Advanced Geotechnical Engineering Lab 

• Consolidation test on fine-grained soils is used to determine the following parameters:

• Relation between pressure and void ratio

• Compression and Recompression Index

• Consolidation coefficient under different pressures

• Pressure prior to consolidation

• Consolidation level at any time

• Consolidation progress under vertical loads

• The Automatic Consolidation Apparatus eliminates the traditional hanging weight system.

• It is a compact, table top system with low power consumption. 

• The instrument minimises the human factor/error associated with the conventional testing method.

• The Instrument performs the test as per ASTM.

• The setup for the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test consisted of the following components and specifications:

• CBR Test Apparatus: Loading machine with a capacity of 50KN and equipped with a movable head which enables a Plunger of 50 mm dia. to penetrate the specimen at a rate of 1.25 mm/ minute.

• Cylindrical Molds: diameter of 150 mm and a height of 175 mm with a detachable perforated base plate of 235mm dia. and 10mm thickness and a collar of 60 mm in height. Net capacity - 2250 ml.

• Spacer disc: 148 mm in dia. and 47.7 mm in height along with the handle. 

• Metal rammers: Weight 2.6 kg with a drop of 310 mm (or) weight 4.89 kg with a drop of 450 mm. 

• Weights: One annular metal weight and several slotted weights weighing 2.5 kg each, 147 mm in dia, with a central hole 53 mm in diameter. 

• To examine the dynamic behaviour of soils, an approach termed the Cyclic Simple Shear test is employed.

• The primary purpose of this test is to investigate the liquefaction properties.

• The test is used to examine how fine- and coarse-grained soils respond cyclically. 

• Sample sizes: 50, 63.5, 66, 70, 100, and 150 mm

• Load Range: 5, 10 kN

• Operating Frequency: 5 Hz

• Direct shear box apparatus: Comprising Direct Shear box in two halves for a square specimen size 60 x 60 x 25 mm one pair of plain gripper plates, one pair of perforated gripper plates, one pair or porous stones, and one top loading pad.

•  Loading frame (motor attached): Supplied with load yoke with direct and lever system for applying load. Normal stress capacity 8kg/sq.cm. Load is applied either directly or through a counterbalanced detachable lever. Provision is made for the load to be applied either through a steel ball recessed in the loading pad or direct through a boss on the pre-calibrated loading yoke.

• Dial gauge, Proving ring, Tamper & Straight edge.

• Balance to weigh up to 200 mg.

•  Aluminium container, Spatula.

•  Filter paper. 

• Two porous stones 

• Two corrugated metallic plates with perforation (drained) / metallic imperforated plates with corrugation (undrained)  

• Metallic Pressure pad 

• Large-scale direct shear apparatus with a shear box of dimensions 305 mm (in length) × 305 mm (in width) × 204 mm (in-depth) was used to perform direct shear and interface shear testing.

• The interface shear testing apparatus comprises the shear box and two load cells, each of capacity 45 kN, to measure the normal and the shear loads applied on the sample during consolidation and shearing phases.

• The apparatus consisted of two linear variable differential transducers (LVDTs) to measure the vertical deformation of the sample and the horizontal movement of the lower shear box, respectively.

• The control unit assists in the movement of loading systems in vertical and horizontal directions.         

Digital Image Correlation (DIC) is a precise, non-contact, and non-interferometric optical method for measuring the displacement/deformation of a structural element/material subjected to external loading. 

 The complete setup of DIC 2D includes the following:

• HD camera

• Lenses

• White Led lights

• Acquisition and Post-Processing of Dongles

• Tripods with levelling bubbles

• Colour spray for Speckle Pattern (White & Black)

• Speckle Pattern Grid Plate

• BNC Cables and C-mount Adapters

• A computer installed with the VIC 2D Software and Other Accessories for storage and maintenance.

• VIC-2D computer program is used for the analysis and post-processing of images to attain

The FLIR C5 camera aims to provide professionals with a compact and user-friendly thermal imaging tool for quickly and accurately detecting thermal anomalies in various applications. 

Specifications Imaging and optical data

•  IR resolution: 160 ×120pixels

•  Thermal sensitivity/NETD < 70mK

•  Field of view (FOV): 54° × 42°

•  Minimum focus distance Thermal: 0.1 m (0.32 ft)  MSX:0.3m (0.98ft)

•  Spatial resolution (IFOV): 6.3 mrad/pixel

•  F-number: 1.1

•  Image frequency:  8.7 Hz

•  Focus: Focus free

•  Digital zoom: Yes, zoom pinch, 1–4× continuous

• The equipment comprises two movable plates, one simulating the retaining wall and the other representing the rock face. 
• The sides of the apparatus are made of acrylic glass to facilitate the observation of failure surfaces. 
• The retaining wall is capable of rotating about its base as well as the top. It can also slide, while the rock face can be inclined to mimic actual field conditions. 
• To measure the earth pressure, ten soil pressure transducers with a capacity ranging from 200 kPa to 1 MPa are installed on both the retaining wall and base. 
• Additionally, eight LVDTs are connected to measure the deformations of the apparatus. A hydraulic jack is incorporated into the apparatus to enable the application of a surcharge load of up to 150 kN.

• Pelletizing is the process of enlarging particle size by agglomerating material particles into pellets or granules. The disc pelletizer is a device that facilitates the production of pellets by blending raw materials
•  A scraping blade is positioned on one edge of the disc to remove any mixture that may be sticking to its bottom and walls. The blade also acts as an energy barrier, which helps to further compact either free-moving or radially rotating pellets