Rock Testing

Axial deformation is measured by a displacement transducer in all GDS systems (LVDT, LDT or digital gauge).  Radial deformation is calculated as standard by measuring the volume change to 1mm3 directly on the back pressure controller.  For direct measurements of radial strain (i.e. transducers mounted upon the sample, and direct measurements of axial strain in the same way, GDS can supply a Hall Effect local strain set or an LVDT local strain set. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Triaxial consolidation refers to the application of a constant cell and back pressure to the sample whilst monitoring the volume change within the sample.

All GDS controllers are designed for use as constant pressure sources.  The stepper motor constantly adjusts itself to ensure the desired pressure is maintained, with the additional advantage that volume change is measured to 1 cubic mm* (*except the pneumatic controller which only regulates pressure and has no capability for measuring volume change or flow).

Provides a controlled ramp of load while the back pressure is maintained. There is also the option to limit the rate of strain if a specified hydraulic gradient across the sample is exceeded.

Provides a controlled ramp of strain while the back pressure is maintained. There is also the option to limit the rate of strain if a specified hydraulic gradient across the sample is exceeded.

Cyclic loading refers to the repeated loading of a sample.  All GDS systems can imply this loading either under load control, or under strain (displacement) control.  Load control will be via feedback from the load cell and displacement control will be via the feedback from the displacement transducer.  Load and displacement control can be performed by all GDS system.  The speed of the cyclic loading depends on the frequency performance (i.e. the dynamic performance) of the system in question.  Dynamic stress control is possible, but only available on the most advanced GDS dynamic because of the additional processing required to calculate the sample area during the cycles.  Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Slow cyclic testing may be performed on all GDS triaxial testing apparatus with the appropriate software modules.  The speed the cycles can be applied is determined by the performance of the system.  A standard load frame generally only used for quasi-static testing can perform cyclic testing with periods of around 5 minutes when coupled with GDSLAB control and data acquisition software. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

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.

Direct shear tests: The sample is contained inside a rigid box with a horizontal split line at the mid-height of the sample. The shear force is applied to the sample by moving the two halves of the box horizontally relative to each other. The intension is to induce a shear plane to form between the two halves of the sample. Properties can be obtained for the material prior to shear and post failure or residual. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Kzero conditions (or specifically the coefficient of earth pressure at rest) in the context of laboratory testing are where a sample is required to be loaded whilst keeping the area of the sample a constant.  Kzero conditions are maintained in a n oedometer by design due to the radial constraint, however in an oedometer the radial stress cannot be measured therefore the K-zero condition is not measureable.  A Kzero test in a triaxial cell allows Kzero conditions to be applied and measured. The Kzero module allows you to run two tests. 

• Test 1: Kzero using ramp RADIAL STRESS with direct radial transducer measurement: Uses a direct reading of the specimen diameter to enable the test control to maintain zero diameter change.
  
• Test 2: Kzero using ramp RADIAL STRESS with back volume change measurement: Uses the change in volume of the specimen to calculate a theoretical new specimen height thus ensuring the diameter change remains zero.
  

Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Quasi-static refers to slow speed tests.  Creep tests require accurate displacements to be measurable whilst a continuous, sometimes long term loading is accurately applied. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

In a triaxial test, a stress path is described by any change in stress state in any direction on a sample.  To be able to perform a stress path test it is generally considered that control of both the axial stress and the radial stress is required.  With this level of control, linear paths may be controlled of either axial stress and radial stress, p and q (deviator stress), or s and t paths. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Dynamic cyclic triaxial testing is usually performed with a cyclic loading pattern which is the shape of a sine wave.  Some experiments require a unique waveshape to be applied to the soil, for example in recreating earthquake loading from a measured seismograph trace.