I. INTRODUCTION:
The soil is a complex material, its behaviour under the loading conditions is to be estimated at the foundation level for the structures either prior to designing the structure or during the execution of the works to minimize the failures. These structures may be hydraulic or non-hydraulic structures such as spillways, earth dams and multi storied buildings, air fields, highways etc. The properties of the soils can be obtained by conducting field as well as laboratory investigations. Soil parameters so obtained by means of investigations can be utilized safely to design the structures. Keeping this in view, the then A.P. Engineering Research Laboratories now T.S. Engineering Research Laboratories started fully equipped Geo-technical Laboratory. The Geo-technical laboratory serves the needs of Irrigation projects, foundation problems of departments other than Irrigation department and problems referred by Private agencies. During investigation, the soil samples are tested in the laboratory for identification and engineering properties like Mechanical Analysis, Atterberg Limits, MDD, OMC, Permeability, Shear Parameters, Consolidation and Swelling characteristics for the selected borrow area samples and the results are furnished to design the proposed structures. The undisturbed soil samples collected from the foundations are also tested in this Laboratory for identification and engineering properties like Mechanical Analysis, Atterberg Limits, FDD, FMC, Shear Parameters, Permeability, Consolidation and Swelling characteristics are found to enable the design engineer to ascertain the foundation strength, seepage, stability and settlement. Similarly testing of soil samples sent from slips and breaches of canals and dam embankments are also taken up. Field tests like Plate Bearing Test, Rock Shear Test, In Situ Permeability Test are also conducted. All the lab and field tests on soil samples received from various projects of Irrigation Department, Roads and Buildings, Public Health, T.S. State Electricity Board, Private agencies etc., are conducted as per the codes of Bureau of Indian Standards. Regional Soil Testing Laboratory, Warangal is also under the control of Research Officer/ SML, TSERL. II. INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES AVAILABLE
Two huge laboratories of size 100’x40’ each with asbestos sheets covered are available in which the following equipments are installed. A few of them are installed in the buildings as well.
|
IV. List of IS Codes:
ii. In-plane Permeability ( IS : 14324 - 1995 )
iii. Interface friction Apparatus ( IS : 13326 Part – 1 - 1992 )
iv. Dry Sieve Test Apparatus( IS : 14294 - 1995 )
- Mechanical Sieve Analysis ( IS : 2720 Part – 4 – 1985 )
- Liquid Limit & Plastic Limit ( IS : 2720 Part - 5 - 1985 )
- Rapid Moisture Meter ( IS : 2720 Part - 2 – 1973 )
- Shrinkage Limit ( IS : 2720 - Part - 6 - 1972 )
- Pipette Stand (IS : 2720 Part – 4 - 1985)
- Hydrometer (IS : 2720 Part – 4 - 1985)
- Differential free Swell ( IS : 2720 - Part – 40 - 1977 )
- Soil Cone Penetrometer ( IS : 2720 Part - 5 - 1985 )
- Specific Gravity of Soils ( IS : 2720 Part - 3 - 1980 )
- Relative Density Apparatus (IS : 2720 Part – 14 - 1983)
- Standard & Modified Proctors Test Apparatus (IS : 2720 Part – 7 - 1980 - & Part - 8 - 1983)
- Universal Automatic Compactor ( IS : 2720 Part – 7 - 1980 - & Part - 8 - 1983)
- Core Cutter Apparatus ( IS : 2720 Part - 29 - 1975 )
- Sand Replacement Method Equipment ( IS : 2720 Part - 28 - 1974 )
- Constant Head Permeability Test Apparatus ( IS : 2720 Part - 36 - 1987 )
- Variable Head Permeability Test Apparatus ( IS : 2720 Part - 17 - 1986 )
- Analog and Electronic Direct Shear Test Apparatus ( IS : 2720 Part - 13 - 1986 )
- Analog and Electronic Tri-axial Compression Test Apparatus ( IS : 2720 Part - 11 – 1971)
- Cyclic Tri-axial Compression Test Apparatus (ASTM D5311 2004 )
- Analog and Electronic Consolidation Test Apparatus ( IS : 2720 Part - 15 - 1986 )
- California Bearing Ratio Test Apparatus ( IS : 2720 Part - 16 - 1979 )
- Unconfined Compressive Strength Test Apparatus ( IS : 2720 Part - 10 - 1973 )
- Swell Pressure Test Apparatus ( IS : 2720 Part - 41 - 1977 )
- Vane shear Test Apparatus ( IS : 2720 Part - 30 - 1980 )
- Plate Load Test Apparatus ( IS : 1888 - 1982 )
- Rock Direct Shear Test Apparatus ( IS : 12634 1989 )
- Rock Tri-axial Test Apparatus ( IS : 13047 - 1991 )
- Rock Brazilian Test Apparatus ( IS : 10082 - 1981 )
- Slake durability Test Apparatus ( IS : 10050 - 1981 )
- Pin Hole (ASTM D4647 2013 )
- Geo Textiles:
ii. In-plane Permeability ( IS : 14324 - 1995 )
iii. Interface friction Apparatus ( IS : 13326 Part – 1 - 1992 )
iv. Dry Sieve Test Apparatus( IS : 14294 - 1995 )
V. Past achievements of the Lab and Important works done
During the past years, many soil samples were tested in the Soil Mechanics Lab among which, a record of 1,205 soil samples were tested in a single year i.e 2018-19 for various ongoing projects like Kaleswaram and PRLIS which were urgent and important.
