Direct and Residual Shear Test Apparatus

STANDARDS: ASTM D3080 | NF P94-071-1, NF P094-071-2 | AASHTO T236 | UNI EN ISO 17892-10 | STAS 8942-2-82

This apparatus is used to determine the resistance to shearing of all types of soil specimens including both consolidated and drained, undisturbed or remolded. The machine can accommodate round specimens Ø 50, 60, 63.5, 100 mm and square 60x60, 100x100 mm.
The machine has an integral closed loop control motor with epicycloid reducers.
At the beginning of each test, the machine performs an automatic and complete internal check including a position reset resulting in the  elimination of all position errors.
A user-friendly microprocessor controlled touch screen is used to input all test patterns providing an efficient and flexible interface.
(All data are input and stored when the machine is in stand-by, without affecting the specimen under test with quick machine setting.)
Facility for shear box maximum extension detection, to automatically stop the test.
Facility to input a different return speed (residual shear) in relation to the one used for the shear test, thus allowing a quick playback of the residual shear test, saving a lot of time.
The effects of the primary consolidation can be identified directly on the consolidation curve, only with data acquisition version. Automatic
calculation of the appropriate shear velocity with selection of optimal consolidation parameters for t50, t90 and t100 (only with data acquisition version). This provides efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Direct / Residual Shear Test Apparatus is a laboratory testing system designed to determine the shear strength and residual shear strength parameters of soil. The apparatus applies a controlled normal load and horizontal shear force to a prepared soil specimen, allowing the shear behavior of the material to be evaluated.

The equipment is suitable for direct shear testing and residual shear testing, making it valuable for geotechnical investigations, slope stability studies, foundation design and soil mechanics research.

Key Features:

• Automatic calculation of the appropriate shear velocity based on optimal consolidation parameters.
• Shear speed: 0.00001 to 15.0000 mm/min
• Different return speed facility for residual shear test.
• Integral closed loop control motor.
• User-friendly microprocessor controlled touch screen.
• The machine acquires all the necessary parameters for the shear test.

Frame Specifications:

• Maximum shear load: 5000 N possible on the whole speed range.
• Shear speed: 0.00001 to 15.0000 mm/min.
• Display of both speed and displacement with 0.00001 mm resolution.
• Possibility of direct vertical load, or with a lever arm ratio 10:1
• Max vertical direct load: 500N; lever arm: 5500N
• Box group mounted on ball track with high quality antifriction system.
• Extremely easy and practical use, not requiring qualified staff.

Firmware:

• Electronic control unit Cyber-plus Progress with 7" touch-screen color graphic display, that runs like a standard PC based on Windows operating system, for the management of the data. (Analysis of the data, test results, graphs with SmartLab Software; optional accessory).
• The touch-screen icon interface allows an easy set-up of all the parameters and prompt execution of the test. Read value results are immediate and of extreme accuracy.
• The machine can perform the tests without any external PC, because of the Cyber-Plus grants performances like a PC.
• Direct connection to Intranet (connection to a LAN network) and Internet to establish a remote communication and receive an immediate diagnosis from Matest technicians, or for upgrades of the Firmware.
• Unlimited memory storage with: 1 USB port.
• Possibility to select different languages.

Applications:

• Direct shear testing
• Residual shear strength testing
• Soil strength evaluation
• Slope stability analysis
• Foundation engineering
• Geotechnical investigations
• Soil mechanics laboratories
• Civil engineering laboratories
• Research and educational institutions