School of Engineering and Sciences

Department of Civil Engineering

Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory

Equipment Gallery

Pycnometer Test

Specifications

  • Capacity: 1kg
  • Material: Complete with brass cone, rubber seal and screwed cap.

Description:

Test is performed as per (IS: 2720 - part ꠲). Suitable for determination of specific gravity of sand and fine gravel.

Density Bottle Test

Specifications

  • Capacity: 100ml

Description:

Test is performed as per (IS: 2720-part ꠰). Suitable for determination of specific gravity of fine clay particles.

Core Cutter Test

Specifications

  • Cylindrical core cutter 100mm dia x 130mm long with beveled cutting edge and having wall thickness 3mm.
  • Steel dolly 100mm inner dia x 25mm heigh
  • Rammer with steel rod.7

Description:

Determination of In-situ dry density of soil as per (IS:2720-Part XXIX) It is mainly used in fine grained cohesive soils without stones.

Sand Replacement Test

Specifications

  • Sand pouring cylinder 115mm internal dia with conical funnel and shutter
  • Calibrating container 100m inner dia and 150mm deep with flange 50mm wide.
  • Metal tray 300 square x 40mm deep with a 100mm dia hole at the center.

Description:

The apparatus is suitable for field density estimation of fine and medium grained soils, as per (IS: 2720-Part XXVIII)

Mechanical Sieving

Specifications

  • As per (IS: 2720-Part IV)
  • Maximum of sieve sizes for fine grained 150mm or 200mm dia.
  • Suitable for operation on 220 volts, 50 Hz, single phase supply.

Description:

Grained size analysis is a basic laboratory test required to identify soils in engineering soil classification system.

Hydrometer Test

Specifications

  • The scale on the hydrometer is marked from 0.995 to 1.030 in terms of density gm/ml of suspension at 27꠶c

Description:

Test is performed as per (IS: 2720-Part IV). Used for particle size analysis of soil in suspension when it has more than 10% of micron IS sieving passing material.

Casagrande Apparatus

Specifications

  • Motor: 120rpm
  • Voltas: 220
  • 50 Hz, single phase and supplied with a grooving tool as per IS: 2720.

Description:

The test is performed as per (IS: 2720-Part V) gives the moisture content at which a soil passes from the plastic the liquid state.

Plastic Limit Test

Specifications

  • The moisture content where the thread breaks apart at a diameter of 3.2 mm (about 1/8 inch).

Description:

This test is performed as per (IS:2720-Part V) the water content at which a soil-water paste changes from a semisolid to a plastic consistency as it is rolled into a 3.175 mm (1/8 inch) diameter thread in a standard test.

Thermostatic Oven

Specifications

  • Maximum temperature of 300 degrees
  • Digital display
  • 220V, 50Hz and single-phase supply
  • Inside Heavy steel duty sheet with four layers

Description:

Used to maintain the required temperature to samples

Shrinkage Limit Test

Specifications

  • 75mm square prong plate made of 3mm thick acrylic sheet with three metal pronges
  • Stainless steel shrinkage dish 45mm dia, 15mm deep.
  • Glass cup with ground edge 50mm to 55mm dia,25mm deep.

Description:

This test is performed as per (IS: 2720-Part VI) the maximum water content at which a reduction in water content does not cause an appreciable reduction in volume of the soil mass.

Proctor Compaction Test

Specifications

  • Diameter of rammer 50mm
  • Weight of rammer 2.60kg for light weight compaction and 4.89 kg for heavy compaction
  • Height of wall of rammer 310mm and 450mm
  • Weird for 220v single phase 50Hz supply

Description:

The Automatic soil compactor replace the hand compaction procedure as specified for dry density moisture content relationship of soil. As per (IS: 2720-Part VII &VIII).

Constant And Variable Head Permeability Test

Specifications

  • Diameter ranges from the 6mm to 75mm. A 75mm tube is fitted with an overflow pipe.
  • Permeability mould 1000ml capacity with detachable collar 50mm high one base plate.

Description:

Suitable for both constant head as well as falling head permeability test. The apparatus consists of Universal Permeameter (IS: 2720-Part XVII), IS 11209.

