necessary to pack them in wooden boxes with partitions to insure against breakage. In addition, cushioning material such as vermiculite styrofoam, or excelsior is sometimes used in the individual jar ‘compartments. ‘Tube Samples Undisturbed samples are generally preserved in the sample liners or sample tubes in which they were retrieved. ‘A second method commonly used for cohesive soils is to preserve them in cardboard or metal containers. When the Samples are preserved in the liner, the procedure is as follows. Approximately 1 inch of material is removed from the top and bottom of the sample and preserved as jar samples, The ends ‘of the sample tube o liner are then filled to the top with wax added in increments to prevent the formation of voids. If the sample is short compared to the length of the tube in which it was recovered, the following procedure may be used. A 2-inch thick seal of wax is placed directly against the sample. A block ‘of wood or similar filler is then used to fill as much of the remaining void as possible. Wax is then poured around and ‘over the top of the biock until the void is completely file. Sealing of the tube is completed by capping both ends with tight-fitting plastic, copper, or galvanized steel caps bound on with friction tape and then dipping the eaps and tape in wax. ‘When the samples are to be preserved in cardboard or metal tubes, the tubes should have an inside diameter approximately 1 inch greater than the sample diameter and a length about 2 inches greater than that of the sample. The tubes commonly used are of multi-ply wax-coated cardboard. They may be ‘open-ended or may be similar to the cans with metal bottoms that are used to form concrete test cylinders. In either case, the sample must be completely enclosed in wax. If open-end tubes are used, the specimen is placed on a spacer block inside of the tube and is centered within the tube. Wax is then poured into