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Gilson Servo Control Load Frames: Comprehensive, Adaptable, Precise

May 07, 2025

<p><a href="/blog/servo-control-load-frames-comprehensive-adaptable-precise"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2019/April/load-frames-hero.jpg" alt="Guide to the Gilson Servo Control Load Frames" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" width="715" height="515" /></a></p><p>Laboratory load frames perform multiple test methods on a variety of soil, asphalt, and cement materials simply by changing prescribed components used for load and distance measurements. This blog post introduces Gilson’s innovative Servo Control Load Frames and explores important considerations for selection of a suitable load frame and testing components for your applications.</p>

Tags: Soil Testing , Soil Mechanics , Geotechnical , Asphalt Testing , Compressive Strength , Shear Strength , Marshall Stability , Semi-Circular Bend , Lottman Test , Tack Coat , ISS Method , Load Frames , Unconsolidated-Undrained , Consolidated-Undrained , Consolidated-Drained , Equipment Selection Guide

Chutes & Hoppers: Development of the Gilson Universal Splitter

December 12, 2024

<div><a href="/blog/development-of-gilson-universal-splitters-article"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2024/december/december-blog-hero.jpg" alt="History of the Universal Sample Splitter Article" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Riffle splitters were a popular tool in sampling and dividing, but had limitations, such as a narrow particle size range, uneven particle distribution, and poorly divided samples. To solve these issues, Gilson designed the Universal Splitter models with adjustable chute widths, a closed hopper to evenly distribute samples, and other features to produce more accurate and efficient sampling and dividing results.</p>

Tags: Equipment Selection Guide , Product Insights , Sample Splitting , Sample Dividing , Sample Splitter , Aggregate Testing

Concrete Slump Testing: Test Methods, Equipment, and Testing Techniques

April 04, 2024

<div><a href="/blog/concrete-slump-guide"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2024/april/slump-testing-article.jpg" alt="Concrete Slump Testing Article" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Concrete slump testing is the most common test performed on fresh concrete for any application. It is a significant factor when evaluating a concrete batch's compliance with the approved mix design and an eleventh-hour check of its suitability for placement. For this post, we focus on the slump test, how to perform it properly, and the best testing equipment to use.</p>

Tags: How-To , Testing Insights , Equipment Selection Guide , ASTM C143 , AASHTO T 119 , Concrete Testing , Slump Test , Fresh Concrete

Archive

Sulfur Capping Concrete Test Cylinders: Equipment & Techniques

January 17, 2024

<div><a href="/capping-concrete-cylinders"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2024/january/capping-concrete-cylinders-blog.jpg" alt="Capping Concrete Cylinders Article" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>The two most popular types of end treatment for cylindrical concrete specimens are sulfur mortar capping and neoprene compression pads. Both have their advantages. Neoprene pads are convenient and reusable many times over. Sulfur mortar is economical when testing large numbers of cylinders, and is often the preferred end treatment for cylinders because of its long history of use. Reliable strength results and consistent display of fracture patterns are predictable and well understood. In this article, we go over the equipment and techniques used for sulfur mortar capping.</p>

Tags: Testing Insights , Equipment Selection Guide , Compressive Strength , Concrete Testing , ASTM C617 , AASHTO T 231 , Sulfur Capping , Concrete Test Cylinders

Factoring in Flowability of Granular Materials: Sieving and Sizing

December 06, 2023

<div><a href="/factoring-flowability-sieving-sizing"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2023/december/part2-flowability-of-granular-materials.jpg" alt="Factoring Flowability of Granular Materials: Sieving and Sizing" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Test methods for dry granular materials must be built around the flowability of the material. No sampling, sizing, or handling method can be performed accurately or efficiently if it does not work in harmony with the material's flow properties.</p>

Tags: Resource Guide , Equipment Selection Guide , Aggregate Testing , Fine Aggregates , Wet Sieving , Sieve Analysis , Sieve Shakers , Particle Sizing , Particle Size Distribution

Asphalt Mix Design Methods Compared: Hveem, Marshall, Superpave, and BMD

October 05, 2023

<div><a href="/blog/types-of-asphalt-mix-design"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2023/october/asphalt-mix-design-article.jpg" alt="Asphalt Mix Design Article" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>The list of essential ingredients for hot mix asphalt is exceedingly short for a composite material with such complex characteristics: asphaltic cement and mineral aggregates. Modern, flexible pavements with different mix designs are simply variations in the properties and ratios of the essential ingredients and adjustments to temperatures, handling, and placement methods. This article is an overview of past and present asphalt mix design methods and equipment, including Hveem, Marshall, Superpave, and Balanced Mix Design (BMD).</p>

Tags: Testing Insights , Equipment Selection Guide , Asphalt Testing , Asphalt , Asphalt Mix Design , Pavement Design

Factoring in Flowability of Granular Materials: Choosing the Best Lab Equipment

September 06, 2023

<div><a href="/blog/factoring-flowability"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2023/september/factoring-floability.jpg" alt="Factoring Flowability of Granular Materials" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Every stage of sampling, dividing, and testing granular material is affected by its flow properties. Understanding a particular material and the unique factors that impact its flowability increases the efficiency and accuracy of your laboratory testing and can even help control your budget. In this article, we discuss what equipment is best suited for your testing application.</p>

Tags: Resource Guide , Equipment Selection Guide , Sample Prep , Lab Equipment , Aggregate Testing , Fine Aggregates , Coarse Aggregate , Sample Splitting , Sample Dividing

Sieving and Screening Accessories for Better Testing

August 03, 2023

<div><a href="/blog/better-testing-with-the-right-sieving-screening-accessories"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2023/august/august-hero-2023.jpg" alt="Sieving and Screening Accessories Article" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Particle sizing with test sieves is a hands-on process with many small, repetitive tasks that must be carried out properly. Selecting the right accessories for each job and using them correctly makes the work faster and easier, but it also significantly affects testing efficiency, accuracy, and repeatability. This article closely examines the tools that optimize test sieving procedures and ensure your sieves meet the requirements of standard test methods.</p>

Tags: Equipment Selection Guide , Maintenance , Quality Control , Quality Assurance , Sieve Analysis , Sieving

Aggregate Shape and Texture, Tests and Testing Equipment

July 13, 2023

<div><a href="/blog/aggregate-shape-and-texture-article"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2023/july/aggregate-shape-texture-hero.jpg" alt="Aggregate Shape and Texture Blog Article" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Construction aggregates are traditionally mined or extracted from natural sand and gravel deposits or geological rock formations, then further crushed and sorted into size fractions for blending. In this blog article, we discuss the tests and equipment to determine the characterization of aggregate shape properties for roads and structures.</p>

Tags: Testing Insights , Equipment Selection Guide , ASTM D4791 , BS EN 933-3 , ASTM C1252 , AASHTO T 304 , AASHTO T 326 , ASTM D5821 , Aggregate Testing , Aggregate Characterization , Aggregate Shape , Aggregate Texture