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Relative Density of Free-Draining Soils: Compaction Tests on Sand & Gravel

September 11, 2025

<img loading="eager" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px; height: 100%; max-height: 515px;" alt="Relative Density of Free-Draining Soils" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2025/Sep/September-2025-Blog-hero.jpg" width="715" height="515" /><p>Field density tests determine the degree of soil compaction, which is used to estimate strength and stability. Read our blog to learn about soil characteristics and how relative density of soil is calculated.</p>

Tags: Soil Testing , Soil Density , Quality Control , Compaction , Relative Density

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

Archive

Construction Materials Testing: An Overview

July 09, 2024

<div><a href="/blog/overview-of-construction-materials-testing"><img src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2024/july/construction-materials-testing-blog.jpg" alt="Construction Materials Testing Resource" width="100%" /></a></div><p>The term construction materials testing sounds like a catch-all term for analyzing everything from nails to doorknobs. However, for the civil engineering industry, it has come to mean the characterization of a handful of things by using specific test methods in a construction materials testing laboratory: concrete, aggregates, asphalt, and soils. This blog will take a high-altitude view of what construction materials are, the most important properties to test for, and the right equipment to get the job done.</p>

Tags: Resource Guide , Construction Materials Testing (CMT) , Concrete Testing , Asphalt Testing , Aggregate Testing , Soil Testing

The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP): Applications and Equipment

May 08, 2024

<div><a href="/blog/dcp-test"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2024/may/dcp-testing.jpg" alt="DCP Testing Article" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>The dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) is an efficient tool used to perform soil strength assessments of fine-grained soils, pavement base courses, and more. Learn about the advantages of this tool compared to other penetration testing methods and how to perform penetration tests using the dynamic cone penetrometer.</p>

Tags: Testing Insights , Product Insights , Field Testing , In-situ Testing , Soil Testing , DCP , Dynamic Cone Penetrometer

The Gilson Rice Shaker: A Versatile Tool for Specific Gravity Testing

March 07, 2024

<div><a href="/blog/testing-with-the-asphalt-rice-shaker"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2024/march/Blog-2024-March-Hero.jpg" alt="Asphalt Rice Shaker Article" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>If you regularly perform asphalt theoretical maximum specific gravity (Rice) tests, the Gilson Rice Shaker is a time-saving tool to have in your lab. Find out why this unit is the key to determining accurate specific gravity determinations for asphalt, aggregates, and soils.</p>

Tags: Testing Insights , Product Insights , ASTM D2041 , AASHTO T 209 , ASTM C128 , AASHTO T 84 , ASTM C188 , AASHTO T 133 , ASTM D854 , AASHTO T 100 , Asphalt Testing , Rice Test , Theoretical Maximum Specific Gravity , Specific Gravity , Relative Density , Aggregate Testing , Soil Testing

Unconfined Compressive Strength of Soil

November 08, 2023

<div><a href="/blog/unconfined-compressive-strength-test-of-soil"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2023/november/ucs-soil-blog.jpg" alt="Unconfined Compression Test Article" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Unconfined compressive strength is a standard geotechnical test performed on cohesive soil samples in construction materials testing laboratories. Straightforward sample preparation and a rapid, uncomplicated procedure makes unconfined compression tests cost-effective when fundamental strength values are adequate for design.</p>

Tags: Testing Insights , Resource Guide , Compressive Strength , Unconfined Compressive Strength , Soil Testing

Soil Field Testing: Physical Properties of Soil

May 10, 2023

<div><a href="/blog/soil-field-test-article"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2023/may/soil-field-testing-article.jpg" alt="Soil Field Testing: Physical Properties of Soil" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Soil is a natural material and is sometimes employed as a construction material without modification. It is crucial to understand how it performs in its original (in-situ) environment. For this article, we will examine various field tests of soil and the equipment required to perform them.</p>

Tags: Testing Insights , Equipment Selection Guide , Moisture Testing , In-situ Testing , Field Testing , Penetration Test , Soil Testing , Geotechnical , Soil Density , Permeability Test , Soil Foundation

A New Standard in Accuracy, Safety, & Performance: The Gilson Mechanical Soil Compactor

November 02, 2022

<div><a href="/blog/gilsons-mechanical-compactor-blog-article"><img loading="lazy" src="/Content/Images/uploaded/blog/2022/november/november-blog-hero.jpg" alt="Why Choose Gilson's Mechanical Soil Compactor" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; max-width: 715px;" /> </a></div><p>Proctor tests of soils are simple to perform and easy to understand. A great way to train inexperienced technicians to follow procedures and pay attention to detail, but also repetitive, tedious, and in some variations, highly physical. Mechanical compactors help, but most have their own issues with accuracy and reliability. This blog article takes a close look at Gilson’s innovative solution to these issues. Our new Mechanical Soil Compactor features an innovative design, quality materials, and the latest technology to generate soil accurate and productive soil moisture/density profiles.</p>

Tags: Mechanical Soil Compactor , Product Insights , ASTM D698 , ASTM D1557 , AASHTO T 99 , AASHTO T 180 , ASTM D1883 , Soil Testing , Proctor , CBR , LBR