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Stress vs. Strain: Selecting Equipment to Measure Load & Displacement

July 08, 2025

<p><a href="/measuring-load-and-displacement-article"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2025/july/stress-vs-strain-hero.jpg" alt="Stress vs Strain" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" width="715" height="515" /></a></p><p>Knowing how to determine stress versus strain is central to almost any strength assessment performed in a construction materials testing lab. In this blog, we explore the various the test methods and instruments available for measuring load and displacement.</p>

Tags: Testing Insights , Soil Testing , Soil Mechanics , Geotechnical , Direct Shear Strength Test , Triaxial Shear Testing , Unconfined Compressive Strength , Marshall Stability , CBR , Load and Displacement

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

Soil Sample Preparation: Saving Money in Your Geotechnical Lab

May 04, 2022

<div><a href="/blog/soil-sample-prepping"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2022/May/soil-sample-prep-hero.jpg" alt="Soil Sample Preparation" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>With a little thought and planning, you can avoid duplicating the equipment needed to perform many sample preparation tasks. Many ASTM and AASHTO soil tests performed follow similar techniques and use the same or similar equipment to set up samples for your soil testing.</p>

Tags: Resource Guide , Sample Prep , Sample Collecting , Field Testing , Soil Testing , Soil Mechanics , Geotechnical , Permeability Test , Consolidation , Triaxial Compression , Direct Shear Strength Test , Soil Cement , Unconfined Compressive Strength

Archive

Triaxial Shear Testing of Soils, Understanding Methods and Equipment

October 06, 2021

<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2021/October/triaxial-test-hero.jpg" alt="Triaxial Shear Testing of Soil" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" width="715" height="515" /></p><p>This month's blog discusses the triaxial shear test of soil. It focuses on three different test methods, all with variable requirements based on soil types and properties of individual specimens.</p>

Tags: Soil Testing , Soil Mechanics , Geotechnical , Unconsolidated-Undrained , Consolidated-Undrained , Consolidated-Drained , Shear Strength , Triaxial Shear Testing , How-To , Testing Insights

Soil Direct Shear Test: Understanding the Process

January 03, 2021

<div><a href="/blog/soil-direct-shear-test"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2021/January/direct-shear-test.jpg" alt="Soil Direct Shear Test, Understanding the Process Article" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>This blog provides an informative guide on why direct shear testing is essential, and we guide you on what equipment you need to perform the test based on ASTM D3080 and AASHTO T 236.</p>

Tags: Testing Insights , Resource Guide , Strength Testing , Shear Strength , Pavement Design , ASTM D3080 , AASHTO T 236 , Soil Mechanics , Direct Shear Strength Test

Consolidation Test of Soil: A Comprehensive Guide

June 18, 2019

<div><a href="/blog/one-dimensional-consolidation-test"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2019blogpictures/June2019/selecting-consolidation-test-blog-hero.jpg" alt="Consolidation Test of Soil: A Comprehensive Guide" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>In this blog, we will highlight the range of equipment available to perform this fundamental test method. ASTM test method D2435, and its AASHTO equivalent T 216, are the most common one-dimensional soil consolidation tests carried out today.</p>

Tags: Consolidation , Soil Testing , Soil Mechanics , Oedometer , Dead-Weight Load Frame , Laboratory , Resource Guide

Atterberg Limits: A Quick Reference Guide

June 15, 2016

<a href="/blog/atterberg-limits-a-quick-reference-guide"><img src="/content/fm/ul/images/blog/atterberg-limits-guide.jpg" alt="Atterberg Limits: A Quick Reference Guide" width="100%" /></a><p>This blog post outlines the three main components that encompass Atterberg Limits, explains why these tests are important, and covers basic equipment used in these procedures.</p>

Tags: Atterberg Limits , Liquid Limit , Plastic Limit , Shrinkage Limit , Soil Testing , Soil Mechanics , Geotechnical , Laboratory , Resource Guide , Equipment Selection Guide