Instructional Laboratory

The instructional geotechnical laboratory is used to conduct laboratory sessions that are part of the coursework for undergraduate classes, Geotechnical Engineering I & II. The lab consists of five triaxial cell set ups which can also be used for consolidation tests, a direct shear apparatus, constant head and falling head permeability set ups, consolidation apparatus, and a mechanical sieve shaker. The instructional centrifuge is also housed in the laboratory. Soil classification by visualization, sieve analysis, hydrometer analysis, and Atterberg limits; standard and proctor compaction tests; permeability tests; and consolidation tests are typically conducted as a part of the course requirement of Geotechnical Engineering I. Unconfined compression test, triaxial compression test, direct shear test, and centrifuge experiments to study slope stability, retaining wall, and bearing capacity problems are typically conducted as a part of the course requirement of Geotechnical Engineering II.

The instructional centrifuge

The instructional centrifuge is operational since 1996 and is housed in the undergraduate geotechnical engineering laboratory. This centrifuge is used as an instructional tool in undergraduate geotechnical engineering labs to introduce simple concepts of slope stability, active and passive earth pressure conditions, and bearing capacity that are taught in the classes. The centrifuge consists of a rotating disk, 4 ft in diameter, enclosed in a protective cover and attached to a 560 W electric motor. The soil model is placed in a testing container that is mounted in a holding bracket on the disk. A second container is mounted on the disk opposite the model container to counter balance the testing

container. A strobe light is used to watch a steady image of the model by adjusting its frequency with the rotational speed of the centrifuge automatically. The centrifuge is capable of creating accelerations of up to 400 g with a payload of 3 lb corresponding to the capacity of 0.6 g-ton.