Geotechnical testing and consultancy services

• Atterberg limits
• Grading (particle size distribution)
• Triaxial testing
• Shear box testing (small and large boxes)
• Simple shear testing
• Oedometer testing
• Testing of rock samples (point load and unconfined compression tests)
• Permeability testing
• Compaction
• Shear wave velocity testing (small strain modulus)
• Pull-out tests on reinforcing straps
• Constant normal stiffness (CNS) testing
• Model or prototype testing

• Morphological studies
• Microscopy
• Nano-indentation
• Model testing of particle flow problems
• Sample preparation for material testing
• Surface profilometer
• 3D printing

Our consulting services include the following:

• provision of expert advice
• prototype testing
• evaluation of novel foundation systems.

SciGEM hosts outstanding specialised equipment for the preparation, testing and characterisation of materials, including:

• 3D printers
• Nanoindenter
• automated particle characterisation equipment by image analysis
• loading frame with load cells of 5kN and 200N
• wheel saw
• grinder/polisher
• stadium shear device
• optical microscope
• photographic and thermal imaging
• microanalysis equipment, including for digital image correlation and particle tracking
• 3D profilometer
• 3D scanner.

It also hosts a large range of testing facilities for geotechnical investigations, including equipment to examine strengths of soils and the behaviour of many different types of foundations.