Swelling lab
The swelling of clay and clay-sulfate rocks is a risk in tunnelling, road and bridge construction as well as in geothermal projects. We investigate the processes that occur during swelling and their geotechnical effects. We have set up a rock swelling laboratory for the experimental determination of swelling parameters and for the development of material laws for the simulation of swelling processes with numerical THMC models.
Equipment
- Swelling test facility with 6 oedometric swelling test apparatuses for standardized tests in accordance with Recommendation 11 of the DGGT Working Group on Rock Testing and ISRM Suggested Methods
- Cells for flow-through swelling tests to investigate the change in permeability during swelling
- “Swellomat” with 6 swelling cells for powder swelling tests.
Injection lab
Through injection tests in a large-scale injection facility and on a laboratory scale, we are investigating the injection success of innovative injection agents and their environmental impact under near-natural conditions.
Equipment
- Injection test facilities in various scales: large-scale test facility, in-situ injection pit, laboratory injection facility
- Computer-controlled injection devices for injecting pastes, suspensions and solutions
Engineering geological lab tests
Standard engineering geological tests are carried out in accordance with standards in student training and for research projects.
- Consistency limits (DIN 18 122-1 und -2, DIN EN ISO 17 892-12)
- Korngrößenverteilung durch Sieben und Sedimentation (DIN 18 123, DIN EN ISO 17 892-4)
- Grain density using capillary pycnometer (DIN 18 124, DIN EN ISO 17 892-3)
- Proctor test (DIN 18 127)
- Loss on ignition (DIN 18 128, DIN EN 17 685-1)
- Carbonate content after Scheibler (DIN 18 129)
- Hydraulic conductivity (DIN 18 130-1, DIN EN ISO 17 892-11)
- Water absorption capacity after Enslin/Neff (DIN 18 132)
Field investigation
We use different exploration and test methods for field investigations.
- Nordmeyer dynamic probing and drilling machine RSB 0/1.4 for small drillings according to DIN 4021 and auger drilling in soils as well as rotary core drilling in hard rock
- Mobile Lugeon test facility to determine the permeability in the borehole
- Bore hammer für dynamic core probing (Atlas Cobra, Bosch)
- Air permeameter TinyPerm3 for determining the permeability at outcrops
- Various devices for index tests in the field (Schmidt-Hammer, needle penetrometer, hand vane)
