What is a Triaxial Test ?
STALC3 submersible load cells have been used in Imperial College London Geotechnical Laboratory's triaxial test chambers for over 10 years now.
What is a Triaxial Test?
A triaxial test is performed on a cylindrical core soil or rock sample to determine its shear strength.
The triaxial test attempts to replicate the in-situ stresses (stresses in the original place the soil sample was taken) on the core soil or rock sample.
Why is triaxial testing carried out?
Finding out the shear strength of soil and rock samples enables engineers to determine both the long-term and short-term effects of the core soil in large-scale engineering applications such as slope failure, earth dams, tunnels linings, subsoil structures, embankments and foundations.
How does a triaxial test work?
The cylindrical soil sample is vertically sealed within a thin rubber membrane and placed between two porous discs at the top and bottom end. The cylindrical soil sample is then positioned between a top loading plate and placed on a pedestal inside a triaxial pressure chamber.
The pressure chamber is filled with fluid which applies fluid pressure to the sides of the cylindrical soil sample. Vertical or axial stress is applied to the cylindrical sample by applying force to the moveable top-loading plate.
Typically, the soil sample has a 2:1 height to diameter ratio.
An LVDT displacement transducer can be used to measure the distance the top plate moves. Alternatively, the force needed to move the top plate can determine the distance the plate has moved.
The net volume of the fluid in the pressure chamber is monitored by the amount of water that moves out of the core sample's pores.
A stalc3 submersible load cell installed above the top plate measures the axial force applied to the soil sample. The STALC3 load cell is fully submersible to IP68 rated and works with pressures up to 7000kPa or 70bar. The mV/V analogue readings can be sent to a variety of instrumentation for data logging and analysis.
The stalc3 submersible load cell accurately monitors the force applied to the soil sample in the triaxial test chamber.
There are 3 main types of triaxial tests:
* Unconsolidated - undrained (UU)
* Consolidated - undrained (CU)
* Consolidated - drained (CD)
Unconsolidated - undrained (UU) triaxial test
The unconsolidated - undrained triaxial test is the fastest test, typically completed under 30 minutes. It is performed on cohesive soil samples to determine the undrained shear strength of the core sample.
It has no saturation or consolidation stage and is a short-term test to determine short-term engineering problems. It only has a shear stage.
In this triaxial test, the loads are applied quickly and the sample is not allowed to consolidate.
Consolidated - undrained (CU)
Both the consolidated - undrained (CU) and the consolidated - drained (CD) tests begin with a saturation stage, followed by a consolidation stage and ending with a shear stage.
The CU triaxial test is the most common. The soil sample is not allowed to drain and measures both the pore water pressure and the excess water pore pressure change of the soil sample during the shearing stage.
This triaxial test can take weeks or months to perform and determines long-term engineering problems
Consolidated - drained (CD) longest test
The consolidated - drained (CD) tests begin with a saturation stage, followed by a consolidation stage, ending with a very slow shear stage.
The CD test is the longest triaxial test out of the three main types as the consolidated and shear stage must be carried out slowly. The pore pressure in the sample must not be allowed to build up and the test must allow the pore pressures to disperse.
The CD test determines long-term engineering problems.
Stalc3 Submersible Load Cell for Triaxial Test Chambers
Our STALC3 submersible load cell is specifically designed to use in high-pressure triaxial chambers. They are guaranteed to work fully submersible in fluid pressures up to 7000kPa /70bar. They have an extremely high accuracy of less than ±0.05% of the rated capacity so are ideal for high accuracy laboratory applications. Thanks to their temperature compensation & high stability, they are ideal for long-term testing.
* Designed for High-Pressure Triaxial Test Chambers
* IP68 Fully Submersible
* Guaranteed for Water Pressures up to 7000kPa /70bar
* Ideal for Long-Term Testing
* Pressure Compensating System Ensures Optimum Performance Under High Pressure.
* For Use in Both Water and OilSeptember 2020
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