Used by University/Resource and commercial laboratories for high performances and productivity.
Standards BS 1377:6 BS 1377:7 ASTM D2850 ASTM D4767 BS 1377:8 ASTM D7181 EN 17892-8 EN 17892-9
The closed-loop feedback control system monitors the components status continuously, in order to react to any change in the parameter pre-set at each test stage.
Autotriax EmS can perform different kind of triaxial tests, :
Also, additional software package available on request for performing:
A typical PC controlled fully automatic triaxial configuration includes:
Load frame
TRITECH 50 kN or 100 kN: TRITECH original high-performance load frames for triaxial tests, ideal solution for advanced and research laboratories that want to perform high quality tests at high productivity levels, directly managed by data acquisition and control unit.
Triaxial cell with accessories:
The proper model can be selected from our range (see triaxial load frame TRITECH and Banded triaxial cells or Double wall triaxial cells required for unsaturated tests) or, as alternative, existing machines can be used.
Data acquisition and control unit
Data acquisition and control unit transmitting data and information between the software and all the active components, such as pressure controllers and Tritech triaxial load frame.
Pressure/volume controller
Four models are available depending on: max pressure capacity (3500 or 1700 kPa) and number of pressure lines (one or two).
Triaxial test automatic control and processing software.
The AUTOTRIAX EmS software is a comprehensive and user-friendly interface between the operator and the testing system.
The Autotriax EmS configurations can be extended and expanded in subsequent steps, in order to control further tests adding proper components. These operations can be easily made on site just configuring the user-friendly software, as a plug-and-play system.
Advanced multi-size electromechanical slab compactor. 380V/50Hz/3ph+N
Advanced multi-size electromechanical slab compactor. 220V/60Hz/3ph+N
Upgrade of 77-PV41C0X with heating system inbuild in mould base support
Brain of the AUTOTRIAX EmS system, transmitting data from software and devices
These are the brains of the AUTOTRIAX EmS system, transmitting data and information between the software and all the active components such as the pressure controllers and Tritech triaxial load frame. The units are produced in four different versions (see below) to offer maximum flexibility. They can be stacked vertically, making them very space-efficient, and power connectors of multiple units can be daisy-chained together, allowing them all to be run from a single mains socket. Transducer calibrations are saved directly in the firmware of the units.
Master unit
A Master unit is always required, whatever combination of systems you want to put together. It has four active control channels for connecting the transducers that are needed for feedback to the software (for controlling vertical load or displacement and cell and back pressure) and eight passive channels for connecting a pore pressure transducer plus any other additional transducers, including local measuring on-sample. The Tritech compression frame, Hydromatic pressure/volume controllers and solenoid valves (for opening and closing the pressure lines) also connect to the unit.
One Master unit is all that is needed for a single standard effective stress system.
Connections:
– 2 Hydromatic pressure/volume controllers
– 1 Tritech compression frame
– 12 transducers
– 2 solenoid valves
Pressure extension unit
Used in addition to a Master unit, this expansion unit provides control for one extra pressure system, with connections for a pressure transducer, Solenoid valve and Hydromatic pressure/volume controller, plus three spare passive transducer channels. It could be used, for example, in a system running permeability tests where three controlled pressures are required.
Connections:
– 1 Hydromatic pressure/volume controller
– 4 transducers
– 1 solenoid valve
Triple pressure extension unit
Used in addition to a Master unit, this expansion unit provides control for three extra pressure systems, with connections for three pressure transducers, Solenoid valves and Hydromatic pressure/volume controllers, plus nine spare passive transducer channels.
Connections:
– 3 Hydromatic pressure/volume controllers
– 12 transducers
– 3 solenoid valves
Pressure extension unit for unsaturated test module only
Used in addition to a Master unit, this expansion unit provides control for one air pressure system, with connections for a pressure transducer, Solenoid valve and Servoflow 2 Air pressure controller. There is also a connection for an Automatic Volume Change device to measure the change in cell volume, plus two spare passive transducer channels.
