The Soil Mechanics Laboratory is equipped and automated with specialized equipment with highly experienced/trained personnel.
It offers technical support to civil engineering works through laboratory testing of soil mechanics and rock mechanics in geotechnical issues (PPC mines, PPC dams, etc.)
Main Tests
- Soil classification tests (moisture content, particle size sieve analysis, particle size analysis using hydrometer, Atterberg limits, specific gravity)
- Soil mechanical tests (unconfined compression tests, triaxial tests, direct shear tests, residual shear strength with the ring shear apparatus, consolidation tests, etc.)
- Soil compaction tests (standard and modified Proctor, California Bearing Ratio CBR)
Main Equipment
- Triaxial cells and load rings 5KN to 100KN
- Direct shear apparatus
- Ring shear apparatus
- Mechanical and hydraulic compression oedometers
- Automatic electric Proctor compactor
- Full range of sieves according to ASTM standards
- Automatic system for recording and processing mechanical tests measurements (triaxial, shear, consolidation)
Detailed Laboratory Tests and Standards Applied:
| DRY PREPARATION OF SOIL SAMPLES FOR PARTICLE-SIZE ANALYSIS AND DETERMINATION OF SOIL CONSTANTS (E105-86) |
| WATER (MOISTURE) CONTENT OF SOIL (E105-86) |
| DETERMINATION OF MATERIAL IN SOILS FINER THAN NO. 200 (75-ΜM) SIEVE (E105-86) |
| PARTICLE-SIZE ANALYSIS OF SOILS - DRY METHOD (E105-86) |
| SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF SOIL SOLIDS (E105-86) |
| PARTICLE-SIZE ANALYSIS OF SOILS BY HYDROMETER (E105-86) |
| LIQUID LIMIT (E105-86) |
| PLASTIC LIMIT (E105-86) |
| STANDARD OR MODIFIED PROCTOR METHOD (E105-86) |
| RESIDUAL SHEAR STRENGTH IN RING SHEAR APPARATUS (BS1377/PART7) |
| UNCONFINED COMPRESSION TEST (E105-86, ASTM D2166) |
| ONE DIMENSIONAL CONSOLIDATION TEST (E105-86) |
| UNCONSOLIDATED UNDRAINED (UU) TRIAXIAL TEST (E105-86) |
| CONSOLIDATED UNDRAINED (CU-PP) TRIAXIAL TEST (E105-86) |
| CONSOLIDATED DRAINED (CD) TRIAXIAL TEST (E105-86) |
| DIRECT FAST SHEAR TEST (E105-86) |
| DIRECT SLOW SHEAR TEST WITH CONSOLIDATION (E105-86, ASTM D3080) |