Trench Dam Trench Dam: Per the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) Methane Code, Ordinance Number 175790, a trench dam is part of a methane mitigation system. A trench dam is essentially a subsurface barrier that exists within a furrow or ditch, that is adjacent to the foundation of a building in a…

Direct Shear Test A Direct Shear Test is a geotechnical engineering laboratory procedure that measures the shear strength value of a soil sample.

Effective Stress (σ’) “Effective Stress” (σ’) is a geotechnical engineering term. Effective Stress is a function of “total stress,” and is due to the solid particles of soil. Effective stress represents an excess of stress above pore-water pressure (or neutral stress). Effective Stress Formula Effective Stress = Total Stress – Pore-Water Pressure.

Active Methane Mitigation Active Methane Mitigation: Active systems refer to the mechanical and electrical components of a methane mitigation system. In fact, the definition of an Active System is available in Methane Code (Ordinance No. 175790). This is a publication by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Moreover, further descriptions of an…

Stratosphere Stratosphere: The stratosphere of a terrestrial planet is the second-lowest member of the atmosphere. On Earth, the stratosphere starts atop the troposphere at approximately 10 kilometers above mean sea level, and terminates roughly 50 kilometers above mean sea level. In fact, geologists understand that the Earth’s ozone layer exists within the stratosphere, which absorbs…