Connections:
– 1 Servoflow
– 4 transducers
– 1 solenoid valve
– 1 Automatic Volume Change device
AUTOTRIAX 2 Data acquisition and control unit: Pressure extension unit. 110-220V,50-60 Hz, 1ph.
AUTOTRIAX 2 Data acquisition and control unit: Airpressure extension unit for unsaturated test. 110-220V,50-60 Hz, 1ph.
AUTOTRIAX-2 Data acquisition and control unit: Triple pressure extension unit. 110-220V,50-60 Hz, 1ph.
AUTOTRIAX 2 Data acquisition and control unit: Master unit. 110-220V,50-60 Hz, 1ph.
High specification desktop PC with LCD monitor.Operating system MS Windows preinstalled and 8 port LAN HUB converter.
Used for generating water pressure in and around the test specimen in AUTOTRIAX EmS
The Hydromatic is used to generate water pressure in and around the test specimen. It is driven by a high precision stepper motor, which enables the volume change measurement. The unit consists of a hydraulic piston, driven by a ball-screw and gearbox, mounted on a ball-slide, and works accurately under closed-loop control.
Four models are available depending on:
· Max. pressure capacity: 3500 kPa or 1700 kPa
· Number of pressure lines: one or two.
For a standard effective stress system, one Double line Hydromatic units is required – one line is used for the cell pressure and the other for the back pressure.
A typical use of a single line Hydromatic is as additional line for permeability test in triaxial cell. Pressure transducer and de airing block are included. The status of the unit is continuously monitored by the AUTOTRIAX EmS software and safety switches prevent the over-travel and/or over capacity.
All the Hydromatic models also include the ON/OFF solenoid valve(s) which shall be fitted on the triaxial cell for opening and closing the line.
HYDROMATIC pressure/volume controller for AUTOTRIAX 2 system. Powers two hydraulic pressure lines and measures the associated volume changes. Max pressure: 1700 kPa. Volume capacity: 250cc. 110-220V,50-60 Hz, 1ph.
HYDROMATIC pressure/volume controller for AUTOTRIAX 2 system. Powers one hydraulic pressure line and measures the associated volume change. Max pressure: 1700 kPa. Volume capacity: 250cc. 110-220V,50-60 Hz, 1ph.
HYDROMATIC pressure/volume controller for AUTOTRIAX 2 system. Powers one hydraulic pressure line and measures the associated volume change. Max pressure: 3500 kPa. Volume capacity: 250cc. 110-220V,50-60 Hz, 1ph.
HYDROMATIC pressure/volume controller for AUTOTRIAX 2 system. Powers two hydraulic pressure lines and measures the associated volume changes. Max pressure: 3500 kPa. Volume capacity: 250cc. 110-220V,50-60 Hz, 1ph.
| Code | 29-WF43SA | 29-WF43DA | 29-WF45SA | 29-WF45DA |
| N of pressure line | One | Two | One | Two |
| Max pressure [kPa] | 1700 | 3500 | ||
| Pressure res. [kPa] | 0.1 | |||
| Volume capacity [cc] | 250 | |||
| Volume res. [cc] | 0.001 | |||
| Dimension (lxhxw) [mm] | 860x200x150 | 860x200x200 | 860x200x150 | 860x200x200 |
| Weight [kg] | 10 | 18 | 10 | 18 |
AUTOTRIAX EmS software is a comprehensive and user-friendly interface between operator and system
Standards BS 1377:6 BS 1377:7 ASTM D2850 ASTM D4767 BS 1377:8
The AUTOTRIAX EmS software is a comprehensive and user-friendly interface between the operator and the testing system. Installed on a PC communicating with the system over a fast Ethernet connection, the software can be used to configure the system(s), calibrate transducers, specify test parameters, set system limits and control the system during a test, either manually or automatically. Due to the flexibility of the software, each triaxial system can either have its own, dedicated PC, or multiple systems can be run from one PC.
