Advance Laboratory

Device Specifications	Capacity	Model & Year of Manufacture	Manufacturer & Country	Test Standard	Device Status – Quantity
Direct Shear Apparatus (30×30 cm)	5000 kg	D6-1396	Arvin Test Equipment, Iran	ASTM D3080	Operational – 1
Direct Shear Apparatus (6×6 cm)	500 kg	–	ELE – UK	ASTM D3080	Operational – 1

The direct shear test is one of the important experiments in geotechnical engineering (soil mechanics and foundation) conducted to determine the shear strength parameters of soil under consolidated drained (CD) conditions.

In this test, the soil is first consolidated under a certain vertical stress, and then, while maintaining the vertical stress constant, a shear stress with a controlled rate is applied to the soil specimen until failure occurs.

The maximum shear stress corresponding to a specific vertical stress represents a single point. The test is usually conducted with three different vertical stresses; thus, in the “shear stress–normal stress” coordinate system, three points are obtained. By drawing the best-fitting line through these points, the shear strength parameters of the soil (C, Φ) are determined.

Device Name	Capacity	Model / Year	Manufacturer / Country	Standard	Condition / Quantity
One-Dimensional Consolidation Apparatus	12.8 kg/cm²	MIS-232-1990	Marui – Japan	ASTM D2435	Operational – 1 unit

The consolidation test is used to determine the settlement behavior of soil under various stress levels and to calculate the related parameters.

In this experiment, a soil sample—placed inside a special ring and then positioned in the consolidation cell—is subjected to several stages of loading with different stress levels. At each stage, the amount of settlement of the soil sample is read and recorded over time.

At the end of the last loading stage and after the completion of settlement, the sample is gradually unloaded through several stages, and the amount of soil swelling due to unloading is also read and recorded at several stress levels. The test is usually conducted under fully saturated conditions.

In some types of consolidation tests, in order to model the actual field behavior of the soil, the sample is first loaded up to a certain stress under its natural moisture content; then, at that specific stress, the consolidation cell is filled with water, the sample becomes fully saturated, and the rest of the consolidation process is carried out under these conditions.

Device Name	Capacity	Model / Year	Manufacturer / Country	Standard	Condition / Quantity
Concrete Compression Testing Machine	300 ton	KC‑300, 2009	Tecnotest – Italy	ASTM C39	Operational – 1 unit
Concrete Compression Testing Machine	200 ton	D312‑1393	Azmoon Saz Mabna – Iran	ASTM C39	Operational – 1 unit

Among the effective and widely used tests in the quality control of hardened concrete is the compressive strength test.

The term compressive strength of concrete refers to the result obtained from this test, which is performed on standard cubic or cylindrical specimens. This is the most common test used to assess the quality of concrete in terms of strength.

In this test, three cubic specimens with specified dimensions are prepared, which should finally be converted to equivalent cylindrical specimens. The test is carried out using a compression testing machine (press) that applies a uniform load to the specimen through two heavy steel platens. The operating principle of this apparatus is such that it increases the applied pressure until the specimen fails, recording the maximum load applied at failure.

To measure the compressive strength of concrete, specimens are cast and cured in the laboratory for a specified period. The compressive strength test, according to the ASTM standard, is conducted on cylindrical specimens of 300 × 150 mm (12 × 6 inches), while according to the BS standard, it is performed on 150 mm (6 inch) cubes. However, depending on the maximum aggregate size, the standards also allow the use of smaller or larger specimens.

The use of compression testing machines for determining the compressive strength of concrete specimens has become widespread. The Soil Mechanics Industries Co. of Iran has successfully designed and manufactured a fully automatic concrete compression testing machine. Among the most important features of this system are closed‑loop load‑rate control, the ability to perform automatic or manual testing, and the capability to conduct tests under either strain‑controlled or stress‑controlled modes.

Device Name	Capacity	Model / Year	Manufacturer / Country	Standard	Condition / Quantity
Fan-Assisted Oven	240 L	3494‑1393	Behdad – Iran	—	Operational – 1 unit
Fan-Assisted Oven	140 L	1397	Pars Teb Novin – Iran	—	Operational – 1 unit

One of the other widely used devices in geotechnical and strength of materials laboratories is the Oven, which is used for drying soil, concrete, asphalt, cement, and other samples in the laboratory.

Unlike hot plates, ovens have a closed chamber made of stainless steel (in high-quality models) for transferring heat to the sample. The laboratory sample is placed inside the chamber and its temperature is raised.

For this purpose, the preparation of an appropriate oven with the desired capacity and according to the volume of work is up to the buyer’s choice.

