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I love the glimpse into topics like this, where one might initially think "what is so hard? Dig a trench and fill it with gravel" but it turns out to be way mor

I love the glimpse into topics like this, where one might initially think "what is so hard? Dig a trench and fill it with gravel" but it turns out to be way more complicated: > It is hard to overstate the importance of properly filtered drains for dams. If you don’t believe me, take it from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in their 360-page report, Filters for Embankment Dams: Best Practices for Design and Construction. If that’s not enough, try the Bureau of Reclamation in their 400-page report, Drainage for Dams and Associated Structures. To the point that: > A civil engineer could spend an entire career just thinking about subsurface drains

pimlottc 2y ago
I wonder how many of these stories start with him discovering one of these massive government reports. They always seem to pop up in his videos! It really is impressive how much invaluable practical information is provided for free by the various federal agencies.
- engineer_22 2y ago
  A minor quibble - while the information is free to the world, those federal agencies cost the People money.
  - rimunroe 2y ago
    The fact that it costs the government money to do things is obvious to the point of pointlessness. I could understand pointing out the actual cost of producing the info if you had it, but just pointing out the fact that it cost them money to produce some report doesn't add anything to the discussion.
  - JohnFen 2y ago
    Money well spent.
- extraduder_ire 2y ago
  I have to assume most of these reports, standards, and other documents end up being tax-neutral or better from wider dissemination of this info and/or propping up the status quo in engineering and construction.
- LegitShady 2y ago
  Learning the basics of designing the gradation of sand and gravel filters is Soil Mechanics 1 (think 2nd year university). The massive reports are because of massive problems caused by poorly functioning or failed filters, but the basic premise of much of these videos is "give the first lesson in some subject without any math and actually try to explain things instead of typical engineering prof standards". If you google "Gradation Design of Sand and Gravel Filters" you'll find Chapter 26 of the USDA's national engineering handbook, which will give the basics of how its done with some simple examples. This is baby engineer type stuff, for the most part. If you're designing for big structures or complicated situations it becomes a much more complicated exercise.

pimlottc 2y ago

I wonder how many of these stories start with him discovering one of these massive government reports. They always seem to pop up in his videos! It really is impressive how much invaluable practical information is provided for free by the various federal agencies.

engineer_22 2y ago
A minor quibble - while the information is free to the world, those federal agencies cost the People money.
- rimunroe 2y ago
  The fact that it costs the government money to do things is obvious to the point of pointlessness. I could understand pointing out the actual cost of producing the info if you had it, but just pointing out the fact that it cost them money to produce some report doesn't add anything to the discussion.
- JohnFen 2y ago
  Money well spent.
extraduder_ire 2y ago
I have to assume most of these reports, standards, and other documents end up being tax-neutral or better from wider dissemination of this info and/or propping up the status quo in engineering and construction.
LegitShady 2y ago
Learning the basics of designing the gradation of sand and gravel filters is Soil Mechanics 1 (think 2nd year university). The massive reports are because of massive problems caused by poorly functioning or failed filters, but the basic premise of much of these videos is "give the first lesson in some subject without any math and actually try to explain things instead of typical engineering prof standards". If you google "Gradation Design of Sand and Gravel Filters" you'll find Chapter 26 of the USDA's national engineering handbook, which will give the basics of how its done with some simple examples. This is baby engineer type stuff, for the most part. If you're designing for big structures or complicated situations it becomes a much more complicated exercise.