The software includes three modules with the following features:
DEVICE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
– This base software is supplied as standard with the AUTOTRIAX EmS system
– Designed for setting up the configuration and allocation of the components of each triaxial system
– Up to 11 points of calibration can be recorded with automatic polynomial best fitting (up to 7th order)
– The calibration data of different transducers can be stored for the same channel and easily recalled when connected
– Full scale limits can be set for all the transducers and pressure/volume controllers to prevent over-travel and possible damage
– Management of Hydromatic 2 pressure/volume controllers and Tritech compression frames outside of testing procedures (e.g. controller tuning, water refilling of pressure controllers)
TEST SOFTWARE
All the test modules include the following basic features:
– Input of project, sample and test details and parameters
– Set up of test sequences, including selection of automatic or manual control
– Real-time data for all transducers are displayed throughout the test, as well as all calculated stresses, strains, ratios, volume change etc. Updated specimen dimensions are displayed at the end of each stage
– Graphical test data can be displayed on four separate user-definable graphs, each with up to six data series
– Manual control panel to control the solenoid valves, Hydromatic 2 and Tritech units before starting the test
– Transducer readings and zero-set options displayed in large font on a separate panel, enabling the user to easily view the readings from a distance
– Review option to look at data and graphs for tests already completed
– Data processing and reporting conforming to the relevant standards by quickly and easily importing test data into the Microsoft Excel AUTOTRIAX 2 triaxial template
– Test pause option (automatic or by the user) for conditioning/refilling the Hydromatic 2 pressure/volume controllers
– Simultaneous and independent control of axial stress (displacement or load controlled), cell pressure, back pressure, base pressure (in the Permeability Module) and air pressure (in the Unsaturated Soils Module)
– Alarm display when travel or capacity limits of the system components are reached
– Set up of additional limits to stop or to hold the stress/strain conditions during the test
EFFECTIVE and TOTAL STRESS
This software module, supplied as standard, includes manual or automatic control of saturation, consolidation (for effective stress tests) and shear stage, according to ASTM and BS Standards:
Saturation (ASTM D4767, ASTM D7181, BS 1377:Part 8)
Under manual control, three different options for running the stage are available:
– Increments of cell pressure only
– Increments of cell & back pressure
– Simultaneous ramps of cell and back pressure
Alternatively, automatic control can be selected to run the complete stage according to BS1377:8 Clause 5.3, BS1377:8 Clause 5.4 or ASTM 4767/7181.
Data monitoring and processing consists of:
– Multiple plot options including: cell pressure vs. pore pressure / B values; cell, back and pore pressure vs. time; volume change vs. time
– Summary table and plot of all the saturation steps performed
Consolidation (ASTM D4767, ASTM D7181, BS 1377:Part 8)
Automatic or manual isotropic consolidation with cell and back pressure targets set by the user
Data monitoring and processing consists of:
– Multiple plot options including: volume change and pore pressure dissipation vs. time
– Graphical fitting methods, according to the relevant standards, for the evaluation of the end of consolidation
CU/CD test monotonic shear (ASTM D4767, ASTM D7181, BS 1377:Part 8)
Automatic or manual shear stage (drained / undrained) using calculated or user-defined rate of strain and failure criteria in compression or extension (2)
Data monitoring and processing consists of:
– Multiple plot options including: deviator stress, volume change, pore pressure vs. axial strain; MIT or Cambridge stress path
UU test monotonic shear (ASTM D2850, BS 1377:Part 7)
Automatic or manual undrained shear stage in compression, with rate of strain and cell pressure input.
