Centre for Geotechnical Science and Engineering
Soil Mechanics Capabilities
- Soil Classification Testing- Atterberg Limits (Casagrande and fall cone method).
- Soil and pore water pH and EC, cation exchange capacity and clay surface area measurement.
- Dispersion - Pinhole and Emmerson class.
- Particle Density – Gas or vacuum pycnometer.
- Particle Size Distribution (>75um) – wet or dry sieve analysis.
- Particle Size Distribution - including hydrometer or fine distribution measured using Sedigraph (provides 300 um – 0.1 um distribution).
- Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) – microstructure and pore size distribution; California Bearing Ratio.
- Soil Compaction and Density (standard and modified MDD, OMC).
- Shrink Swell Index and Swelling Pressure of clays.
- Laboratory Vane Shear.
- Direct Shear Testing (60mm, 100mm and 300mm shear boxes).
- Large Strain (repeated) Direct Shear Testing (60mm, 100mm , and 300mm shear boxes)
- Large Scale Direct Shear Testing (720mm x 720mm shear box).
- Ring Shear.
- One Dimensional Consolidation – lever arm oedometer and Constant Rate of Strain (CRS) including small strain stiffness using Bender Elements.
- Rowe Cell - strain/pore pressure gradient controlled oedometer testing.
- Unconfined (Uniaxial) Compression Test.
- Triaxial Compression and Extension with pore pressure measurement, including UU, CU,CD, Stress Path, (38mm, 50mm, 70mm, 100mm, 150mm and 300mm diameters).
- Bender Elements - Seismic velocity of specimen in triaxial compression.
- Dynamic Triaxial testing up to 10,000Hz (50mm, 70mm, 100mm, 150mm diameters).
- Resilient modulus.
- Permeability - Falling head, constant head and constant head with flexible wall permeameter.
CONTACT
For further information regarding testing capabilities and rates please contact:
Lachlan Bates
Business Manager
Centre for Geotechnical Science & Engineering
Discipline Civil, Surveying & Environmental Engineering
University of Newcastle
T: +61 2 4921 8978
M: +61 408 292 638
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.