Rock True Triaxial (Polyaxial)
GCTS offers a variety of equipment to perform true triaxial (polyaxial) tests on prismatic specimens.
The RPS-100 and RPS-600 True Triaxial Testing Systems provide complete solutions for true triaxial testing. These systems can be used to study the intermediate principal stress effect on rock engineering behavior and adequately describe the strength of a rock under a general system of polyaxial compressive stresses. They are designed to apply three independent stresses (σ₁, σ₂ and σ₃) onto a cubical test specimen by utilizing hydraulic intensifiers to apply pressure to solid platens that are in direct contact with the specimen. Both systems can be upgraded with pore pressure control, temperature control, and ultrasonic velocity sensors for P and S wave measurements. In addition, both systems can be upgraded with hydraulic fracturing platens to approximate the effects of anisotropic stress state on borehole stability. The RPS-100 is designed for cubical specimens with sides up to 100 mm and the RPS-600 is designed for cubical specimens with sides up to 300 mm (with an upgrade available for specimens up to 600 mm tall).
RPS-100
SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS
- Test cubical 100 mm by 100 mm by 100 mm rock specimens
- Independent control of σ₁, σ₂, σ₃ (where σ₁≠σ₂≠σ₃) or ε₁, ε₂, ε₃ or a combination of stress or strain control for each axis
- Measures strains in all three orthogonal directions
- Maximum major principal stress 140 MPa
- Optional pore pressure control up to 140 MPa
- Optional ultrasonic sensors to measure P and S wave velocities under different stress states
- Optional hydraulic fracturing platens available to perform wellbore stability tests.
- Optional temperature control up to 150 °C
RPS-200
SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS
- Test cubical 200 mm x 200 mm x 200 mm (8″ x 8″ x 8″) rock specimens
- Independent control of σ₁, σ₂, σ₃ (where σ₁≠σ₂≠σ₃) or ε₁, ε₂, ε₃ or a combination of stress or strain control for each axis
- Measures strains in all three orthogonal directions
- Maximum major principal stress 100 MPa
- Optional pore pressure control up to 100 MPa
- Optional ultrasonic sensors to measure P and S wave velocities under different stress states
- Optional hydraulic fracturing platens available to perform wellbore stability tests.
- Optional temperature control up to 200 °C
RPS-600
SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTS
- Test cubical 300 mm by 300 mm by 300 mm rock specimens
- Independent control of σ₁, σ₂, σ₃ (where σ₁≠σ₂≠σ₃) or ε₁, ε₂, ε₃ or a combination of stress or strain control for each axis
- Measures strains in all three orthogonal directions
- Maximum major principal stress 100 MPa
- Pore pressure control up to 100 MPa
- Three loading plates on each specimen face
- Optional ultrasonic sensors to measure P and S wave velocities under different stress states
- Optional acoustic emission measurement system
- Optional hydraulic fracturing platens available to perform wellbore stability tests.
- Optional temperature control up to 200° C
- Optional upgrade for 600 mm tall specimens
- Optional gradient stress control
