Controlled strain loading consolidation
LOADTRAC-II/FLOWTRAC-II
The LoadTrac-II/FlowTrac-II system fully automates the performance of a Controlled Strain Loading Consolidation (CSL) test. Once a soil sample is in place, and the test conditions selected, the LoadTrac-II/FlowTrac-II system will run the entire CRCS test from start to finish. The LoadTrac-II/FlowTrac-II system consolidates the sample through a loading path specified by the user using constant rate of strain loading. To avoid running the test too fast (excess pore pressures become too large for the transducer) or too slow (the test takes too long), LoadTrac-II/FlowTrac-II uses Excess Pore Pressure Ratio Limits. If the measured excess pore pressure divided by the current total vertical stress exceeds the Upper Pore Pressure Ratio Limit, the current strain rate is automatically decreased by a factor of 2. If the measured excess pore pressure divided by the current total vertical stress falls below the Lower Pore Pressure Ratio Limit, the current strain rate is increased by a factor of 2. These limits give the user a great deal of control over how a constant strain rate test is run.
The FlowTrac II is used during back pressure saturation as well as maintaining a constant cell pressure during the consolidation phase of the test.
A typical consolidation test can be completed in 24 to 36 hrs. on most materials.
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| Testing cell |
USER BENEFITS
- Choose capacity to fit user needs from 22, 45 and 90 kN (5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 lbs.) models
- Total automation of data collection and report-ing of test results
- Prepare tables and plots of report quality within minutes of completing a test
- Generate columns of data for easy reduction using your own spreadsheet software
- Ability to access and control the unit over a computer network using Geo-Net option
APPLICABLE TEST STANDARDS
- ASTM D-4186 One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soils Using Controlled-Strain Loading
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
| MOTOR | Stepper motor with built-in controls |
| TRAVEL | Built-in displacement transducer with 76 mm (3 in.) range and 0.0013 mm (0.00005 in.) resolution |
| DISPLACEMENT | Control from 0.00003 to 15 mm per minute (0.000001 to 0.6 in. per minute) |
| FLOW RANGE | 0.000006 to 3 cc per second |
| POWER | 110/220 V, 50/60 Hz, l phase |
| DIMENSIONS | |
| LoadTrac II | 464 mm x 546 mm Х1206 mm (18 in. x 21.5 in. x 47.5 in.) |
| FlowTrac II | 203 mm x 406 mm x 470 mm (8 in. x 16 in. x 18.5 in.) |
| WEIGHT | |
| LoadTrac II | 55 kg (120 lbs.) |
| FlowTrac II | 14 kg (30 lbs.) |
| MODELS | |
| FlowTrac II Models | |
| FTII-250-nn | 250 cc capacity |
| FTII-750-nn | 750 cc capacity |
| nn | Maximum pressure range for system: 700, 1000, 2000 and 3500 kPa (150, 300 and 500 psi) available (resolution of pressure will be 0.00005 times the range) |
| LoadTrac II Models | Frame capacity |
| LTII-10,000 | 45 kN (10,000 lbs.) |
| LTII-20,000 | 90 kN (20,000 lbs.) |
| LTTI-50,000 | 222 kN (50,000 lbs.) |
| ACCESSORIES | |
| 1230 | All stainless steel consolidation cell with backpressure saturation capability, 62.5 mm (2.5 in.) sample diameter standard. |
| External stainless steel pressure sensor. | |
| Other sample sizes are available upon request | |
For viewing forms of the report and the interface of the operating program click the mouse on a corresponding miniature.
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