Abstract: An apparatus and methods for determining in situ pore fluid and soil properties at a particular subsurface location are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a penetrating tip member configured to penetrate soil. The apparatus further comprises an attachment module coupled to the penetrating tip member. The attachment module includes at least one mandrel that includes a piezo sensor. An in situ measurement of pore pressure is obtained by the piezo sensor at a depth that corresponds to the location of the at least one mandrel on the attachment module.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for determining in situ pore fluid and soil properties at a particular subsurface location are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a penetrating tip member configured to penetrate soil. The apparatus further comprises an attachment module coupled to the penetrating tip member. The attachment module includes at least one mandrel that includes a piezo sensor. An in situ measurement of pore pressure is obtained by the piezo sensor at a depth that corresponds to the location of the at least one mandrel on the attachment module.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and method for determining interface strength in situ. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of load cells, wherein each load cell obtains an in situ measurement of interface strength at each measurement depth that corresponds to location of each load cell on the attachment module. Each load cell obtains the in situ measurement of interface strength without using the measurement data of a penetrating tip member. In another embodiment, an apparatus for determining interface strength in situ comprises an attachment module coupled to a penetrating tip, wherein the attachment module includes a plurality of load cells. Each load cell includes a friction sleeve, which the friction sleeve of at least one load cell is configured with a different surface texture than another load cell.

Abstract: The multi-friction sleeve penetrometer attachment provides the unique ability to obtain a plurality of sleeve friction measurements at each measurement depth within a single sounding. The attachment may also be used in conjunction with a conventional CPT to enhance the qc, u2, and ƒs, data obtained in conventional CPT soundings with measurements of sleeve friction for different sleeve surface roughnesses. Innovative characteristics of the system include the arrangement of a plurality of individual sleeve load cell sensors in series, the ability to obtain multiple simultaneous measurements for the plurality of friction sleeves at each measurement increment, and the ability to rapidly exchange friction sleeves between consecutive soundings.

Abstract: The ‘P30-135’ rootstock is an interspecific hybrid rootstock Prunus saliciana×P. persica, developed for use as a clonal commercial rootstock under peach and nectarine cultivars. Propagation of this stock has been successfully accomplished from hardwood cuttings. The ‘P30-135’ has the characteristic of imparting a substantial degree of vigor control to the scion cultivar that has been propagated upon it. This type of growth-controlling rootstock allows for the reduction of the height of orchard trees without compromising the quality of the fruit borne upon the tree. Size reduction of commercial orchard trees increases the efficiency of various cultural operations such as pruning, thinning and harvesting by reducing the need for workers in the field to carry and climb tall ladders.

Abstract: The ‘K146-43’ rootstock is an inter-specific hybrid rootstock, useful primarily as a commercial understock for peach and nectarine cultivars. The stock has been successfully propagated clonally by hardwood cuttings. This rootstock imparts a substantial degree of vigor control to the scion cultivar that is propagated on top of it. The utilization of adapted growth controlling rootstocks in commercial orchard situations reduces the height of the individual orchard tree without compromising the quality of the fruit. This in turn increases the efficiency of various cultural operations such as pruning, thinning and harvesting by reducing the need for workers in the field to use tall ladders when carrying out these operations.