Geotechnical laboratories test and study soil and rock for civil engineering operations such as urban planning, road construction, and erosion control. Governments, military, universities, and private industries sponsor these labs. They have two main parts, a storage area and a testing area. The scope of the lab is dictated by its environment and the expertise of the scientists. They innovate new, stronger composites and analyze the durability and life expectancy of new additions. Military geotechnical labs serve exploratory purposes, while geotechnical companies supply labs for industrial use, particularly in drilling and mining.
A geotechnical laboratory is a scientific facility dedicated to testing and studying the elements of the earth, especially soil and rock. This type of laboratory is most commonly associated with civil engineering operations. Urban planning, road construction and erosion control usually depend on the analysis of natural compounds which can often only happen in a geotechnical laboratory. Government agencies and the military often sponsor these laboratories, either by staffing them on site or by contracting their services with outside private industries. Some universities also host laboratories, usually in conjunction with geotechnical training programs.
There are usually two main parts to any geotechnical laboratory: an area for receiving and storage, and an area for testing. Lab tests can be as simple as a scientist performing a basic composite analysis or as complex as breaking, bonding, or recreating the material. The testing portion of the lab usually looks like any science lab. Machines such as atomizers and centrifuges often line the walls, while benches with beakers, burners and sample isolation trays occupy the central space.
Some labs are multipurpose, which means they can accommodate a variety of different samples and testing tasks. Others are much more nuanced, often focused on just one specific type of research. The scope of a geotechnical laboratory is usually dictated by its environment, as well as the expertise of the scientists who work there.
Many governments have geotechnical services divisions that help advise planners on the feasibility of development or construction in particular areas. The scientists involved in these tasks are often very specialized. They will usually complete soil testing and sample sampling from proposed sites, but will also analyze the durability and life expectancy of new additions such as concrete flooring or foundations for buildings.
Lab technicians can also work to innovate new, stronger composites. Designing a pavement that resists cracking when frozen may be one geotechnical scientist’s job, while finding solutions for concrete foundations that sink into oversaturated soil may be another’s endeavor. Research and testing for these and other projects takes place in a geotechnical laboratory.
Military geotechnical laboratories often serve similar exploratory purposes. Senior experts within the military typically use the geotechnical laboratory space to understand difficult terrains. Field personnel will send samples to the laboratory, where scientists will test them, break them down and analyze their main components.
A number of geotechnical companies also supply laboratories for more industrial use, particularly in the drilling and mining sector. Companies that provide oil drilling, water drilling or large-scale excavation work typically rely on in-house geotechnical laboratory capabilities to quickly test, identify and store samples. Field engineers often begin their work by drilling a small core from the proposed site. Once scientists in the lab have assessed the composition of the sample, engineers will have a better idea of whether they want to invest in actually doing the exploration and drilling or whether better results can be found elsewhere. Maintaining a library of past samples also helps engineers know what to expect in similar terrain.
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