csDYNADSS-C

Hardware Setup

Because laboratories and research establishments often have numerous Testing Stations with many different Instruments, the Hardware setup screen has been designed with that in mind and will only show you the choices relevant to your selected Test Type and Installed Hardware, this enables the user to easily select the right Instrument required for Control or Transducer Input.

The Initial Data setup screen will automatically calculate and display the Specimen’s Area, Volume, Wet Density and Dry Density from the Sample Height, Diameter and Width, and the Water Content, Skirt Length and Membrane Thickness entered by the User. 

Saturation Stage Setup

We support both ‘Step’ and ‘Ramp’ Saturation methods and the incremental Cell and Back Pressure steps to saturate the specimen are easily set up. All appropriate calculations are performed automatically as the stage progresses with all relevant data logged at your specified intervals. You can choose when to terminate the stage, whether the B-value has been achieved or the volume or pore pressure changes by less than a certain amount.

Isotropic Consolidation can either be carried out on a specified Back Pressure or using the Back Pressure achieved during Saturation (adjusted if necessary to a minimum level). You can include the Volume Change from Saturation and/or wait for the Effective Pressure to be established and/or wait for a stable Pore Water Pressure before starting. Data is logged using a predefined table and the Stage stops when the PWP exceeds a defined percentage or a specified time has elapsed.

Anisotropic Consolidation maintains a specified Back Pressure, whilst ramping the Total Vertical and Horizontal Stresses to input pressures in a defined time (with drainage corrections applied if required). Data is logged at a input rate or using a predefined table and the Stage stops after a specified time has elapsed.

K0 Consolidation maintains a specified Back Pressure, whilst ramping the Effective Horizontal Stress at a specified rate. Data is logged at a input rate and the Stage stops after a specified time has elapsed.

The Static Loading Stage can consist of a number of Drained or Undrained schedules. For Drained tests, Total Vertical Stress and Cell Pressure are maintained, whilst Horizontal Displacement is changed by an input amount at a specified rate. For Undrained tests, Total Vertical Stress and Vertical Position are maintained, whilst either
Horizontal Displacement is changed by an input value at a specified rate or Shear Stress is increased to an input value at a specified rate. Data points are logged at one of a selected number of predefined points and the test stops when the Shear Strain is greater than a specified percentage. Optionally for an Undrained Shear Strain test, a creep Test may be performed by maintaining the Shear Stress for a specified time.

The ‘Drained Pre-Shearing’ schedule will maintain Vertical Stress and Cell Pressure whilst applying a selected waveform for an input number of cycles at a specified Cyclic Shear Stress and Frequency. For an ‘Undrained Cyclic Loading’ schedule, Total Vertical Stress and Cell Pressure are maintained, whilst applying a selected waveform for an input number of cycles at a specified Frequency for either Shear Stress or Horizontal Displacement, between two limits, or about the current sensor value at a given amplitude. For an ‘Undrained Monotonic Shearing’ schedule, Total Vertical Stress and Cell Pressure are maintained, whilst Horizontal Displacement is changed by an input amount at a specified rate. In all schedules, data points are logged at one of a selected number of predefined points and the test stops when the Shear Strain is greater than or equal to a specified percentage.

Liquefaction Stage Setup

For a ‘Cyclic Stress’ schedule, Total Vertical Stress and Cell Pressure are maintained, whilst applying a selected waveform for an input number of cycles at a specified Frequency for either Shear Stress or Horizontal Displacement, between two limits, or about the current sensor value at a given amplitude. Data points are logged at one of a selected number of predefined points and the test stops when the Shear Strain is greater than a specified percentage or the Pore Pressure Ratio reaches an input value. For the ‘Drained Pore Pressure Dissipation’ schedule, Total Vertical Stress and Cell Pressure are maintained whilst the Back Pressure is increased by an amount equal to the Excess Pore Pressure developed during the Cyclic phase. Once this has been achieved, the Back Pressure valve should open and the Back Pressure will ramp back down to its initial value at the specified rate. Data is logged at a specified rate and the test will terminate after a defined period. For the ‘Drained Confining Pressure’ schedule, Total Vertical Stress and Cell Pressure are maintained, whilst the Vertical and Horizontal Stresses are ramped down by an amount equal to the Excess Pore Pressure developed during the Cyclic phase. Data is logged at a specified rate and the test will terminate after a defined period. For a ‘Drained Monotonic Shearing’ schedule, Total Vertical Stress and Cell Pressure are maintained, whilst Horizontal Displacement is changed by an input amount at a specified rate. Data points are logged at one of a selected number of predefined points and the test stops when the Shear Strain is greater than or equal to a specified percentage.

Live Test Views

For all stages, we offer predefined live data views to observe the most commonly measured variables and calculated data for the specimen being tested, whilst the Test Stage is running. This enables you to keep a close on eye on the measured parameters to check that everything is progressing well. Clisp Studio also enables you to customize the desired Live Data from the list of variables that are relevant to that particular stage.

For all stages, Clisp Studio enables you to monitor the Test progress both graphically and in the form of a table whilst the Test Stage is running. There are Predefined Graphs which plot using the usual axes and predefined Tables which display the most commonly measured parameters and expected results as the Test progresses, but you can also customize the desired Graphs and Tables from the list of variables that are relevant to that particular stage.

General Stage Results 

All Stages provide results views, graphs and tables as summarised in the table below.

Dynamic Results Analysis 

In addition, the Cyclic and Liquefaction Stages provide you with a cycle analysis facility, which enables you to select particular or all cycles for analysis. This is particularly useful where a large number of dynamic cycles have been undertaken.

Data Export and Import

Clisp Studio has the ability to export the entire Test to MS Excel for further data manipulation. The Test can also be exported to a script file which can be imported when creating a new Test if desired. This enables Tests from the current or older versions of Clisp Studio to be cloned or even rerun if required.This facility is extremely useful for Test exchange between laboratories or for investigation of an issue by VJ Tech.