STRESS PATH MODULE (1) (2)
This optional software module is for the automatic or manual control of stress path stages, with independent control of axial and radial stresses. The module can be used together with the standard stages of saturation, isotropic consolidation and monotonic shear provided by the Effective Stress Test Module to carry out what is generally known as stress path testing. This package includes the following:
– Total stress ramps
– Back pressure ramps
– MIT stress ramps to target values of s and t
– Cambridge stress ramps to target values of p and q
– Ramps to target change in axial displacement/strain
– Ramps to target volume change
– User-defined independent ramps / hold of deviator stress, cell pressure and back pressure
Data monitoring and processing consists of:
– Multiple plot options including: total and effective stress, volume change, pore pressure vs. axial strain; MIT or Cambridge stress path
K0 MODULE (1) (2)
This optional software module is for the automatic or manual control of K0 stages, with closed-loop control of the cross-sectional area of the soil sample. The module can be used together with the standard test stages of saturation, isotropic consolidation and monotonic shear provided by the Effective Stress Test Module.
This package includes the following:
– Axial stress ramps with closed-loop control of radial stress to maintain the K0 conditions
– Radial stress ramps with closed-loop control of axial stress to maintain the K0 conditions
– K0 conditions, controlled via the continuous monitoring of volumetric strain and axial strain
– K0 conditions, controlled via the continuous direct measurement of the sample diameter by a local radial strain “on-sample” transducer
PERMEABILITY MODULE (1)
This optional software module is for the automatic or manual control of triaxial permeability stages in accordance with BS1377:Part 6. The module is used together with the standard test stages of saturation and isotropic consolidation provided by the Effective Stress Test Module to carry out triaxial permeability tests. This package includes the following:
– control and measurement of base pressure
– measurement of permeability under a constant hydraulic gradient
– measurement of permeability under a constant rate of flow
Data monitoring and processing consists of:
– Multiple plot options including: change of volume / mean flow rate vs. time
– Evaluation tools to calculate in real time the permeability from the mean flow plot
UNSATURATED SOIL MODULE (1)
This optional software module is for the automatic or manual control of specific stages for unsaturated soils.
The module is used together with the standard test stages of saturation, isotropic consolidation and monotonic shear provided by the Effective Stress Test Module to carry triaxial testing on unsaturated soils. Stress path stages can also be performed when the Stress Path Module has been purchased. This package includes the following:
– control and measurement of air pressure
– control of matric suction during consolidation, monotonic shear and stress path stages
– measurement of pore pressure using the axis translation method
– SWCC (soil water characteristics curve) test stage
Data monitoring and processing consist of:
– Multiple plot options including: matric suction/pressures vs. strain; matric suction vs. moisture content
– Display of all unsaturated related stresses throughout the test
CRS (Constant Rate of Strain) MODULE (1) (3)
This optional software module is for the automatic or manual control of specific stages for performing CRS (Constant Rate of Strain) consolidation test.
The module consists in the following stages:
– Saturation stage
– Consolidation loading stage
– Dissipation stage
– Consolidation unloading stage
This package includes the following:
– ramp to target of cell pressure during saturation stage
– measurement of base pore pressure
– axial strain ramps to target with constant test speed during consolidation stage
– closed-loop control of axial stress to mainain the base excess pressure ratio (Ru) target during consolidation stage
– closed-loop control of axial stress to mainain the load target during dissipation stage
Data monitoring and processing consist of:
– Multiple plot options including: Total stress/Effective stress vs. strain; axial load vs.strain; Cell pressure/Pore pressure vs. time
– Display of Cell pressure/Pore pressure ratio during saturation stage;
– Display of base excess pressure ratio (Ru) during consolidation stage;
– Display of Degree of Dissipation during dissipation stage;
UC (Unconfined Compression) MODULE (1) (4)
This optional software module is for the automatic or manual control of Unconfined Compression test.
The module allows to measures the unconfined compressive strength of cohesive soils using axial strain-controlled conditions. The test consists in Unconfined compression stage and includes:
– ramp to target of cell pressure during saturation stage
– measurement of base pore pressure
– axial strain ramps with constant test speed
Data monitoring and processing consist of:
– Multiple plot options including: axial load vs.strain; Total stress vs. strain
CBR (California Bearing Ratio) MODULE (1) (5)
This optional software module is for the automatic or manual control of California Bearing Ratio test.
The module allows to measures the bearing capacity of subgrade natural or compacted soil for design of flexible pavement using axial strain-controlled conditions.
