Soil Testing Center launched at SPbGASU
On October 1, the Soil Testing Center, created on the basis of the Department of Geotechnics, began its work at SPbGASU. The center's activities are aimed at fulfilling scientific and commercial orders for soil testing, including those under special programs..
Soil Testing Center: General view of a triaxial compression device (stabilometer) with a maximum vertical load of 30 kN
Rashid Mangushev
Director of the Center, corresponding member of the RAASN, Professor Rashid Mangushev, Dr. of Engineering: “Modern software systems can perform calculations of complex objects. However, this requires quite serious soil tests, the performance of which is within the power of only certain laboratories. For example, it is an intricate task to determine the OCR over-consolidation ratio: to do this, high pressures are needed, and our laboratory equipment can provide for that.”
The Center and the Department of Geotechnics are equipped with state-of-the-art and unique Russian-made equipment for laboratory and field soil testing. There is a stabilometer with a force of three tons for testing soil at pressures up to 8 MPa, a mobile static sensing unit with the ability to measure pore pressure, a 27 m3 freezer for testing frozen and freezing soils.
In the center, it is possible to conduct laboratory tests of soils at negative temperatures, during freezing and thawing of samples, which is especially important for the development of the regions of the Far North and the Arctic.
Many teachers and staff of the center are practicing geotechnics, who optimally use the results of soil tests in calculations for geotechnical justification and scientific support of zero-cycle construction facilities. According to Rashid Mangushev, this is necessary in accordance with the existing technical standards.
By the end of the year, it is planned to receive a certificate of laboratory certification.
Text: Tatyana Petrova
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