Our state-of-the-art and UKAS-accredited geotechnical and materials testing laboratories in Bristol, Castleford, Hemel Hempstead and Tonbridge are fully equipped and automated for testing soil, rock and aggregate materials.
Structural Soils laboratories continue to extend the original scope of their certification range. Our clients can be confident that our qualified professionals will meet their testing needs. Strong customer service drives us to provide accurate testing results that address our clients’ specific schedule and project requirements. Our laboratories are also equipped to handle and test non-UK samples.
The laboratories are capable of carrying out the full suite of tests as specified by British and ISO standards (BS, BS EN, ISO), where all tests are performed in strict accordance with set methodologies and guidelines. The laboratories also carry out International Society for Rock Mechanics rock tests and are able to test in accordance with less commonly requested ASTM International test methods. We can also work with clients to create bespoke site- or project-specific testing solutions.
Laboratory data deliverables includes digital data in both AGS and PDF formats.
The laboratory tests we provide for testing soil, rock and aggregate materials are listed below.
Soil tests
- Classification tests
- Moisture/water content
- Particle size distribution – sieve and sedimentation analysis
- Liquid and plastic limits (Atterberg limits) – 1 or 4 point
- Bulk and dry density – direct and immersion
- Particle density (previously known as specific gravity)
- Desiccation – filter paper suction method
- Compaction
- Chalk crushing value
- California bearing ratio
- Dry density/moisture content relationship:
- 2.5-kg and 4.5-kg rammer
- Vibrating hammer
- Moisture condition value – (1 point at natural moisture condition or 5-point calibration)
- Compressibility
- Oedometer consolidation (one-dimensional)
- Oedometer swelling
- Isotropic consolidation in a triaxial cell
- Swell or collapse/soil expansivity
- Permeability
- Constant (or falling) head permeability
- Triaxial permeability
- Total stress
- Laboratory vane and torvane – shear strength
- Direct and residual shear strength
- Small shear (60 mm × 60 mm) – direct shear strength
- Large shear box (300 mm × 300 mm) – direct shear strength
- Ring shear – residual shear strength
- Unconfined compressive strength (38-mm to 100-mm specimens)
- Quick undrained triaxial compression – single or multistage
- Effective stress
- Consolidated undrained
- Consolidated drained
- 38-mm to 100-mm specimens
- With or without mid-height pore pressure measurements
- Durability
- Erodibility by dispersion method
- Miscellaneous
- Redox potential
- Thermal and electrical resistivity
Rock tests
- Automated grinding for satisfying strict dimensional tolerances
- Moisture/water content
- Porosity and density
- Point load index
- Uniaxial compressive strength
- Triaxial compressive strength
- Swelling pressure and strain
- Direct shear strength
- Indirect tensile strength
- Sound wave velocity – propagation of compressive and shear waves
- Elastic parameters (shear and Young’s moduli, Poisson’s ratio)
- Cerchar abrasivity
- Slake durability and jar slaking
- Thermal and electrical resistivity
Aggregate tests
- Sampling
- Moisture/water content
- Particle size distribution
- Flakiness index
- Constituents of recycled aggregates
- Density and water absorption
- Loose bulk density
- Resistance to fragmentation
- Aggregate crushing value
- Ten percent fines value
- Aggregate impact value
- Magnesium sulphate
Unbound and hydraulically bound mixtures
- Reference density and water content
- Proctor compaction
- Vibrating hammer
- California bearing ratio and swelling
- Moisture content value
Concrete
- Compressive strength of concrete cores
Supplementary laboratory testing services are offered through Envirolab and RSK Materials and Structures. For more information please ask@soils.