Facilities
The Geotechnical Laboratories occupy nearly 4,000 square feet of floor space and
have standard testing, advanced testing and full-scale testing facilities. The facility
includes equipment for preparing field samples and fabricating artificial soils
by vac-air extrusion. Soil index testing equipment, 1-D odometers, direct shear,
unconfined compression and constant- and falling-head are available. Advanced testing
equipment includes new GDS MINIDyn and ELDyn computer-controlled triaxial testing
systems capable of performing static and cyclic tests with maximum axial load and
frequency of 10 kN/2 Hz and 10 kN/5 Hz, respectively. Both triaxial systems have
UU, CU, CD, K0 and advanced dynamic testing modules driven by software. The ELDyn
has an unsaturated testing module capable of performing flow-controlled hydraulic
conductivity, soil/water characteristics tests and suction-controlled tests. Both
systems are equipped with vertically propagating bender elements to measure the
velocities of P-/S-waves for shear modulus and other soil properties. The advanced
laboratory also contains a resonant column/torsional shear device to determine dynamic
properties of porous medium, a CKC automated triaxial testing system, a MTS driven
compression frame, two nine-column pressure panels to pressurize six fully independent
cells, Time Domain Reflectometry for real-time measurement of shear zone development
in soils, a field portable NDE system for evaluating the condition of foundations
and bridge decks and a Genisco geotechnical centrifuge. The full-scale facilities
consist of a soil test pit, 5 m x 5 m x 3 m deep, surrounded by a reaction system.
Large-scale testing is supported by a 10-ton capacity overhead crane, a 700-pound
capacity LNG forklift, and access through a 10-ft wide by 14-ft tall roll-up door
with access to the street.
Genisco geotechnical centrifuge: diameter of 3m, max. centrifugal acceleration of
200g and max. payload of 30,000 g-lb.
MINIDyn from GDS, capable of running cyclic loading tests on saturated soil specimens
with maximum axial loading of 10 kN and maximum loading frequency of 2 Hz. Bender
elements are included to measure P-/S- waves during tests.
ELDyn from GDS, capable of running cyclic loading tests on saturated or unsaturated
soil specimens with maximum axial loading of 10 kN and maximum loading frequency
of 5 Hz. Bender elements are included to measure P-/S- waves during tests.
Sandpit: 5 m x 5 m x 3 m deep, capable of performing large-scale tests.
