The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 12, 1989
Filed:
Apr. 28, 1989
Ionnis G Vardoulakis, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Andrzej Drescher, New Brighton, MN (US);
Regents of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A bi-axial compression test apparatus for geomaterial (soil, etc.) samples that is designed to allow free shear band formation and provide measurements of the stress displacement characteristics of the failure zone. A geomaterial sample formed into a specimen comprising a right rectangular prism is surrounded by a thin rubber membrane and is supported by walls along two parallel faces. An axial load is kinematically applied by a plate that is guided to prevent any tilt or eccentricity, while a bottom support plate for the specimen is horizontally guided by a linear bearing that is substantially friction free. All of the surfaces in contact with the specimen are glass lined and lubricated to minimize friction. The assembly of the specimen and its supports is placed in a conventional tri-axial cell in a loading frame so that an axial load can be applied to one end of the specimen and reacted against the bottom plate. Internal loaded load cells allow for accurate measurement of the axial force, and any eccentricities thereof, as well as friction along the side walls. Displacement tranducers monitor the axial and lateral displacements of the specimen and the horizontal movement of the bottom plate, to permit analysis of the shear mode, and when to determine shear failure occurs.