The Foundation Laboratory provides soil and rock investigation (geotechnical) information necessary in determining foundation depth and safe bearing capacity for bridges, dams and buildings
The laboratory is well equipped with equipment that carry out the physical analysis of samples obtained from the geotechnical investigations, which include:
- Soil analysis tests –these include Atterberg limit tests, Particle Size Distribution, Hydrometer analysis for silt and clay, Oedometer (Unflooded and flooded), Hydrometer analysis for silt and clay, Permeability Test on granular materials, on silt and clay, Unconfined Compression Test (U.C.S), Fall Cone Test (SU), Swelling Pressure, Shear Box (Unflooded and flooded), Triaxial Tests (Unconsolidated Undrained, Consolidated Undrained and Drained Consolidation), Crumb and Pin-Hole Tests for soil dispersion and Moisture density relationship, standard proctor.
- Cores/Rocks analysis tests include: Moisture content, Bulk Density, Uniaxial Compressive strength (U.C.S), Point Load and Dynamic Cone Penetration (D.C.P).
- Foundation Field Tests include: Standard Penetration Test (S.P.T), Plate Loading Test (P.L.T), Lugeon test and Falling head permeability test.