Direct Shear Test
The GCTS Direct Shear Testing Systems for Rocks are inexpensive apparatuses used to test many configurations of rock specimens. Prisms, cubes, fragments, and cylindrical specimens can all be used to determine the shear strength of a rock sample.
These systems utilize closed-loop servo-control of an electro-hydraulic shear load actuator and either a servo-controlled or manually-regulated normal load actuator to perform direct shear tests. By servo-controlling the normal actuator, constant normal load, constant normal stress, or constant normal stiffness direct shear tests can be performed.
Test specimens are created inside removable rings that are placed inside the shear box for testing. This allows multiple specimens to be prepared simultaneously with additional rings, increasing the rate at which multiple tests can be performed and thereby increasing overall productivity.
Relevant Testing Standards
ASTM D4554 Standard Test Method for In Situ Determination of Direct Shear Strength of Rock Discontinuities
ASTM D5607 Standard Test Method for Performing Laboratory Direct Shear Strength Tests of Rock Specimens Under Constant Normal Force
Related Documents
RDS-100
Download the RDS-100 PDF Brochure
HIGHLIGHTS
- Closed-loop servo control of a double acting (push and pull), 100 kN (10 ton) shear load actuator with a 25 mm stroke
- Manual control of a 50 kN (5 ton) normal load actuator with a 25 mm stroke
- Stiff normal load reaction frame mounted on sliding bearings to minimize horizontal friction while keeping the normal load vertical during the shear displacement
- 150 mm (6 inch) diameter sample rings
- Software for automatic performance of direct shear tests with a constant normal load
- Real-time graphical display of test progress
RDS-200
Download the RDS-200 PDF Brochure
HIGHLIGHTS
- Closed-loop servo control of a double acting (push and pull), 100 kN (10 ton) shear load actuator with a 25 mm stroke
- Closed-loop servo control of a 50 kN (5 ton) normal load actuator with a 25 mm stroke
- Stiff normal load reaction frame mounted on sliding bearings to minimize horizontal friction while keeping the normal load vertical during the shear displacement
- 150 mm (6 inch) diameter sample rings
- Advanced software for automatic performance of direct shear tests with either a constant normal stress or a constant normal stiffness
- Real-time graphical display of test progress
RDS-200XL
Download the RDS-200XL PDF Brochure
HIGHLIGHTS
- Closed-loop servo control of a double acting (push and pull), 150 kN (15 ton) shear load actuator with a 50 mm stroke
- Closed-loop servo control of a 150 kN (15 ton) normal load actuator with a 50 mm stroke
- Stiff normal load reaction frame mounted on sliding bearings to minimize horizontal friction while keeping the normal load vertical during the shear displacement
- 150 mm (6 inch) diameter sample rings
- Advanced software for automatic performance of direct shear tests with either a constant normal stress or a constant normal stiffness
- Real-time graphical display of test progress
RDS-300
Download the RDS-300 PDF Brochure
HIGHLIGHTS
- Closed-loop servo control of a double acting (push and pull), 500 kN (50 ton) shear load actuator with a +/- 50 mm stroke
- Closed-loop servo control of a 500 kN (50 ton) normal load actuator with a 100 mm stroke
- Stiff normal load reaction box frame to keep normal load vertical during the shear displacement
- 150 mm (6 inch) diameter sample rings
- Advanced software for automatic performance of direct shear tests with either a constant normal stress or a constant normal stiffness
- Real-time graphical display of test progress
RDS-500
Download the RDS-500 PDF Brochure
HIGHLIGHTS
- Closed-loop servo control of a double acting (push and pull), 500 kN (50 ton) shear load actuator with a +/- 50 mm stroke
- Closed-loop servo control of a 1,500 kN (150 ton) normal load actuator with a 100 mm stroke
- Stiff normal load reaction four-column frame to keep normal load vertical during the shear displacement
- 150 mm (6 inch) diameter sample rings
- Includes adjustable locking mechanism to prevent rotation of the top shear box in any one direction, two directions, or any direction
- Advanced software for automatic performance of direct shear tests with either a constant normal stress or a constant normal stiffness
- Real-time graphical display of test progress
- System upgrades available to perform unconfined compression tests or triaxial tests