(1) An additional license must be purchased to unlock this module
(2) A vacuum top cap and submersible load cell must be used for tests with stages in extension
(3) CRS cell or CRS adaptor for triaxial cell and base plate must be used for performing the test
(4) Upper and lower platens, transducer bracket and external load cell must be used for performing the test
(5) CBR penetration piston and CBR mould must be used for performing the test
TEMPLATE FOR DATA PROCESSING
Triaxial Template is Excel-based data processing software that has been specially designed for the AUTOTRIAX 2 testing system. Data for the entire test is imported at the click of a button, with individual worksheets created and completed automatically for each stage of the test. Test reports are generated conforming to the selected standard and can be printed.
– Automatic data importing
– Processing and reporting of results to EN or BS or ASTM standards
– Includes presentation of Mohr circles and failure envelope with manipulation tools
– Triaxial permeability results can be post-processed to calculate the permeability value
– Possibility to plot a combined stress path graph of total and effective Cambridge and MIT stress path parameters over the whole test
– Can process multiple types of test*:
Unconsolidated Undrained (UU) triaxial – single, set of 3 or multistage
Consolidated Undrained triaxial (CU) – single, set of 3 or multistage
Consolidated Drained triaxial (CD) – single, set of 3 or multistage
Triaxial permeability
– CU and CD tests with any type of stage can be processed:
Saturation
Isotropic consolidation
Monotonic shear
Unsaturated (soil/water curve)
Stress path
K0
*The types of test that can be processed depend on which modules of the AUTOTRIAX EmS software are licensed
*PRO-COMPACT closed-loop is an innovative mechanical and electronic control that combines orthogonality of the load, pendulum motion of the head and sinusoidal non-friction forward-reverse carriage movement. This results in an optimally compacted sample that features Planarity Regularity and hOmogeneity (PRO). The combined load/displacement compaction procedure provides at the beginning of the test a controlled displacement compaction, which can grant a flat surface of the compacted slab, followed by a load compaction phase, which can replicate the real compaction on the road surface.
Effective stress/Total Stress software.
High specification desktop PC with LCD monitor.Operating system MS Windows preinstalled and 8 port LAN HUB converter.
Used for performing unsaturated triaxial test in AUTOTRIAX EmS
Servoflow air pressure controller ( for unsaturated soil test)
The Servoflow is an electro-pneumatic pressure controller that generates air pressures of up to 1000 kPa for one pressure line. Managed under closed-loop control by the Data acquisition and control unit that it is connected to, it consists of a chassis housing an electronic pressure regulator. The regulator reduces the supply air pressure to a regulated output which is directly proportional to an electrical input signal received from the control unit. In the AUTOTRIAX 2, the Servoflow is used to provide air pressure to the sample for unsaturated soils testing systems, based on the axis translation method.
Automatic Volume Change (for unsaturated test module only)
The device is used for unsaturated soils testing with the double wall triaxial cell to measure the volume change of the soil sample.
The design is based on the standard volume change device with integral solenoid valves that allow the flow direction and bypass functions to be controlled by the pressure extension unit – unsaturated. The device has a physical capacity of 100 cc but due to the automatic switching, it can measure volume change continuously. It is powered directly by the pressure extension unit – unsaturated and has LEDs on the front panel to show the flow status.
Servoflow air pressure controller
Output pressure: 1000 kPa
Pressure resolution: 0.1kPa
Pressure accuracy: 0.1% of full scale
Closed-loop control of pressure: regulated to 0.1 kPa
Dimensions: W225 x D210 x H140 mm
Weight: 5kg
Power supply: 110-240 V, 50/60 Hz, 1ph
Automatic volume change
Capacity: 100 cc
Accuracy: 0.1 cc
Maximum operating pressure: 2000 kPa
Dimensions: W280 x H400 x D260 mm
Weight: 9 kg
Power supply: 24V DC direct from the pressure expansion unit (unsaturated)
