Material Testing Equipment

Liquid Limit Device
Code: ZI - 3005
IS : 2720 (Part V) IS : 9259, BS : 1377, ASTM.

Description: Casagrande method in mechanical form is known as liquid limit method and has been in use for soil mechanics for a number of years. The liquid limit data of soils is useful to correlate mechanical properties of soil, such as compressibility and lower shear strength. Liquid limit is the water content at which soil passes from zero strength to an infinitesimal strength, hence the true value of liquid limit cannot be determined. For determination purpose liquid limit is that water content at which a part of soil, cut by a groove of standard dimensions, will flow together for a distance of 1.25 cm under an impact of 25 blows in a standard liquid limit apparatus. The soil at the water content has some strength which is about 0.17 n/cm. sq. (17 gms/ sq. cm.) At this water content soil just passes from liquid state to plastic state.

It consists on a brass cup held on an adjustable bracket.

The cup can be adjusted for a fall of 1 cm and can be raised and dropped on a rubber base of standard hardness by cam action. Complete with one casagrande grooving tool, one astm grooving tool and a height gauge block.

Universal Automatic Compactor
Code: ZI-3020
IS 2720 (Part VII & VIII )

Description: Now a days almost every soil laboratory conducts compaction and penetration tests on soils. In both standard and heavy compaction tests the operator has to count the number of blows of the rammer on each layer of soil during compaction. A mechanically cum electrically operated automatic compactor is therefore devised to eliminate tedious hand compaction process. Which also considerably saves time with the rammers provided two stroke lengths, available, the compactor can be used for normal compaction/heavy compaction as well as c.b.r. Compaction.

It is a motor driven mechanical compactor useful for soil compaction into 100 mm or 150 mm diameter moulds. Two sets of rammers are provided, one of 2.6 and arranged for 310 mm. Drop and other 4.9 kg and arranged for 450 mm fall. For compaction soil into 150 mm dia moulds, 100 mm face dia rammers having weight 2.6 kg and 4.89 kg are used. Where as for 100 mm dia moulds they are of 50 mm dia. The rammer assembly is provided with a ratchet and pawl arrangement to lift it from the top of the soil layer. When the rammer reaches the required height the pawl release the rammer which falls freely on soil surface. The release mechanism is operated by an arm moving up and down which is connected to a reduction gear coupled to the motor through another arm. An automatic blow counter fitted to the compactor is used to set the number of blows. The base plate of the specimen mould is to be fitted to the rotating base plate of the instrument which makes 1/5th revolution per stroke. The equipment is suitable for operation on 230 volts, 50 cycles, single phase, a.c. Supply. Moulds are to be ordered separately.

Rapid Moisture Meter 0-25%
Code: ZI - 3031
Description: The unit consist of a pressure vessel with clamp for sealing cap, rubber sealing gasket, pressure gauge calibrated in percentage moisture content 0-25% x 0.25% on the wet weight bzis, a counter poised balance for weighing sample, a scoop for measuring carbide regent, a bottle of reagent, one cleaning brush and a set of 4 steel balls for through mixing. Complete in highly polished wooden carrying case with handle.

Consolidation Apparatus
Code: ZI - 3036
Description: Consolidation test is undimensional test considered extremely important in soil mechanics. Sample taken from adjacent areas of a single site show differential settlement even when tested using same techniques. Soil of similar strength may show varying consolidation. Samples are very carefully prepared and vertical settlement of the specimen in saturated or drained conditions carefully recorded en known load is applied.

The standard outfit comprises of the following items. Loading unit, maximum capacity 20 kg/cm.sq. Having a loading yoke connected to a lever arm with a counter balancing adjustment and having a lever ratio of 1:1 the whole assembly being mounted on a sturdy steel frame stand. The loading unit is so designed that it can be used for consolidation cells of different diameters as well as different dia floating ring type consolidation cells.

Fixed ring type consolidometer (odometer) cell assembly for testing 60mm dia x 20 mm thick specimen comprising:

Fixed ring for specimens 60 mm dia x 20 mm thick with guide ring, Top and bottom porous stones for 60 mm dia specimen.

Perforated pressure pad, channeled base with water inlet and gasket

Flanged water jacket, water reservoir with plastic tube and pinchcock.

Set of weights to give a pressure of 10 kg/cm. Sq. On 60 mm dia specimen, Comprising 7 nos.kg/sq.cm. , 5 nos .0.1 kg/sq.cm., 6 nos. 0.5 kg/sq. Cm., and 5 nos Kg/sq.cm.

Supplied complete as above but without dial gauge.

Direct Shear Apparatus (Motorised 12 Speeds)
Code: ZI - 3042
Direct Shear Apparatus (Hand Operated)

Description: Same as above but unit is electrically operated to give the following 12 rates or strains. 1.25, 0.625, 0.25, 0.125, 0.0 0.025,0.01,0.005,0.002,0.001,0.004 and 0.0002 mm/min. The apparatus is suitable for operation on 230 volts sing phase a.c. supply

Direct Shear Apparatus (Hand Operated)

For determining the direct shear strength of soils on specimen size 60 mm x 60 mm x 25 mm

Code: ZI - 3038
Description: The apparatus comprises of the following :-
Specimen from larger samples. Set of weight to give a normal stress of 3 kg/sq. cm. Through larger as follows:

Net weights 140 kg.

Essential Accessories: High sensitivity compression proving ring cap 200 kg. One consolidation dial gauge 0.01 mm x 25 mm and one strain dial gauge 0.01 mm x 25mm.
Optional Extras: Additional set of weights to give a normal stress 5 kg/cm2. Soil sampler for 60 mm x 60 mm specimen and test forms pad of 50.
Spares: Porous stone for 60 mm x 60 mm size sample available in pairs.

Triaxial Cell
Code: ZI - 3065
(Part -Xii) (Stationary Bushing) For 38 Mm Dia Specimen

Description: The cell is useful for testing 38 mm dia x 76 mm high soil specimen. Transparent Perspex chambers with anvil and loading plunger, the cell is easily opened by releasing four nuts of the tie rods. It is leakproof upto 10 kg. /cm. Sq. Fluid pressure. An oil plug which can also be used as an air vent is provided for introducing a thin layer of oil over water. This provides effective sealing at the plunger for long duration tests. The cell is fitted with four sleeve packed valves of no volume change type on the base. These valves are used for cell pressure, pore water pressure, drainage or backpressure. The loading plunger of the cell has a dial gauge rest.

California Bearing Ratio Test Apparatus

Description: The apparatus consists of:

Static Cone Penetrometer (Capacity 100KN)
Code: ZI - 4005
Description: For reaching greater depths and to facilitate easy and constant rate of penetration 1 to 2.5 cm/sec of the cone this engine-driven Static Cone Penetrometer of 100 Kn (10,000 kgf) capacity is preferable. The equipment consists of a hydraulic pump driven by a Diesel Engine. The whole system is mounted on a towable trolley fitted with pneumatic wheels. The pumping unit and ram are connected by means of flexible pipes through a direction control valve. The hydraulic ram moves on a two pillar stand mounted on a trolley.