Geotechnical Laboratory & Field Support staff perform various types of studies related to soil, rock, and foundation materials used for Reclamation structures.  These include both laboratory and field studies of the properties and performance of engineering materials under various environmental and service life conditions.  The laboratory houses tools and equipment for cutting-edge materials science testing and research including:

• Physical and Index Properties
• Determination of pulse velocities and ultrasonic elastic constants at varying stress states
• Direct Shear Testing Machines (7-inch and 12-inch diameters)
• Concrete or Rock
• Static or Cyclic
• Constant Normal Load or Constant Normal Stiffness
• Normal Stiffness of Rock or Concrete Fractures
• Triaxial Shear Testing Machine (with elevated temperature and pore pressure)
• Indirect splitting tensile strength
• Uniaxial Compressive Strength, Static or Cyclic
• Point load testing
• Tilt table
• Slake durability

• Internal Erosion Testing
• Index Testing
• Static Testing
• Direct Shear Strength (up to 12” specimens)
• Triaxial Shear Strength (automated stress path system, up to 6” specimens)
• Torsional Ring Shear, drained or undrained
• Expansion/Consolidation
• Fully Softened Strength and Residual Strength
• Dynamic Testing
• Cyclic Simple Shear (up to 5Hz)
• Cyclic Triaxial Shear (up to 5Hz)
• Consolidation Testing
• One-dimensional consolidation
• One-dimensional swell/consolidation for expansive clay and rock
• Permeability Testing
• Constant Head Permeability (up to 19” specimens)
• Combined settlement & Permeability
• Flexible Wall Permeameter including Flow Pump testing
• Construction Materials Testing
• Chemical Stabilization of Soils
• Concrete aggregates
• Riprap
• Granular Filter Materials
• Dispersion/Erosion potential
• Filter sand evaluations, including cementation potential