GeoTest Laboratories Ltd ,
Fairclough House ,
Church St , Adlington ,
Lancs , PR7 4EX
Tel 01257 481782 ,
Fax 01257 482291

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soil Laboratory Testing

 

Soil Testing - Classification Tests
(BS 1377:1990: Part 2)
Test Method Description Accredited
Moisture Content
3.2 Oven Drying
U
Index Properties

4.3 Cone Penetrometer (definitive)

5.3 Plastic Limit

5.4 Plasticity Index (calculated)
U
Plastic Limit
5.3 Plastic Limit only
U
Linear Shrinkage
6.5 Linear Shrinkage
Specimen Density

7.2 Linear Measurement (regular shape)

7.3 Mass in Air and Water

7.4 Mass with Volume Displacement
Particle Density

8.2 Gas Jar

8.3 Pyknometer (small)

8.4 Pyknometer (large)
U

Grading

(wet sieving)

9.2 Particle Size Distribution

(wet sieving)
U

Grading

(dry sieving)

9.3 Particle Size Distribution

(dry sieving)
U
Sedimentation

Method 9.4 Particle Size Distribution

(sedimentation (pipette))
U

 

Soil Testing - Compaction Related Tests
(BS 1377:1990: Part 4)
Test Method Description Accredited
2.5 kg Compaction

Method 3.3, 3.4 Dry Density Moisture Relationship

2.5 kg rammer
U
4.5 kg Compaction

Method 3.5, 3.6 Dry Density Moisture Relationship

4.5 kg rammer
U
Vibrating Hammer Compaction

Method 3.7 Dry Density Moisture Relationship

Vibrating Hammer
U
MCV
Method 5.4 Moisture Condition Value (MCV) at Natural Moisture Content
U
MCV Moisture Content Relationship
Method 5.5 Moisture Condition Value (MCV) Moisture Content Relationship
U
Chalk Crushing Value
Method 6 Chalk Crushing Value (CCV)
CBR Test - Recompacted Sample
Method 7 California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Test on Top and Base of Specimen including recompaction
U
CBR Test - Undisturbed Sample
Method 7 California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Test on Top and Base of Specimen including preparation
U
CBR - 4 day Soak and Swell Record
Method 7 California Bearing Ratio (CBR) - 4 day Soak and Swell Record

 

Soil Testing - Compressibility and Permeability Tests
(BS 1377:1990: Part 5)
Test Method Description Accredited
Constant Head Permeability

Method 5 Coefficient of Permeability

Constant Head (CH)
Falling Head Permeability

Coefficient of Permeability

Falling Head (FH) (K H Head Modified)

One Dimensional Consolidation
(oedometer)
Method 3 Loading - 6 load increments (up to 6 days)
U
Swelling Pressure
Method 4.3 Swelling Pressure
Swelling Measurement
Method 4.4 Swelling Measurement
Settlement on Saturation
Method 4.5 Settlement on Saturation

 

Soil Testing - Triaxial Permeability Tests
(BS 1377:1990: Part 6)
Test Method Description Accredited

Triaxial Permeability

Triaxial Cell

Method 6 Coefficient of Permeability

Triaxial Cell - first 4 days
U

 

Soil & Rock Strength Testing-Shear Strength Tests-Total Stress
(BS 1377:1990: Part 7)
Test Method Description Accredited
Hand Vane - set

Hand Vane - set of 5 on each point of compaction

or MCV range
Hand Vane Remoulded - each point
Hand Vane Remoulded each point
Shear Box - Consolidated Drained
Method 4 Shear Strength by Direct Shear (small shear box) - consolidated Drained (CD), per specimen (normally 3 stages)
Shear Box - Consolidated Drained
with Residual Strength
Method 4 Shear Strength by Direct Shear (small shear box) - Consolidated Drained with Residual Strength (one reversal and re- shearing), per specimen (normally 3 stages) - 4 days
Unconfined Compressive Strength
(UCS)
Method 7 Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS)
U38 Triaxial (single)
Method 8 Quick Triaxial using nominal 38mm diameter specimens
U

U38 Triaxial

(set of 3)
Method 8 Quick Triaxial using nominal 38mm diameter specimens (normally set of 3)
U
U100 Triaxial (single)
Method 8 Quick Triaxial (definitive method) using nominal 100mm diameter specimens
U
U100 Triaxial (multi-stage)
Method 9 Quick Undrained Multi-stage Triaxial using nominal
100mm diameter specimens
Remoulded (DTp) Triaxial
Remoulded Triaxial (Specification for Highway Works TSO May 2004 Clause 633) using nominal 100mm diameter specimens
U

 

Soil & Rock Strength Testing-Shear Strength Tests-Effective Stress
(BS 1377:1990:Pt 8)
Test Method Description Accredited
CU38 & CU100 Triaxial (single)
Method 8.11 Consolidated undrained triaxial compression with pore pressure measurement on a single 38mm or 100mm diameter specimen.
S-U

CU100 Triaxial

(multi-stage)
Method 8.12 Multistage consolidated undrained triaxial compression with pore pressure measurement on a single 38mm or 100mm diameter specimen.
S-U
CD38 & CD100 Triaxial (single)
Method 8.13 Consolidated drained triaxial compression with pore pressure measurement on a single 38mm or 100mm diameter specimen.
S-U

CD38 & CD100 Triaxial

(multi-stage)
Method 8.13 Multistage consolidated drained triaxial compression with pore pressure measurement on a single 38mm or 100mm
S-U

S-U = Subcontracted to testing laboratory with UKAS accreditation for test

Rock Testing
Test Method Description Accredited
Bulk Density & Moisture Content
Moisture content by oven drying, bulk density by caliper
Porosity & Bulk Density
Using saturation & density by caliper or buoyancy techniques
Point Load Index

Point Load Index (axial/diametrical)

ISRM suggested method, rate per each orientation

Unconfined Compressive Strength
(UCS)

Unconfined Compreression test on Rock

ISRM suggested method

Please note U - denotes UKAS accredited

S-U - denotes sub-contracted to UKAS lab

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