Balance (Scale)

 

Device Name	Capacity	Model / Year	Manufacturer / Country	Standard	Condition / Quantity
Balance with 1 g Accuracy	30 kg	FKB30K1A‑2008	KERN – Germany	—	Operational – 1 unit
Balance with 0.1 g Accuracy	6 kg	EK‑6100i‑2014	AND – Japan	—	Operational – 1 unit

In all standards of performing tests, the issue of weighing is mentioned. This means that the weight of the test specimen must be measured before conducting the test and sometimes after performing it.

For this purpose, Soil Mechanics Industries Co. of Iran has provided various models of mechanical and digital balances with the best quality and from the top manufacturers to complete its product range.

Device Name	Diameter / Capacity	Model / Year	Manufacturer / Country	Standard	Condition / Quantity
Grain‑Size Sieve	12‑inch Diameter	—	Damavand – Iran	ASTM D422 / C136	Operational – 14 units

It is common to use the sieve test to obtain the size distribution of sand and gravel particles. The procedure of this test is described in ASTM C 136. For this purpose, a set of sieves whose bottoms have holes of precise and specific sizes, and whose mesh at the bottom is made by wire, is used. In this way, the set of sieves is placed one on top of another — the sieve with larger holes on the top and the finer sieves below. Then the dry soil, whose all clods are broken and only soil grains are present in it, is poured onto the top sieve, and the sieve is shaken for a certain (standard) period so that the soil grains pass through it. It is clear that the grains smaller than the holes of the sieves pass through, and the larger grains remain on the wires of the sieve.

• Note: This method is reasonable for the coarser particles of soil, but it is not suitable for particles smaller than a certain limit, because very fine soil particles stick together, and as a result, the sieve method will no longer give proper results. If the amount of fine soil particles is high, we may have to first pass water over the soil and its coarse grains, and after washing the larger particles and disintegrating the clods, start sieving.

Melting and Freezing Point Apparatus


 

Device Name	Capacity (°C)	Model and Year of Manufacture	Company and Country of Manufacture	Test Standard	Device Status – Quantity
Melting and Freezing Point Apparatus	−20 to +60	AC 520	Tecnotest – Italy	ASTM C1262 – C672 – C666	Operational – 1

Function:

For determining the resistance of concrete against freezing and thawing according to the standard, it is used inside the laboratory by the following two methods:

First method: Freezing and thawing process in water

Second method: Freezing process in air and thawing in water

Technical Specifications:

Temperature range: Controlled temperature from −20 °C to +60 °C with an accuracy of ±1 °C

Body: External body made of oil‑sheet metal with electrostatic paint coating

Equipped with thermostat, thermometer, and automatic digital timer

Concrete Curing


 

Device Name	Capacity	Model and Year of Manufacture	Company and Country of Manufacture	Test Standard	Device Status – Quantity
Concrete Curing Apparatus	450 litres	2008‑AT‑239	Tecnotest – Italy	–	Operational – 1

Pull‑Out Test Apparatus


 

Device Name	Capacity	Model and Year of Manufacture	Company and Country of Manufacturer	Test Standard	Device Status – Quantity
PULL‑OUT	60 kN	LOk‑TEST‑AT341‑2009	Tecnotest – Italy	ASTM C900	Operational – 1

Device Name	Capacity	Model and Year of Manufacture	Company and Country of Manufacturer	Test Standard	Device Status – Quantity
PUNDIT	0.1 – 999.9 S	AT‑274‑2008	Tecnotest – Italy	ASTM C597	Operational – 1

Device Name	Capacity	Model and Year of Manufacture	Company and Country of Manufacturer	Test Standard	Device Status – Quantity
MICRO_COVERMETER	5 mm – 185 mm	AT 278/1	Tecnotest – Italy	BS 1881:204	Operational – 1

Concrete rebar detector and cover meter are used for scanning the reinforcement mesh in concrete.

The scan can contain information such as:

1- Diameter of rebar

2- Location and cover of rebars embedded in concrete.

The concrete rebar scanning device has various types which, according to their power, can display rebars at different depths.

Concrete Chloride Content Tester


 

Device Name	Capacity	Model and Year of Manufacture	Company and Country of Manufacturer	Test Standard	Device Status – Quantity
Concrete Chloride Content Tester	0.002% – 2%	AT‑338/B‑2009	JAMES – USA	ASTM C1202	Operational – 1

Device Name	Capacity	Model and Year of Manufacture	Company and Country of Manufacturer	Test Standard	Device Status – Quantity
CMG‑5TD	-	CMG‑5TD	GUALP – UK	-	Operational – 5

The CMG-5TD is a true three-axis electromechanical accelerometer designed for broadband seismic monitoring and applications requiring highly sensitive and robust sensors with minimal maintenance, as well as a simple method for intermittent tests.

Employing the suspended mass system and moving coil improves the signal-to-noise ratio. The magnetic system and capacitive position sensors offer equivalent controls for precise electronic centering of the mass. In the rest state, the accelerometer mechanism is in equilibrium and does not produce any electrical output.