[Jhoffa_]

Yes or No?

[ResistorSister]

Why do we want to try?

[r9etb]

Er, Dare I wonder why you ask?

[Frohickey]

What is that going to do?

[Pistias]

"the ground" is a bit too vague. I could ram .5" steel blade into sand or mud with a long enough tool to maintain contact 8' down. What are we talking, stone?

[Eaker]

1) Where?
2) What is the makeup of the ground?
3) How thick x wide is the steel "blade"?
4) Just once or repeatedly?

WHY??? With out more parameters this is a waste of billable hours.

Eaker

[jimt]

Depends on the nature of the ground.

Dirt (as in topsoil)? For sure.

Glacial till (rough sand, fairly big rocks)? Much more difficult.

Solid granite? Very unlikely, simply pushing down on it.

There are certainly ways to tackle getting a 1/2" rod or blade 8' into the ground, but a simple press won't do it.

[Mr. Lucky]

The correct answer, of course, is that "we" cannot.

Now, can one of us get back on his medication?

[Eaker]

Iraq has a super gun that can do this.

Eaker

[michigander]

Engineers Only

Why would someone who drives a train know the answer to that question?

[jimt]

BTW, if you're looking for a way to plug somebody's sewer, simply insert a balloon from the city's side at the connection to the main. That's MUCH simpler and cheaper.

[Virginia-American]

Call Miss Utility first. Hitting a gas line would be real bad news.

[DETAILER]

More info needed. 1/2" thick steel, 8'-0" tall blade,correct?

Blade width how wide?

Approximate soil density?

Rocky terrain?

Wooded/Forest area?

Required speed of penetration?

I'm not an engineer, but work with them a lot, and I've got lots of reference books- I can give you a good educated guess.

[Ken H]

Yes, but you must call the utilities first before digging.

You may be liable for repair of underground cables, gas, and water lines.

[ResistorSister]

You did not answer my question about the type of ground...you have not given enough info to really solve your problem...but I am quessing that it cannot be done.

[umgud]

No you cannot just drive up in a truck and force a "blade" into typical earth 8 feet. The blade would have to be thick enough to withstand the force. The only reasonable way would be with a piledriver, and even this would take prep and a fair amount of time. In short...your druggies or their drugs will be gone.

[T. Rustin Noone]

Please allow a humble architect to reply

The width of the steel is irrelevant. The thickness is. At 0.5" and 8' length, the slenderness ratio would kill you UNLESS you were able to support the steel continuously along its length while being inserted (by any means) into the ground.

My question back to you - what does the truck have to do with the question? I can weld an 8' length of steel to the nose of a B-1 and power-dive it into the ground. The steel rod and everything else would probably be 8' or more beneath the finish grade.

[Gordian Blade]

This may sound crazy, but I've been thinking along the same line "on the back burner" today. How do we minimize the need for "no knock" search warrants? I think we need to step back and take a wider look at the problem.

My solution is this: If the police suspect that there is major illegal drug activity at a residential location, what they do is get a warrant, then wait until the middle of the night but late enough so that even most druggies are asleep, like maybe 4 AM. Just so it's still mostly dark. Then simultaneously (and quietly) shut off the electricity, gas (if any), and water. Then announce by bullhorn and allow the people inside a (short) chance to come out peacefully. If they try to flush the evidence, they only get one flush with the water in the tank, and that isn't enough to wash everything all the way to the main sewer line. (Trust me, I've learned this the hard way with sewage problems.) They can't even run the faucet. Plus, with the lights out, the druggies won't be able to find all of it quickly. Unless they only have a very tiny amount, there will be lots of evidence. If the police have to come in to roust them out, they will have the advantage of being able to control their spotlights and illuminate what they like, then when things are in hand, they can turn the lights back on.

In my mind, this idea certainly tops smashing down the door and hoping for the best. It minimizes the chance of killing an innocent victim at the wrong house while preserving most of the evidence even in the worst case.

[UberVernunft]

Can we or can we not roll up in a huge truck and use hydraulics to force a .5" steel blade 8' into the ground?

Trying to hide from aliens?

[clamper1797]

Should be an easier way .....

[doodad]

Do a search for a geoprobe. Very cool geo instrument.