Sample Preparation for Triaxial Shear Testing

Gilson’s line of sample preparation products for soil specimens includes all the tools needed for trimming, molding and extracting soil specimens for triaxial, permeability, shear and consolidation testing.

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• Adjustable Soil Trimmers are available in 3 and 4in diameter capacities. Ease of adjustment allows for precisely trimming cylindrical soil samples to any diameter between 1 and 3in or 4in (25.4 to 76 or 101.6mm).
• Adjustable Soil Trimmer Top Platens provide control of diameters when preparing soil specimens for various soil lab tests. Top platens are available to fit a range of soil specimens from 1.0 to 4.0in.
• Hydraulic Sample Extruder can apply up to 5,600lbf (24.9kN) of force to eject the most stubborn samples from thin-walled Shelby Tubes for Consolidation, Triaxial, Direct Shear, and other tests.
• Open-End Wire Saw can be used with a Soil Trimmer, Miter Box, or independently for precision trimming of the soil sample to the specific diameter or length.
• Digital Calipers are available with a 0-6 or 0-12in range, as well as a heavy-duty model in 0-12in range. They are used to obtain accurate inside, outside and depth measurements of specimens.
• Stainless Steel Straightedges are available unmarked or with laser-engraved graduations from 0–6in and 0.5in increments for monitoring approximate lift thicknesses. Both models are designed for easy and accurate leveling of soil and concrete specimens, in accordance with many ASTM and AASHTO test methods.
• Two-Part Miter Boxes guide trimming of soil specimens for testing in different applications, and are available for sample diameters from 1.4 to 6.0 in (36 to 152mm).
• Two-Part Compaction Mold Assemblies are available for cohesive soils with sample diameters from 1.4 to 6.0 in (36 to 152mm) and used to compact soil specimens in preparation for triaxial or flex-wall permeability testing.
• Two-Part Vacuum Split Molds are available for granular soils with sample diameters from 1.4 to 6.0 in (36 to 152mm) and require a vacuum source for positioning of Latex Membranes during the molding procedure.