Large-scale simple shear apparatus for monotonic (static) shearing of saturated or unsaturated soils under constant normal stress (CD) or constant height (CU constant-volume) control.
Designed for 300 mm diameter specimens (larger diameters on request) to represent field-scale behavior for embankments, foundations, and ground-improvement evaluations.
Automatic one-dimensional consolidation under vertical load control prior to shearing; vertical actuator can hold constant stress or maintain constant height during CU tests while logging σv and vertical displacement.
Closed-loop shear control in stress or displacement (strain) modes with ultra-fine micro-increments for accurate peak/residual strength capture, dilation, and post-peak behavior.
High-capacity, high-resolution transducers on shear load, vertical load, horizontal displacement, and vertical displacement; optional pore-pressure channel for saturation checks and consolidation tracking.
Software provides live plots (τ–γ, σ′v–t, H/V), secant/tangent moduli, peak/residual shear strength, and automatic report generation with CSV/PDF export.
Robust steel frame with low-friction linear guides, overload/over-travel safety interlocks, and emergency stop; quiet bench/floor-standing operation with single-phase power
