Directory of Services for Soil Mechanical Laboratory Tests

The following list gives an overview of our soil mechanical services. The tests are accomplished according to the current standards and if necessary with improved devices. We offer these services to uncontaminated natural soils. Contaminated soil can only be examined after consultation.

1 Sample naming
1.1 Naming of disturbed sample and disposal
1.2 Demounting and naming of undisturbed sample and disposal
 
2 Grain size distribution (according to DIN  18123)
2.1 Dry sieving, 0.06 mm < d < 20 mm (quantity up to 2 kg)
2.2 Dry sieving, 0.06 mm < d < 63 mm (quantity up to 15 kg)
2.3 Sieving, 0.06 mm < d < 20 mm after wet separating of fines < 0.06 mm (quantity up to 2 kg)
2.4 Sieving, 0.06 mm < d < 63 mm after wet separation of fines < 0.06 mm (quantity up to 15 kg)
2.5 Sedimentation, without determination of the grain density
2.6 Combined sieving and sedimentation, 0.001 mm < d < 20 mm (quantity up to 2 kg)
2.7 Combined sieving and sedimentation, 0.001 mm < d < 63 mm (quantity up to 15 kg)
2.8 Large sieving of gravel and stones with impact screen machine, as dry sieving or after wet separation of the small particles d < 2 mm, mesh: 2 - 4 - 8 - 10 - 12 - 16 - 20 - 30 - 31.5 - 60 - 63 - 100 - 125 mm
 
3 Water content, consistency limits, ingredients, density
3.1 Water content (set with 2 samples) according to DIN 18121, Part 1 or 2
3.2 Determination of the liquid and plastic limit with the one-point method according to DIN 18122 or with the multipoint Atterberg method
3.3 Shrinking limit according to DIN 18122, Part 2
3.4 Organic content according to DIN 18128
3.5 Lime content according to DIN 18129
3.6 Determination of the water absorption capacity according to DIN 18132, set of 3 samples
3.7 Grain density in capillary pycnometer (100 ml) according to DIN 18124, set of 3 samples
3.8 Determination of the density with submersion weighting according to DIN 18125-1
3.9 Determination of the density of a frost sample with submersion weighting
3.10 Density in extraction cylinder according to DIN 18125, Part 2
3.11 Determination of the limit densities according to DIN 18126 with sand
 
4 Permeability test
4.1 Permeability test of fine-grained soils with variable hydraulic head according to DIN 18130 with static load, sample diameter: 7.6 cm or 10 cm
4.2 Permeability test of coarse-grained soils (d <10 mm) in cylinder with piezometer and constant hydraulic head according to DIN 18130 , sample diameter: 14 cm, sample height: 18 cm
4.3 Investigation of fine-grained soils with kr < 10-5 m/s in the triaxial cell according to DIN 18130 with isotropic or anisotropic stress state, sample diameter: 5 to 10 mm, sample height: 12 cm
4.4 Investigation of mixed soils with kr < 10-5 m/s in the triaxial cell with isotropic or anisotropic stress state, sample diameter: 20 mm, sample height: 20 cm
4.5 Permeability test with constant hydraulic head, sample diameter: 60 cm
4.6 Absorption test according to DIN 18035
 
5 Uniaxial compression test
5.1 Determination of the unconfined strength, sample diameter: 10 cm, if neccesary after special specimen treatment or preparation of end faces, load < 100kN
 
6 Proctor test (DIN 18127)
6.1 Proctor test with simple or modified Proctor energy, sample diameter: 10 cm
6.2 Proctor test with simple or modified Proctor energy, sample diameter: 15 cm
6.3 Proctor test, sample diameter: 25 cm
 
7 Pressure-settlement test (oedometer)
7.1 Load controlled oedometer test of sand, σ < 2 MPa, sample diameter: 7.6 cm or 10 cm
7.2 Load controlled oedometer test of fine-grained soil, σ < 2 MPa, sample diameter: 7.6 cm or 10 cm, if necessary with several load steps and creep phases
7.3 Load controlled oedometer test of fine-grained soils, σ < 10 MPa, sample diameter: 3.1 cm, parallel guided, if necessary with several load steps and creep phases
7.4 Load controlled oedometer test of fine and mixed-grained soils with d < 10 mm, σ < 30 MPa, sample diameter: 10, 15, or 20 cm, if necessary with several load steps and creep phases
7.5 Load controlled oedometer test of fine and mixed-grained soils with d < 40 mm, σ < 3 MPa, sample diameter: 50 cm, if necessary with several load steps and creep phases
7.6 Strain controlled oedometer test (CRS test) of fine and mixed-grained soils. Sample diameters: 3.1 to 10 cm, load < 100 kPA, if necessary with unloading/reloading and creep phases
 
8 Special tests to shear and tensile strength
8.1 Determination of cu with lab vane (set of 3 samples)
8.2 Determination of cu with drop cone (set of 3 samples)
8.3 Tensile strength of undisturbed soils, sample diameter: 5 cm, sample height: 5 cm
 
