Resonant Column Apparatus (Stokoe Type)

Product Code : GDSRCA

For many years the resonant column apparatus has been used in research and commercial laboratories to estimate values of the shear modulus, G, and damping ratio, D, for soil specimens across the small to medium strain range (< 1 %).

The variation in these parameters with increasing strain magnitude allows engineers to conduct dynamic response analyses, such as those using finite element and non-linear analytical methods, which enable performance assessment of natural and engineered structures subjected to dynamic and cyclic loadings.

Further Information:

Discover more resonant column equipment for soil testing.

Key features Benefits to the user
Current driven actuator using a transconductance power amplifier: The impedance of magnet / coil devices change with frequency. At higher frequencies, using a constant voltage amplifier the current would be seen to reduce. As the torque is directly proportional to current, the torque will also reduce and a non-linear torque input would affect results. This effect is removed in the GDSRCA by using a current driven power amplifier.
Designed to provide maximum rigidity: Providing minimum losses and a more consistent frequency response. With no rigid support to the top cap it is completely free vibrating.
Dedicated GDS RCA software is used for control and data acquisition of the RCA apparatus: Simple automated tests ensures consistent results
Low equipment damping: The software switches the hardware to provide an ‘open circuit’ through the coils during free vibration decay, which prevents ‘back’ EMF generation and reduces equipment damping effects.
Electro-magnetic drive system: Which incorporates precision wound coils and composite sintered neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) “rare-earth” magnets.
Internally mounted, counter-balanced accelerometer: Used to measure vibratory response of the sample.
Internal cell: To surround sample with water, to avoid air penetrating the membrane.
Operating Frequency (Hz)

0 to 300Hz

Pressure Range (MPa)

1, 2

Sample Sizes

50, 70, 100mm

  • Vertical Bender Elements
  • Torsional Shear (slow speed torsional shear test) upgrade
  • Unsaturated Testing

 

Tests supported by the Resonant Column Apparatus (Stokoe Type), resonant column equipment for soil testing :-

B Check

The B-Check is a pre-test to check that the specimen is sufficiently saturated by measuring the Skempton pore water pressure parameter B. The cell pressure is increased to the specified value whilst the back pressure remains on hold volume (i.e. the undrained state). The system compares the change in pore pressure (Δu) caused by the increase in cell pressure (Δσ3). The value of B is calculated as Δu/Δσ3.  If your GDS triaxial testing system has a cell pressure controller and a pore pressure transducer, then the B-check is automated within the GDSLAB software. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Consolidation (Triaxial)

Consolidation simply applies a constant cell and back pressure to the sample whilst monitoring the volume change within the sample. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Constant Head Permeability

The constant head test simply maintains a constant differential in pressure between the top and the base of the specimen (top pressure is always set higher than the base pressure). The flow is then measured on the top controller and the base controller.  Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Constant Rate of Flow Permeability

The constant rate of flow test simply maintains a constant base pressure whilst applying a constant flow through the top of the specimen. A maximum hydraulic gradient can be set which will pause the rate of flow if the pressure differential between the top and the base of the sample gets too large.  Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Continuous Infinite Volume Flow (either target or ramp)

Some geotechnical applications require the continuous flow of fluid, either under pressure control or via a rate of fluid flow.  GDS manufacture an Infinite Volume Controller (IVC). By connecting 2 GDS pressure/volume controllers in parallel, the IVC system automatically switches between them when they run out of volume thus providing a seamless supply of pressure with unlimited volume capacity.  The IVC can be used with any 2 pressure controllers from the GDS range, i.e. advanced, standard or enterprise. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Damping Ratio in Flexure

The damping ratio is a measure of describing how oscillations in a system die down after a disturbance i.e. how the shear waves generated in the sample die down after a test is complete. This test can be carried out in torsion or flexure through the resonant column.

Damping Ratio in Torsion

The damping ratio is a measure of describing how oscillations in a system die down after a disturbance i.e. how the shear waves generated in the sample die down after a test is complete. This test can be carried out in torsion or flexure through the resonant column.

Maximum Shear modulus

Determination of the maximum (i.e., very small strain) shear modulus of a specimen. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

RAMP and CYCLE pressure or volume change (Saturation Ramp)

Saturation ramp allows you to independently increase or decrease the Cell Pressure and the Back Pressure. The saturation ramp is used to steadily change the pressures in the system either keeping a constant effective stress or change to a desired effective stress.

Resonance in Flexure

Is the deformation of an object through bending, curving, or flexing.  This non-standard can be performed in the GDS resonant column apparatus as it has the ability in the software to reverse the polarity in one of the coils and switch 2 of the other coils to be open circuit, thus resonating the soil sample in flexure (bending).

Resonance in Torsion

The standard test performed in a resonant column cell is resonance in torsion.  By establishing the resonant frequency in torsion of a soil sample, the soil shear modulus can be calculated.

Slow Speed (up to 2Hz) Torsional Shear (TS) testing

The damping ratio is a measure of describing how oscillations in a system die down after a disturbance i.e. how the shear waves generated in the sample die down after a test is complete. This test can be carried out in torsion or flexure through the resonant column. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Standards for the Resonant Column Apparatus (Stokoe Type), resonant column equipment for soil testing :-