GDS Large Automated Direct Shear System (300mm)

Product Code : GDSLADS

GDS Large Automated Direct Shear System (GDSLADS) is an electro-mechanical direct shear testing device for large samples, up to 300mm square or round. Different sample sets can be used to achieve the following types of testing in one system.

  • Standard Direct Shear up to 300x300mm.
  • Geomembrane Shear test.
  • Rock Mechanics sample set.
Further Information:

Discover more shear testing equipment for soil testing.

Key features Benefits to the user
Electro-mechanical actuation: Only mains electricity required (no hydraulics or pneumatics) therefore reducing the space required and providing a more accurate system.
Electro-mechanical & normal force application: No hanging weights, hydraulics or pneumatics. 
Automated data logging (multiple stage tests): Testing can run unattended over night and at weekends to increase throughput and reduce staff costs. Multiple stage tests can be preprogrammed and saved in GDSLAB.
Cylindrical or square samples can be supplied, as well as multiple sample boxes: GDSLADS has the flexibility to test different shaped samples allowing the user greater flexibility of use, along with increased throughput of tests via multiple sample boxes.
Built in loadcells (Standard 100kN, other ranges can be provided): Interchangeable loadcells allow lower range loadcells to be used for more accurate low stress testing.
Stiff construction:  To reduce equipment compliance and increase accuracy.
After setting of shear gap no further user intervention is required: Automated test control and a greater throughput of samples.
Actuators

100kN Shear force actuator, 100kN Normal force actuator

Dimensions

1700 x 1460 x 950mm

Load Range (kN)

100kN Axial, 100kN Shear

Sample Sizes

Square: 300x300mm, Round: 300mm

Weight Approx (kg)

1500

 

Tests supported by the GDS Large Automated Direct Shear System (300mm), shear testing equipment for soil testing :-

Axial Compression

An axial compression test determines the behaviour of geo-materials when the major load is applied in the axial direction. The specimen load and displacement is recorded while the specimen is compressed. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Constant Normal Stiffness

A constant normal stiffness condition may be specified and maintained when testing specimens within GDS direct shear and direct simple shear apparatuses. This condition allows for both the normal stress and normal strain to vary as a specimen is sheared based on the contractive and dilative tendencies of the geo-material – here dilation results in increased normal stress and specimen height, while contraction results in decreased normal stress and specimen height. The magnitude of normal stress and normal strain variation is proportional to the constant normal stiffness value specified by the user, entered in units of kN/mm or kPa/mm. Practical applications of such a test condition include modelling the interface between piles socketed or grouted into a geo-material.

Cyclic Testing, Slow

Slow cyclic testing may be performed on all GDS triaxial testing apparatus with the appropriate software modules.  The speed the cycles can be applied is determined by the performance of the system.  A standard load frame generally only used for quasi-static testing can perform cyclic testing with periods of around 5 minutes when coupled with GDSLAB control and data acquisition software. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Cyclic loading of samples under either load or strain

Cyclic loading refers to the repeated loading of a sample.  All GDS systems can imply this loading either under load control, or under strain (displacement) control.  Load control will be via feedback from the load cell and displacement control will be via the feedback from the displacement transducer.  Load and displacement control can be performed by all GDS system.  The speed of the cyclic loading depends on the frequency performance (i.e. the dynamic performance) of the system in question.  Dynamic stress control is possible, but only available on the most advanced GDS dynamic because of the additional processing required to calculate the sample area during the cycles.  Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Direct Shear Tests

Direct shear tests: The sample is contained inside a rigid box with a horizontal split line at the mid-height of the sample. The shear force is applied to the sample by moving the two halves of the box horizontally relative to each other. The intension is to induce a shear plane to form between the two halves of the sample. Properties can be obtained for the material prior to shear and post failure or residual. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Geo-membrane Shear Test

Direct shear testing of a geo-synthetic material embedded in a soil specimen to determine the shear strength of the geo-synthetic-soil system. 

K0 (K-Zero)

Kzero conditions (or specifically the coefficient of earth pressure at rest) in the context of laboratory testing are where a sample is required to be loaded whilst keeping the area of the sample a constant.  Kzero conditions are maintained in a n oedometer by design due to the radial constraint, however in an oedometer the radial stress cannot be measured therefore the K-zero condition is not measureable.  A Kzero test in a triaxial cell allows Kzero conditions to be applied and measured. The Kzero module allows you to run two tests. 

  • Test 1: Kzero using ramp RADIAL STRESS with direct radial transducer measurement: Uses a direct reading of the specimen diameter to enable the test control to maintain zero diameter change.
  • Test 2: Kzero using ramp RADIAL STRESS with back volume change measurement: Uses the change in volume of the specimen to calculate a theoretical new specimen height thus ensuring the diameter change remains zero.

Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Load Control (Static)

Enables application of load to a specimen for tens of seconds or more, and at frequencies less than 0.1 Hz during cyclic loading. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Multi-stage Testing

The procedure for conventional triaxial tests requires three separate soil specimens to be sheared to failure under different confining pressures so that Mohr-Coulomb failure envelope can be determined and soil shear strength parameters can be obtained. An alternative procedure is the multi-stage triaxial compression test, which requires only one soil specimen to be tested at three stages of shearing with different confining pressures.


There main advantages of multi stage soil testing is the requirement for fewer soil specimens, as well as reduced testing time.  The advantage of performing the test with 3 separate samples is that if one of the samples is unsatisfactory (perhaps due to sample disturbance for example) then it is likely to be noticed when the Mohr circles are plotted, whereas this could remain unnoticed in the multi stage test. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Oedometer / Consolidation

Uses a datalogger to take settlement readings from a hanging weight oedometer system.  Alternatively, GDS produces an automated oedometer which completely automates one dimensional consolidation testing.

Quasi-Static (low speed/creep) Tests

Quasi-static refers to slow speed tests.  Creep tests require accurate displacements to be measurable whilst a continuous, sometimes long term loading is accurately applied. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Stepped Loading

Stepped Loading provides a means to increase the specimen axial load, whilst maintaining a constant back pressure and measuring the back (pore) volume change. Please note: Some apparatus may require additional components or software modules to perform certain tests.

Standards for the GDS Large Automated Direct Shear System (300mm), shear testing equipment for soil testing :-