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GDS’ NEW Electromechanical Dynamic Cyclic Simple Shear Confined (EMDCSS-CON) is the premier device for simple shear testing. It is capable of carrying out dynamic cyclic tests ranging from small strain (0.005% shear strain amplitude) to large strain (10% shear strain amplitude), as well as a large range of extremely accurate quasi-static testing.

GDS are currently recruiting for a Geotechnical System Engineer, a Commissioning & Quality Engineer and a Software Engineer.

GDS has re-designed and upgraded two of it static load frames. The new 128kN and 256kN load frames will replace our existing 100kN and 250kN models respectively. The load frames have enhanced position/velocity accuracy, direct load control and improved stiffness while still fulfilling the role of a traditional velocity controlled load frame. 

Testing in Constant Normal Stiffness (CNS) conditions have been widely used to better represent the effects of soil contraction/dilatation on the normal stress at the interface between the soil and the piles. A new (2021) upgrade to the control system and the firmware of GDS’ Electromechanical Dynamic Cyclic Simple Shear Device (EMDCSS) allows the apparatus to perform both static and dynamic simple shear tests in CNS conditions. 

GDS Instruments and Solotest (Local Agent) has assisted the geotechnical team at Vale (the world's largest producer of iron ore, pellets, and nickel) in setting up an advanced soils laboratory at their research premises in Belo Horizonte Brasil, with the purpose of enhancing their in-house capabilities for soil characterisation. 

GDS have a unique system for testing large samples without the use of a triaxial cell. The unsaturated sample is prepared within a specially designed compaction mould, before effective stress is applied to the sample by means of a GDS vacuum controller, which can accurately apply negative pressure between atmospheric pressure (0kPa) and -75kPa, depending on the source vacuum pump being used. This allows the sample to be consolidated with negative pore pressure and confining pressure at atmospheric. 

GDS have released (Jan 2021) a new revamped version of the tool with improved usability, graphics and added features. The tool now supports consolidation data from the most common specimen types (Oedometer, Consolidometer, Triaxial, Direct Shear, Simple Shear, Ring Shear) and four widely-adopted standards (ASTM, ISO, British Standard, Australian Standard). Both Casagrande (log-time) and Taylor (root-time) graphical interpretation methods are supported.

GDS have implemented a new “TraditionalCell Loadframe Control Parameter Tool” in GDSLab, to enhance control when performing stress based tests (with a traditional loadframe) using velocity feedback control.

We have put together a short video demonstrating how to install or update your copy of GDSLab software. Below are the links refereed to in the video.

Structural Soils has expanded their geotechnical testing capacity following delivery of their latest order from GDS. Multiple static and dynamic systems were received (see images below), accompanied by some advanced transducers, to further enhance their testing capabilities.