Valley Forge Laboratories, Inc.

Location:   Boroughs of East Rutherford and Carlstadt, Bergen County, NJ

Client:   New Jersey Department of Transportation; Subconsultant to: Louis Berger & Associates, Inc.

Description:
VFL performed an extensive laboratory testing program for a period of over six months for the relocation design of NJ Route 120. The project is located in a swampy area with very soft and organic soil deposits. The laboratory program consisted of the following tests:

• 150 moisture contents
• 300 particle size analyses
• 200 Atterberg limits
• 40 organic matter contents
• 40 one-dimensional consolidations
• 45 Laboratory vane shears
• 65 triaxial compression tests

The triaxial tests included: unconsolidated undrained; consolidated undrained with pore pressure measurements; and consolidated drained tests. All tests were performed utilizing VFL’s state-of-the-art triaxial system which includes an automatic data acquisition unit that is capable of continuously monitoring stresses, strains and pore pressures during each test. Both standard Mohr-Columb and stress-path plots were reported. In addition all of the test results were provided in tabular format.

Although VFL’s personnel are trained to perform testing of contaminated soils as needed, most of the testing in this project did not require more than Level D personal protective equipment.