The present invention concerns a device and method for selectively or simultaneously measuring shear strength and pore water pressure of a soil in the field. The device includes a rod adapted to be at least partially inserted into the soil and rotated. The rod has a soil engaging portion and an opposed coupling portion configured to be coupled to a torque applying machine or device. The device further includes at least one vane blade extending at least partially along and from the soil engaging portion of the rod for shearing the soil when rotated together with the rod. At plurality of pore water pressure sensors are operatively associated with at least one of the soil engaging portion and the at least one vane blade. The sensors are configured to sense pressure indicative of the pore water pressure of the soil while the at least one vane blade shears the soil.

An instrument and method for mechanical properties in situ testing of materials under a high temperature and complex mechanical loads are provided. The instrument includes: a support frame module used to provide a stable support and an effective vibration isolation for each functional module of the instrument; a high-frequency fatigue load applying module used to apply a high-frequency fatigue load on a tested sample; a static-dynamic mechanical load applying module used to apply a combination of static-dynamic tension/compression/bending loads on the tested sample; a high/low temperature applying module used to apply a variable temperature environment from a low temperature to a high temperature on the tested sample; and an in-situ monitoring module that may integrate a surface deformation damage measurement assembly, a three-dimensional strain measurement assembly, a microstructure measurement assembly, and an internal damage detection assembly according to a practical testing requirement.

An instrument and method for mechanical properties in situ testing of materials under a high temperature and complex mechanical loads are provided. The instrument includes: a support frame module used to provide a stable support and an effective vibration isolation for each functional module of the instrument; a high-frequency fatigue load applying module used to apply a high-frequency fatigue load on a tested sample; a static-dynamic mechanical load applying module used to apply a combination of static-dynamic tension/compression/bending loads on the tested sample; a high/low temperature applying module used to apply a variable temperature environment from a low temperature to a high temperature on the tested sample; and an in-situ monitoring module that may integrate a surface deformation damage measurement assembly, a three-dimensional strain measurement assembly, a microstructure measurement assembly, and an internal damage detection assembly according to a practical testing requirement.

A real-time measurement system for mechanical parameters of rock slag during excavation includes a rock slag conveyor belt configured to convey rock slag; cleaning device, located on both sides of the rock slag conveyor belt, configured to clean the rock slag; an image acquisition device, located behind the cleaning device and on both sides and above the rock slag conveyor belt, configured to collect images of rock slag; an on-site loading device, for conducting on-site mechanical loading procedure on the rock slag to obtain on-site mechanical parameters. The on-site loading device includes a loading bottom plate, a push plate and a pressure head. The loading bottom plate is provided with a loading area. The push plate is located on the loading bottom plate and pushed by a pushing mechanism to push the rock slag.

Disclosed herein is a concrete material comprising between 0.5% and 10% ferromagnetic fibres. Also disclosed herein is a method for measuring the strain state of a concrete material, the method comprising forming solid concrete containing between 0.5% and 10% ferromagnetic fibres in a random distribution throughout the concrete, applying an oscillating EM current to the concrete, and detecting the associated EM fields within the concrete. Also disclosed herein is the use of an oscillating EM current field to measure the strain state within a concrete material comprising between 0.5% and 10% ferromagnetic fibres.

An in-situ bollard tester. The in-situ bollard tester may comprise: a frame, cable, and tensioner. The frame is preferably adapted to mount onto a pier or wharf and around a bollard to provide structural support for the cable and tensioner. The frame may comprise a rectangular frame, pair of hanging columns, and first and second pair of legs. The first pair of legs are coupled near proximal corners of the rectangular frame and are vertically disposed. The hanging columns are coupled near distal corners of the rectangular frame. The second pair of legs are coupled at the lower ends of the hanging columns and are disposed in a horizontal manner. The tensioner may be coupled above the rectangular frame. The cable may fasten to the bollard, and the tensioner may apply tension to the cable at various load angles in order to test the integrity of the bollard.

According to one implementation, a structural health monitoring system includes an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic sensor, a strain sensor and a signal processing part. The ultrasonic transducer oscillates an ultrasonic wave to the first inspection area. The ultrasonic sensor detects a waveform of at least one of a transmission wave of the ultrasonic wave and a reflected wave of the ultrasonic wave. The transmission wave has transmitted the first inspection area. The reflected wave has been reflected in the first inspection area. The strain sensor detects a strain amount of the second inspection area. The signal processing part obtains at least one index, representing health of the structural object including the first inspection area and the second inspection area, based on the waveform detected by the ultrasonic sensor and the strain amount detected by the strain sensor.

A scratch tester has at least one cutter that moves simultaneously both rotationally and axially relative to the rock it is cutting. When rotational and axial movements are constant, the cutter generates a helical groove in the rock. In borehole embodiments, the scratch tester is fixed at a desired location using centralizers, and the cutter is provided on a motorized platform/track that translates between the centralizers and rotates around a central axis. The cutter faces outward and extends via a cutter arm to engage and carve a helical groove in the borehole wall. A laboratory scratch tester includes a holder for a solid cylindrical core sample and a motorized translating frame on which a cutter extends. The cutter is directed toward the core sample, and the holder with the core sample is rotated by a motor so that as the cutter translates relative thereto, a helical groove is cut thereinto.

An embeddable seepage module capable of being embedded into an interface ring shear apparatus is disclosed, wherein: the seepage module includes an annular cylinder, a seepage pressure regulation system, a top plate and a bottom plate; the interface ring shear apparatus includes an upper shear box and a lower shear box; the annular cylinder, the top plate, the bottom plate, the upper shear box and the lower shear box form an internal pressure cavity and an external pressure cavity; the internal pressure cavity is able to realize the precise double control of the soil seepage pressure and water flow through the seepage pressure regulation system; the external pressure cavity is able to collect fine soil particles under pressure seepage. In the case of soil seepage-shear coupling, the seepage module is assembled firstly for seepage, and after completing the seepage, the external pressure cavity is removed for ring shear tests.

In one version there is provided a test system including a layup tool having a layup surface, and two fairing bars attached to the layup surface. The test system includes the composite laminate having a plurality of stacked plies, and positioned between the two fairing bars. The test system includes fiber distortion initiator(s) positioned at one or more locations under, and adjacent to, one or more plies of the plurality of stacked plies. The test system includes two caul plates with a gap in between, and positioned over the composite laminate. When the test system undergoes a pressurized cure process with a vacuum compaction, a restricted outward expansion of the plurality of stacked plies by the fairing bars, and a pressure differential region formed by the one or more fiber distortion initiators at the one or more locations, create the controlled and repeatable out-of-plane fiber distortion in the composite laminate.