csSPath

Test Types

Clisp Studio only shows you what you need, Select either the Consolidated Drained or Consolidated Undrained Test Type, name the test and click on 'OK'.

Wizard Driven Setup

A 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 Saturation, Consolidation, Stress Path and Sample Failure stages.

Personalised Hardware Setup

The Hardware setup screen will only show you the choices relevant to your selected Test Type and Installed Hardware, this enables you to easily select the right Instrument required for Control or Transducer Input.

The Dimensions setup screen will automatically calculate and display the Specimen’s Area, Volume and Bulk Density from the Specimen's Length, Diameter, Weight, the Membrane Thickness and the Particle Density 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 Initial Wet Weight, Initial Dry Weight and Tin Weight.

If On-Sample Transducers are being used, the length of the Axial Caliper needs to be entered in the Gauges setup screen

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 or using a predefined table. You can choose to terminate the Back Pressure increment, when either the Volume or the Pore Pressure changes by less than a certain amount within a specified period.

The B-check increment of each step checks whether the specified B-Value has been satisfied when the Pore Pressure changes by less than a certain amount within a specified period. If the B-Value has been achieved, the Consolidation Stage is entered. Otherwise the next increment will be started and an advanced option enables you to maintain the Back Pressure obtained at the end of the previous phase for the subsequent phase. The entire Saturation Stage can be automated with the use of an Automatic Solenoid Valve.

Consolidation Stage Setup

Our Consolidation stage setup screens support Isotropic and Anisotropic Consolidation (if required), taking into account the information available from the Saturation stage. The screens presented are appropriate to the type of Consolidation to be carried out and all relevant data is logged using the selected time table with calculations carried out taking into account the drainage corrections selected.

You can specify the Isotropic Consolidation stage to be stopped when either of the following are satisfied (if selected); the Pore Water Pressure dissipation exceeds a specified percentage or a specified maximum time is exceeded. If an Anisotropic Stage is required, tabs for Constant Mean Stress and K0 schedules become available. The Constant Mean Stress schedule enables you to put the specimen onto a K-Line by ramping the Deviator Stress whilst maintaining a specified Effective Mean Stress and Back Pressure and data will be logged at your specified rate.

Consolidation Stage Setup (cont.)

The schedule will terminate when any of the following selected conditions apply; the Deviator Stress exceeds the safety level, the Maximum Deviator Stress falls by a specified percentage, the Axial Strain extends beyond an input percentage or a specified maximum time is exceeded.

The K0 schedule may be skipped if required, otherwise  the Effective Stress is ramped whilst the Back Pressure and the specimen diameter are held constant (the specimen's diameter is either measured using a radial sensor or is calculated). Data will be logged at your specified rate and the schedule will terminate when any of the following selected conditions apply; the Deviator Stress exceeds the safety level, the Effective Mean Stress exceeds an input level, the Maximum Deviator Stress falls by a specified percentage, the Axial Strain extends beyond an input percentage or a specified maximum time is exceeded.

Stress Path Stage Setup

The Stress Path Stage setup screens enable you set up as many Stress Path lines as you wish to test the sample. Each one consists of a Target Total Stress, a Target Deviator Stress and a Time to reach the Target. A graph is available to illustrate the Stress Path to be followed. The entire Stress Path sequence can be automated if required.

The Stress Path stage is terminated when any of the following that have been selected are true; the Deviator Stress exceeds the safety level, the Axial Strain exceeds a specified percentage or a specified time has been exceeded. Once the Stress Path lines have been completed, there is an option to continue and fail the sample.

Sample Failure Stage Setup

The sample is failed by increasing either the Stress or the Strain at a specified rate whilst maintaining the Cell Pressure until either of the following are satisfied if selected; the Axial Strain exceeds a specified percentage or the Peak Stress drops by a specified percentage (ignoring this until the drop exceeds an input percentage).

Live Test Views

For all four stages (Saturation, Consolidation, Stress Path and Sample Failure) 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.

Saturation Results

The Saturation Results graph plots the Cell Pressure Input vs. B-Value and the Saturation Results table shows the logged Inputs (Cell Pressure, Back Pressure and Pore Water Pressure) and the calculated values of Volume Change and B-Value at the specified data logging intervals.

Consolidation Results

The Consolidation Results view shows the calculated t100 value, the Estimated Strain to Failure and also other results and corrections. Consolidation graphs are plotted for Isotropic Consolidation (Time vs. Volume Change), Anisotropic Consolidation (Time vs. Deviator Stress) and K0 (Time vs. Deviator Stress). The Isotropic table shows the logged Inputs (Pore Water Pressure and Volume) and the calculated values of Volume Change and Pore Water Dissipation percentage at the specified data logging intervals.

The Anisotropic Consolidation Table shows the logged Inputs (Load, Strain, Cell Pressure, Back Pressure, Pore Water Pressure and Volume) and the calculated values of Deviator Stress, Axial Strain, K-Value and Effective Mean Stress at the specified data logging intervals.

The Anisotropic Consolidation Table shows the logged Inputs (Load, Strain, Cell Pressure, Back Pressure, Pore Water Pressure and Volume) and the calculated values of Deviator Stress, Axial Strain, Current Diameter and Effective Mean Stress at the specified data logging intervals.

Stress Path Results

The Stress Path Summary graph plots Total Stress vs. Deviator Stress and the Stress Path Summary table shows the Target Total Stress, Target Deviator Stress, Total Stress and Deviator Stress.

Sample Failure Results 

In addition to the Final Live View, Graph and Table, the Additional Failure Table shows the input Left Strain, Right Strain and Radial Strain from the On-Sample Transducers and the resultant Small Strain Change, Small Strain Percentage, Radial Strain Change and Radial Strain Percentage.

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 investigation of an issue by VJ Tech.

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