Soil testing is an important function of geotechnical testing and civil engineering in the design of

pavements, embankments and other structures. Geotechnical testing provides valuable information on
soil mechanics and materials common to soils such as silt, clay, sand, gravel or rock. Testing is critical in
determining if the soil has the characteristics to support the planned construction. Procedures such as
sample collection and visual classification are used to make initial determinations before further testing
begins.

Types of Equipment

California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test equipment is specific for use in the
laboratory or on-site in the field. Products are designed for use accordingly
in each setting. CBR lab testing is primarily for determining moisture
content while field tests measure strength. Products are also available for
conducting the Florida Limerock Bearing Ratio (LBR) laboratory test.
Gilson’s selection of CBR test equipment and products meet ASTM and
AASHTO standards.

Triaxial Shear Strength equipment is designed to test a soil’s shear

strength. Our selection of products is used to ensure the safe design and
construction of structures and foundations. A solid selection of load
frames, triaxial cells and accessories, and control panels are available.

Unconfined Compressive Strength equipment determines cohesive

soil strength values in accordance with ASTM and AASHTO standards.
Test equipment includes Load Frames, as well as products used for
sample preparation, measuring load and displacement, and more.
Direct/Residual Shear Strength test equipment
includes Pneumatic Direct, Dead-Weight Direct and
Direct/Residual Shear Machines. These machines
measure resistance of soils to direct and residual
shear forces. A selection of weight sets, shear boxes
and other accessories are available for testing to
size, weight, test method and standards.

Consolidation equipment tests for swell and

expansion of a soil specimen to predict its potential
for settling under load. Gilson offers a selection of
load frames, consolidometers and other products
that test in compliance with ASTM and AASHTO test
standards.

Permeability testing identifies flow characteristics,

also known as hydraulic conductivity, of water and
other fluids in soils. This equipment meets ASTM and
AASHTO standards for a number of flexible-wall,
constant-head or falling-head permeability test
methods
 Soil Cement test equipment measures compressive
strength of soil and cement mixtures. Soil cement is
often used as a base in pavements for its strength.
Test sets and components are designed for use with
Load Frames and meet ASTM and AASHTO test
standards.

Proctor Compaction & Density equipment is used to

determine the moisture-density relationship of soil.
This is also known as Proctor testing. Compactors,
compaction hammers and molds are used for testing
compacted density and unit weights of soils. Test
findings are used to control placement and
compaction of soil embankments and other
engineered fills. Products are also available for
testing relative density.

Load Frames are manufactured by Karol-Warner and

available with different strain rates. They adapt for
use with many soil laboratory tests, and are used
with a range of digital and analog sets. Load Frames
are used in basic soil tests such as CBR, soil cement,
shear strength, unconfined compression and more.

Load & Displacement Measurement products are

used to configure Load Frames for soil testing in the
laboratory. Grouped sets and individual products are
available to measure load and displacement with
load frames. Select from analog sets, digital
readouts, load cells or load rings, and more.
Porous Stones are used in triaxial, consolidation,
permeability and shear strength testing. Sizes range
from 1.4 to 6.0in (36 to 152mm). Porous stones are
round or square, and support both ends of a soil
specimen in testing.

Latex Membranes provide a tight latex barrier that

prevents fluids from leaking into the soil specimen
during testing. Membranes come in sizes ranging
from 1.4 to 6.0in (36 to 152mm). They are used with
test cells in permeability or triaxial testing.

Atterberg Limits products are used to conduct

moisture tests on cohesive soils for liquid limit,
plastic limit or shrinkage limit. Testing is performed
to determine a soil’s Plasticity Index, a value needed
to classify a soil type. Products conform to ASTM and
AASHTO test standards.

Field Testing/Classification equipment provide

visual and geotechnical determinations of soil
characteristics such as moisture content, strength,
density and grain size. Soil characteristics indicate if
the soil will be stable and perform well under
structure and load. Moisture testers, dial and pocket
penetrometers, shear vane sets, classification charts,
meters, and more are used for accurate
classifications.
 Hydrometer Analysis of Soils tests in accordance
with ASTM D7928 and AASHTO T 88 test standards.
Gilson offers the specific products and apparatus
needed for determining the amount of silt and clay
fractions in the soil. Particle size distribution of fine-
grained soils is determined by measuring suspended
solids in sedimentation cylinders.

Soil Sampling products are used to profile soil layers

and collect samples for testing and classification.
Our selection includes a range of augers and soil
samplers designed for use with soil, clay, sand and
mud. Augers are constructed of carbon or stainless
steel, and available in 3 or 4in.

Specimen Measurement tools accurately measure

soil samples. Products include a Diameter Measuring
Tape in inches or millimeters, and 6 or 12in (152 or
305mm) Digital Calipers.