csDynaDSS

Test Definition

The Clisp Studio DSS Software module confoms to ASTM D6528-07, the recognised International Standard for Dynamic Simple Shear testing. Once the Test has been selected and named, the Test is defined and the Test Wizard will be displayed on the Test Screen along with the associated menus.

Wizard Driven Setup

The powerful and intuitive Test Wizard will guide you through the Setup, from the selection of the Hardware to be used and details of the Specimen, through to the data you require for the Consolidation, Shear and Dynamic Testing stages.

Personalised 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.

Specimen Details Setup

The Dimensions setup screen will automatically calculate and display the Specimen’s Area, Volume and Bulk Density from the data entered by the User. Similarly, the Moisture setup screen will automatically calculate and display the Specimen’s Moisture, Dry Density, Voids Ratio and Degree of Saturation from the entered data.

Consolidation Stage Setup

You can specify the Initial Vertical Stress to be applied and then specify whether data logging should be initiated when the normal stress gets within a specified percentage of this or when the normal settlement of the sample changes by a specified amount. To apply the required seating load, specify the rate of change of the Vertical piston and the Load change at which to cease movement, and then indicate whether the specimen is submersed in water or not.

You can specify Data Logging either at a defined cyclic rate, using a predefined table (or newly created table) or each time the settlement level changes by a given amount. You can then specify whether the Consolidation stage terminates when the specimen settlement level does not change by an input value within a specified time period and/or when a specified time is exceeded. You can be informed of Consolidation completion by a buzzer sounding or via e-mail.

Although normally only one Consolidation schedule is performed, selection of the ‘Increments’ tab, allows the User to add additional Vertical Stress Increments for the Consolidation stage. Increments are added using the ‘Add’ button or deleted using the ‘Delete’ button. Each additional increment results in the creation of a new schedule in the Test Plan, a summary of which can be seen at the bottom of the ‘Test Explorer’ panel on the right of the main screen.

Shear Stage Setup

This Stage is only set up and selected if the Test is static and the specimen is sheared to failure. You can input the Normal Stress to be applied and set up data logging to be at a cyclic rate at an input value of Horizontal Percentage Strain change or an input value of Horizontal Displacement change. The Stop Criteria for Consolidation stage completion can be either when the Shear Stress has fallen by a specified number of times after peaking, or when the Horizontal strain extends beyond an input percentage value input.

Shear Stage Setup (continued)

You input the ‘t95’ value (determined from the Consolidation graph) to calculate the Shearing Speed. A manually entered Shear Speed can also be specified if required. The Reversing Speed to reverse the machine to the starting position after the Shear Stage Stop Conditions have been satisfied can be input manually or calculated automatically.

Dynamic Testing Stage Setup

The Dynamic Testing Stage will consist of one or more Ramp and Cyclic schedules where you Ramp to the required starting conditions and then carry out the required Cyclic test. In the Ramp schedule, it is usual to ramp and then maintain the Vertical Force at the required value and maintain or ignore the Horizontal Load and Back Pressure (although they may be changed if required).

It is usual to use Active Height Control for the Dynamic Simple Shear test (where the Vertical Displacement is mainained whilst the Horizontal Load is cycled and the Back Pressure ignored. However, other combinations are allowed.

You can select from a number of different waveforms for the Cyclic schedule  (Sinusoidal, Triangular, Square Wave, Haversine, Saw-Tooth or User-Defined), and then specify the Cycle Count, Data Logging Rate, Frequency and Amplitude. The User-defined waveform can specify up to 1000 points, each specifying a Time (in msecs) and an equivalent Setpoint (either Displacement (mm) or Force (kN) dependent upon the Control Option) with movement advised to be relative to the current feedback of the sensor’s position.

The Cyclic stage will terminate on completion of the cycle count or end prematurely when either the Shear strain exceeds a specified percentage, and/or the Vertical travel ever exceeds the amplitude by a specified percentage and/or the Horizontal travel ever exceeds the amplitude by a specified percentage. The next schedule can be started straightaway and a confirmatory e-mail sent if required.

Live Test Views

For all three stages (Consolidation, Shear and Dynamic Testing) 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.

Shear Results 

The Shear Results View provides you with the Final Dry Density, Moisture and Degree of Saturation of the sample, as well as the Peak Shear Stress, Shear Strain at Peak Stress, Vertical Settlement and Voids Ratio.

Dynamic Results 

The Dynamic Stage Results graphs provides you with a Dynamic Cycle Analysis graph for any schedule as well as a Dynamic Hysteresis graph for a particular schedule. A Dynamic cycles table is also available displaying the maximum and minimum Shear Stress and Strain as well as the Pore Pressure of a cycle.

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.

Reports

When you purchase Clisp Studio csDynaDSS we provide a wide variety of Industry Standard reports (in the relevant language) for the different Stages that would be of interest to a geotechnical engineer or end User. There is also an extremely useful summary report which summarizes the Test Type and Sample Details, the Initial Conditions, summaries of the Test Stages, descriptions of the Test, Client and Site and also signatory boxes for Quality Control purposes. All reports can be printed, saved as a PDF file or exported to Word or Excel. The industry standard reports available are:

• Summary Graph
• Consolidation Graphs
• Consolidation Table
• Strain vs. Stress and PwP graph
• Log Strain vs. Log Shear Modulus
• Effective Axial Stress vs. Shear Stress
• Shear Strain vs. G/Effective Consolidation Stress
• Shear Table