Friday, May 16, 2014

Geotech Lab tips

Chart:
- Profile - should be a continuous line or curve
- Profile - do not use Trendline (Layout Analysis tab); this feature is not intended for our type of Labs. Use Chart types from Design Type tab.
- When you produce datapoints for your chart please use and leave Excel formulas so we can see how you obtained them
- Axis title and labels should be on the same side if possible
Format:
 - When preparing a table for a chart please keep it formatted, e.g., borders, headings, column names etc. Points will be deducted in the "Format and clear organization of the entire document and its parts" line
- Equations as ∑ _(i=1)^n  γ_i Z_i = γ_1 Z_1 + γ_2 Z_2 + γ_3 Z_3….+ γ_n Z_n  are not in any accepted notations and are not intelligible. Notations as σ(v) = Y(1)Z(1) + Y(2)Z(2) +Y(3)Z(3) are slightly better but still, have ambiguity, and may not be understood properly by a person distant from this specific lab and lecture.
- Use named cells
Memo:
- Keep Memo language formal; avoid words "like", "kind", "us engineers",
- Grammar - write Memo in a text processor and Copy-Paste into Excel text box. Excel does not have the spell check capability!
- If you decide to report key equations in Memo please report factors used, e.g., F = ma, where F is force, m is mass and a is acceleration
Units:
- When establishing a new data column please indicate units
- When you apply multiplication or division operator there's a good chance your units will change!
Calculations:
- Don't round intermediate results
Specific Weight (or Unit Weight) of water is 62.4 lb/cu.ft. (changes with temperature) 
General feedback:
- Please read the Lab instructions and the lecture materials before the Lab, come prepared!
- Don't wait to submit  until 09:50 when many other students may overload the server and you may not be able to submit successfully
- Charts have a random place on a chart Quest
- When reporting units, please avoid extraneous characters, e.g., (psf_)

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