Advanced Geotechnical Laboratory Testing Seminar

 Sponsored by 

The third in the series of Equipe 3As Technical Seminars followed the theme of Advanced Geotechnical Laboratory Testing.

The event was generously sponsored by GEOLABS and was fully attended by an audience representing clients, consultants, contractors and manufacturers.

The technical presentations were of an extremely high calibre, extremely well received and comprised:

A new Plastic Limit Test Apparatus with demonstration - Graham Barnes, Consultant A presentation of his recently published work in Geotechnical Engineering which provide technical support for the apparatus designed by him to carry out the plasticity index test. The talk was followed by a demonstration of the apparatus.

Soil Suction Testing - Dr Andrew Ridley, Managing Director - Geo Observations
Soil Suction plays an important role in the behavior of soils, this presentation will discuss the test that can be carried out to measure suctions both in the field and laboratory with particular emphasis on the laboratory test and the importance of sample preparation and the speed at which the determinations need to be made once the sample has been recovered from the ground.

Sampling Quality and Small Strain Testing – Dr John Powell, Technical Director - GEOLABS
When planning to undertake advanced laboratory testing of soils it is important that the quality of the samples available is considered at an early stage to ensure that efforts are not wasted on testing highly disturbed samples; sample quality is therefore of prime importance. John Powell’s’ presentation commenced with a discussion of sampling and sample quality and will then progress to discussing advanced testing, primarily triaxial, to obtain desired information from the tests. Areas covered were small strain stiffness’s from piezobender tests and the effects of anisotropy on this stiffness, measurement of axial and radial displacements of the samples within the triaxial cells, results of changing stiffness with increasing strain levels and ... more. 

Cyclic Loading and Simple Shear – Dr Mike Rattley, Principal Engineer - Fugro Geoconsulting 
The use of both cyclic loading and simple shear testing to provide parameters for the design of offshore structures was discussed with some excellent examples of what to look out for and expect when carrying out and interpreting such tests.

Obtaining Thermal Conductivity Parameters for Ground Source Energy Applications – Duncan Nicholson, Director - Arup
Duncan has been involved with the development of ground source heat theory in the UK and his presentation looked at the test available to enhance the design of systems. 

Resonance Column and Parameter Measurement – Dr Karl Snelling, Managing Director - GDS Instruments
GDS are at the forefront of the development of equipment used to obtain the parameters now being sought by engineers. Karl introduced some of the advances being made in the measurement and control of ever more complex tests.

Copies of the proceedings are available to non delegates for £50 + VAT.