The soil test results were utilized for formation of embankments of Uddandapur Reservoir, Kurumurthyraya sagar reservoir, Venkatadri Reservoir of PRLIS and also for the formation of Embankments of Sri Komaravelli Mallanna sagar reservoir, Baswapur Reservoir, Kondapochamma reservoir etc. of Kaleswaram project.
The revenue collected towards testing charges and deposited in the PAO(W&P) during the past five years i.e. from 2015-16 to 2019-20 was to the tune of about 1.70 Crores.
In addition to the above works, the Administrative Approval for Rs. 215.0 Lakhs towards the procurement of machinery and equipment in Soil Mechanics Lab was obtained during 2018 and machinery worth Rs.147 Lakhs is already procured and installed in the lab.
During the past years, many soil samples were tested in the Soil Mechanics Lab among which, a record of 1,205 soil samples were tested in a single year i.e 2018-19 for various ongoing projects like Kaleswaram and PRLIS which were urgent and important.
The soil test results were utilized for formation of embankments of Uddandapur Reservoir, Kurumurthyraya sagar reservoir, Venkatadri Reservoir of PRLIS and also for the formation of Embankments of Sri Komaravelli Mallanna sagar reservoir, Baswapur Reservoir, Kondapochamma reservoir etc. of Kaleswaram project.
The revenue collected towards testing charges and deposited in the PAO(W&P) during the past five years i.e. from 2015-16 to 2019-20 was to the tune of about 1.70 Crores.
In addition to the above works, the Administrative Approval for Rs. 215.0 Lakhs towards the procurement of machinery and equipment in Soil Mechanics Lab was obtained during 2018 and machinery worth Rs.147 Lakhs is already procured and installed in the lab.
VI Field Tests done in Soil Mechanics Laboratory:
1. Plate Load Test conducted at Chenaka-Korata Barrage, Adilabad in 2016.
2. Plate Load Test conducted at Bhakta Ramdas Irrigation Scheme (BRLIS) in 2016.
3. Plate Load Test conducted at Spillways NOF of Dindi Balancing Reservoir in 2016.
4. Plate Load Test conducted at Devudula Project (Pump house Foundation) in 2017.
5. Plate Load Test conducted at Sitaram Lift Irrigation Project, Bhadrachalam in 2017.
6. In-situ Rock Shear test at Gottimukkala Resrvoir Spillway in 2018.
7. Plate Load Test at Baswapur Reservoir in 2019.
1. Plate Load Test conducted at Chenaka-Korata Barrage, Adilabad in 2016.
2. Plate Load Test conducted at Bhakta Ramdas Irrigation Scheme (BRLIS) in 2016.
3. Plate Load Test conducted at Spillways NOF of Dindi Balancing Reservoir in 2016.
4. Plate Load Test conducted at Devudula Project (Pump house Foundation) in 2017.
5. Plate Load Test conducted at Sitaram Lift Irrigation Project, Bhadrachalam in 2017.
6. In-situ Rock Shear test at Gottimukkala Resrvoir Spillway in 2018.
7. Plate Load Test at Baswapur Reservoir in 2019.
REGIONAL SOIL TESTING LAB, WARANGAL
Introduction:
Regional Soil Testing Laboratory, Warangal is established in the year 1986 and it is one among the important sectors of Telangana State Engineering Research Laboratories, Himayatsagar, Hyderabad. The purpose of its installation is to serve the soil investigation requirements of various Irrigation Projects, Government and private Engineering department works in the vicinity scattered in the Telangana State which includes Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar and Warangal Districts.
Testing facilities:
This laboratory facilitates for conducting:
- Soil identification test which include Sieve analysis, Atterberg’s limits,
- Soil Engineering properties which include Specific gravity, Proctor’s compaction, permeability, Shear Parameters and Permeability.
The equipment available in the lab are:
- Sieve analysis
- Hydrometer analysis
- Liquid Limit apparatus
- Proctor’s compaction
- Permeability apparatus.
- Direct Shear apparatus.
- Triaxial shear apparatus.
- Ovens for dry density.
- Specific gravity Apparatus.
- Differential free swell etc.