GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY TESTING
The physical characteristics of soils can be investigated by means of laboratory tests on samples taken from boreholes or trial pits. Index properties and engineering properties like Maximum Dry Density, Optimum Moisture Content, Coefficient of Permeability, Shear strength parameters, Coefficient of Consolidation, gradation of soil particles are being tested in the soil mechanics laboratory. Results from lab tests can be used to derive important parameters in the design of substructure. Soil parameters so obtained by means of investigations can be utilized to design safe structures.
GEOTECHNICAL LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS
| Sl.No | Name of experiment | IS Code | Parameters | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Specific Gravity of Soil | IS 2720 Part 3 | Specific gravity | Interpretation of other test results |
| 2 | Grain size analysis | IS 2720 Part 4 | Soil fractions such as gravel(G), sand (S), silt (M), clay (C) | Soil classification |
| 3 | Determination of Atterberg limits of soil | IS 2720 Part 5 and 6 | LL, PL, SL and PI | Soil classification |
| 4 | Compaction test | IS 2720 Part 7 and 8 | OMC and MDD | Earth fill dams, embankments, highways, railway track, airfield pavements |
| 5 | Unconfined compression test | IS 2720 Part 10 | shear parameters of cohesive soil | shear strength of soil |
| 6 | Triaxial test | IS 2720 Part 11 and 12 | c and ɸ | Shear strength, bearing capacity, stability analysis of earthen dams |
| 7 | Direct shear test | IS 2720 Part 13 | c and ɸ | Shear strength, bearing capacity |
| 8 | Consolidation test | IS 2720 Part 15 | Coefficient of consolidation , compression index, coefficient of compressibility | Settlement analysis |
| 9 | CBR test | IS 2720 Part 16 | CBR Value | Design of subgrade for highways, railways and airfield pavements |
| 10 | Permeability test | IS 2720 Part 17 | Coefficient of permeability | canal lining, reservoirs and settlement analysis |