The GCTS Unsaturated Soil Triaxial System is an electro-pneumatic system with closed-loop digital servo control. Electro-hydraulic option is available for performing tests at higher frequencies or amplitudes. This system is developed for performing fully automated static and dynamic triaxial tests on saturated or unsaturated soil specimens. The system includes all the software modules and electrical valves required for automatic testing. The axial loader, cell pressure, pore air pressure, and pore water/back pressure are servo controlled using any system sensor as feedback.
The adoption of double cell walls essentially eliminates the compliance errors associated with single cell when measuring overall; specimen volume changes. This system performs unsaturated soil testing with a degree of automation not presently found in any other commercially available system. This system includes motorized ball valves to automatically recharge the pressure volume controllers; flush air bubbles diffused through the ceramic stone; and reverse the direction of the volume change device that enables infinite volume measurement range as required by the on-going test. This system also includes components such as a de-airing water reservoir and vacuum pump to perform saturated or unsaturated soil triaxial tests.
The system software provides over 20 parameters for real time display and/or control. These parameters include stresses, strains, suction, etc. (see CATS-TRX brochure for a complete list). The Graphical User Interface enables laboratory personnel to conduct more complex, but realistic, testing programs at substantially lower operating cost with minimal operator error.