Direct Shear Test

  •  Capacity: 200kg/2000N
  • Resolution: 0.1kg/1N
  • Stroke: + or -20mm
  • Resolution: 0.01mm
Software data acquisition from signal conditioning unit to computer

Description:

To determine the shear strength parameters of cohesionless soil. As per (IS: 2720-Part XIII).

Unconfined Compressive Strength Test

Specifications

  • Consists of spring-operated load frame with arrangements for loading.
  • 38 mm dia X 76 mm long the mould is supplied complete with two 38mm dia x 25 mm long plugs.
  • One set of four load spring of stiffness 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 kg/mm.

Description:

The Unconfined Compressive Strength test is performed as per (IS 2720-Part X) at controlled rate of strain. Gives the compressive and shearing strength of clayey soil, both in undisturbed and remoulded condition.

Vane Shear Test

Specifications

  • The width of vane, from edge of one vane to edge of another vane, is 12±0.15 mm.
  • 24±0.25 mm. The thickness of vane is 0.5±0.05 mm.

Description:

The vane shear test apparatus consists of a four – blade stainless steel vane attached to a steel rod that will be pushed into the ground. As per (IS: 2720-Part XXX).

Relative Density Test

Specifications

  • Vibrating table suitable to work with 440v, 50Hz three phase power supply.
  • Vibration deck of size 750mm square.
  • Vibrating at a frequency of 3600 vibrations/minute under a115 kg load and amplitude variable from 0.05mm to 0.65 mm

Description:

Primarily meant for determination of void ratio of cohesion less soil, free draining soils, in loosest and densest states as per (IS: 2720-Part XIV).

CBR Test

Specifications

  • Load frame: 50KN
  • CBR mould 150mm base plate and collar inner dia 175 mm height.
  • Proving ring 10KN capacity
  • Surcharge weights 2.5 kg annular
  • Surcharge weight 2.5 kg slotted
  • Dail gauge 0.01X 25mm

Description:

CBR test is penetration test developed by California stated highway department for evaluating the bearing capacity of sub grade soil for design of flexible pavement. As per (IS: 2720 - Part XVI).

Triaxial Test

Specifications

  • Three parts split mould complete with a base mould for collar 50mm dia and 100mm long specimen
  • 38 mm dia X 76 mm long specimen and 50 mm dia and 100 mm long specimen
  • Set of two porous stones 38/50 mm dia and 6mm thick
  • Rubber sheath for 38/50 mm dia (pack of 10).

Description:

A triaxial test is performed on a cylindrical core soil or rock sample to determine its shear strength. The triaxial test attempts to replicate the in-situ stresses on the core soil or rock sample.
As per (IS: 2720-Part XII).

Three Gang Type Consolidometer Test

Specifications

  • Load unit capacity 20kg/cm2
  • Consolidation cell height 60mm X 20mm
  • Dail gauge 5X 0.002 mm
  • Set of weights stress up to 10kg/cm2

Description:

Determination of soil compressibility saturated soils. The test performed as per (IS: 2720-Part XV).

Large Scale Direct Shear Test

Specifications

  • Direct operation: Motorized
  • Rates of Strain (mm/min): 72 speeds ranging from 0.0014 to 10.16mm/min
  • Specimen size: 30 x 30 x 15 cm

Description:

Large Scale Direct Shear test the shear resistance between a geosynthetic or geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) and the contact surface of a layer soil sample according to test methods in ASTM D5321 and ASTM D6243. The test sample is divided horizontally and mounted in a two-piece shear box assembly. As per (IS: 2720-Part XIII).

Soil Moisture Content Test

Specifications

  • Capable of temperature = 300꠶C.
  • A balance readable and accurate to 0.01g.

Description:

The soil moisture content expressed as the amount of water present in a depth of one meter of soil. As per (IS: 2720-Part II).

Soil Organic Content Test

Specifications

  • Thermostat oven
  • Moisture content tins

Description:

The soil sample is oven dried and then heated to 400°C; at this temperature organic matter is burned off. By measuring the weight lost by the sample the amount of soil organic matter can be estimated. As per (IS: 2720-Part XXII).

Geotechnical Modelling

1. Plaxis

Description:

DC (direct current) resistivity methods involve injecting a steady state electrical current into the ground and observing the resulting distribution of potentials (voltages) at the surface or within boreholes. As per IS: 15736 (2007).

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