9 Direct shear test
9.1 Shear box test without axially parallel guidance of coarse-grained soils, d < 2 mm, sample size: 10 * 10 cm, with given density (set of 3 samples)
9.2 Shear box test without axially parallel guidance of disturbed fine-grained soils, d < 2 mm, installation at liquid limit, sample size: 6 * 6 cm, if necessary with swelling phase after normal or over consolidation, creep phase and velocity jumps (set of 3 samples)
9.3 Shear box test without axially parallel guidance of undisturbed fine-grained soils, d < 2 mm, installation at liquid limit, sample size: 6 * 6 cm, if necessary with swelling phase after normal or over consolidation, creep phase and velocity jumps (set of 3 samples)
9.4 Shear box test with axially parallel guidance, sample size 12 * 12 cm (set of 3 samples)
9.5 Ring shear test with a diameter of 100 mm, grain size d < 2 mm
 
10 Triaxial test (according to DIN 18127)
 
10.1 Drained triaxial test of coarse-grained soils:
10.1.1 Sample diameter: 5 cm, grain size d < 5 mm, installation with given density, max cell pressure 2 MPa
10.1.2 Sample diameter: 10 cm, grain size d < 10 mm, installation with given density, max cell pressure 2 MPa
10.1.3 Sample diameter: 20 cm, grain size d < 25 mm, installation with given density, max cell pressure 2 MPa
10.1.4 Sample diameter: 20 cm, grain size d < 25 mm, installation with given density, max cell pressure 10 MPa
10.1.5 Sample diameter: 80 cm, grain size d < 120 mm, installation with given density, max cell pressure 2 MPa
 
10.2 Drained triaxial test of fine and mixed-grained soils:
10.2.1 Sample diameter: 5 cm, grain size d < 5 mm, pricked or cut out sample, max cell pressure 2 MPa
10.2.2 Sample diameter: 10 cm, grain size d < 10 mm, cut out sample, max cell pressure 2 MPa
10.2.3 Sample diameter: 20 cm, grain size d < 25 mm, stamped sample, max cell pressure 2 MPa
10.2.4 Sample diameter: 20 cm, grain size d < 25 mm, stamped sample, max cell pressure 10 MPa
10.2.5 Sample diameter: 80 cm, grain size d < 120 mm, stamped sample, max cell pressure 2 MPa
 
10.3 Consolidated undrained triaxial test of fine and mixed-grained soils
10.3.1 Sample diameter: 5 cm, grain size d < 5 mm, pricked or cut out sample, max cell pressure 2 MPa
10.3.2 Sample diameter: 5 cm, grain size d < 5 mm, pricked or cut out sample, max cell pressure 8 MPa
10.3.3 Sample diameter: 10 cm, grain size d < 10 mm, cut out sample, max cell pressure 2 MPa
10.3.4 Sample diameter: 20 cm, grain size d < 25 mm, stamped sample, max cell pressure 2 MPa
10.3.5 Sample diameter: 20 cm, grain size d < 25 mm, stamped sample, max cell pressure 10 MPa
10.3.6 Sample diameter: 80 cm, grain size d < 120 mm, stamped sample, max cell pressure 2 MPa
 
10.4 Unconsolidated undrained triaxial test of fine and mixed-grained soils
10.4.1 Sample diameter: 5 cm, grain size d < 5 mm, pricked or cut out sample, max cell pressure 2 MPa
10.4.2 Sample diameter: 5 cm, grain size d < 5 mm, pricked or cut out sample, max cell pressure 8 MPa
10.4.3 Sample diameter: 10 cm, grain size d < 10 mm, cut out sample, max cell pressure 2 MPa
10.4.4 Sample diameter: 20 cm, grain size d < 25 mm, stamped sample, max cell pressure 10 MPa
 
10.5 Multistage triaxial test of fine-grained soils
10.5.1 Drained triaxial test, sample diameter: 5 cm, pricked or cut out sample, consolidation within 3 steps, max cell pressure 2 MPa
10.5.2 Consolidated undrained triaxial test, sample diameter: 5 cm, pricked or cut out sample, consolidation within 3 steps, max cell pressure 2 MPa
 
11 Special investigations
 
11.1 Frost tests in our freezer lab
11.1.1 Producing a frost sample, coarse-grained soils, d < 5mm, sample diameter: 10 cm, sample height: 12 cm, installation with given density, freezing the sample with a slow frost front from bottom to top
11.1.2 Uniaxial test, sample diameter: 10 cm, max grain size d: 5 mm, displacement controlled compression with a temperature between -10°C und -20°C, determination of the creep curve under constant pressure
11.1.3 Frost heave test, controlled temperatur gradient, sample diameter: 10 cm, sample height: 18 cm, grain size d < 5 mm
 
11.2 Resonance column tests (RC tests)
11.2.1 RC-tests of coarse-grained soils with d < 10 cm, sample diameter: 10 cm, sample height: 10 to 30 cm, horizontal pressure < 1 MPa
11.2.2 RC-tests of saturated fine-grained soils with d < 10 mm, with consolidation, sample diameter: 10 cm, sample height: 10 to 30 cm, horizontal pressure < 1 MPa
11.2.3 RC-tests of large stamped samples with d < 60 mm, without consolidation, sample diameter: 80 cm, sample height: 85 cm, horizontal pressure < 90 kPa
11.2.4 RC-tests of large concrete samples, sample diameter: 50 cm, sample height: 100 cm, with ultrasound measurements