Woods Hole Science Center
Marine Geotechnical Laboratory / CRS Consolidation Cell / TruePath Triaxial Cell
The geotechnical laboratory is dedicated to measuring physical properties of water-saturated natural or synthetic samples. The laboratory includes a constant rate of strain (CRS) consolidation cell and a TruePath triaxial cell. Each system is computer-controlled to allow relatively autonomous experimentation of geomechanical properties at low stresses (less than 3 MPa) and fluid pressures (less than 1.4 MPa). The laboratory equipment allows the constraint of elastic and plastic moduli, preconsolidation stress, Ko stress ratio, shear strength, stability envelope, and hydraulic conductivity of samples.