APS (Wille Geotechnik®) has been successfully manufacturing and providing variety range of Shear testing devices for geotechnical applications for many years in different ranges. These products give a lot of flexibilities to the users to run tests with high accuracy and add different upgrading module to system to reach the required testing applications. The temperature control package with the high accuracy and performance makes the possibility to run the tests under different temperature conditions from frozen tests up to high temperature ones. A unique and flexible software along with components bring you different possibilities to use the device and run your test in a better way.

This series of stand-alone electromechanical shear testing devices are designed and manufactured to perform shear tests on soil under different temperature conditions. Many tests require temperature controlling of specimen either for high temperature or for low temperatures and this requires new designed system which would be able to avoid any temperature gradient in sample during tests and make a unique constant temperature condition for the period of testing. The system can be customised in variety test conditions e.g. Static loads with electromechanical motor, different sample sizes either in simple shear or direct shear test format, Low temperature tests or/and high temperature tests which all can be configured together to meet the test requirements.

The temperature controlling system can control the temperature of sample in range of -30°C up to +200°C. The main advantage of device is an accurate testing of soil parameters without tilting and friction between shear box components (e. g. load piston, upper shear box, lower shear box).The normal stress and the shear stress are closed loop controlled by an electromechanical drive system.

The powerful GEOsys software supports all the test procedures with well access to all testing sessions and also gives this feature to manage and run customized test procedures per as any testing needs.

System Geography

① Electromechanical Stiff stand-alone Load frame

② Two columns

③ Upper traverse

④ Front operational panel includes of control buttons, function buttons and LCD display

⑤ High quality and low friction double linear guides

⑥ Heating and cooling system controlled by GEOsys software

⑦ Axial Load cell

⑧ Axial displacement transducer

⑨ Unique 2-dimensional double Shear force load cell (Invisible)

⑩ Direct Shear Box

⑪ On-0ff switch button

⑫ Stop button

Static Direct-Residual Shear Apparatus

This robust and high stiff apparatus is including of high-quality mechanic and electronic components which produces repeatable test results, and the quality makes it suitable for research and also usual test applications.

This ASA model has a double cross bar for the performance of tests and result of frictionless tests. This function enable device to get upgraded with different test jigs and inserts to run below tests with high accuracy:  • Uniaxial direct Test  • Simple Shear Test  • Soil triaxial Test  • Oedometer- Consolidation Test

Shear Box

The complete shear box system is made of stainless steel and is designed to contain water that surrounds the specimen and allows the specimen to be submerged for saturate conditions. The shear box consists of lower and upper shear boxes with rigid wall either in round or square shape, adaptor loading pad, two porous plates, load piston, sample cutter, dolly and water container for saturated conditions. The Lower part of shear box is locating on a low friction bearing and moves with the small friction just in horizontal direction while the upper shear box is fixed.

The Shear box comes in different sizes e.g. :

• Square：60 x 60 mm ( 36c㎡)

• Square：100 x 100 mm (100c㎡) 

• Circular：Ø 60 mm (28.27c㎡)

• Circular：Ø 71.4 mm (40c㎡)

• Circular：Ø 80 mm (50c㎡)

• Circular：Ø 94.4 mm (70c㎡)

Temperature Control Package

The shear box with relevant accessories allows the user to control and monitor the temperature of the sample in different ranges e.g:

• -30 °C to Ambient temperature

• From ambient temperatures to +200°C

• From -30°C to 200°C

Thermal Loading

The Soil – Structure or Soil/Soil direct shear test machine provides a thermal module to apply thermal loadings in the range of required temperature. Three types of thermal loadings are available: constant, ramp and sine.

Temperature Control Device（Heating-Cooling）

The refrigerated Heating Circulator Bath with air-cooled cooling machine is suitable for controlling the temperature of externally connected objects/applications and thermoregulation of objects directly in the thermostat bath.

• temperature control

• Insulated baths made of stainless steel

• Large display 5.7” touchscreen with graphic functions and a comfortable navigation menu

• Multi-touch controller with Plug & Play technology

• Powerful pressure/suction pump

• All-important operating parameters and temperature values are neatly displayed on the touchscreen

• Integrated USB and Ethernet ports allows connection to a PC or network, e.g. for remote control or data transmission

• 5-point calibration

• Pt100 sensor connection

• The circulator is fitted with a temperature-controlled cover plate to avoid the formation of condensation and ice

SIEMENS Industrial Controller

The operation of the device requires the direct input of numerical values besides the use of the function keys. The control element made by Siemens Company is an advanced control panel which allows the user to enter the numerical values and control the system by other function keys easily. You need just to enter the values and press the run Key to start the operation.

The operator panel gives the user access to all functions in the operation and service menu. This enables the user to start and run the pump as well as conduct calibration if needed. These controls are instinctive and simple to use. All functions, such as actual status, flow rate and information on the pressure pumping ramp can be seen on the LCD display on the front of the device.

Main Features

• Graphic display including 10 input membrane keys

• Setting force or position manually

• CE mark

• Ethernet interface

• 22 available different languages

• Multi language menu navigation

• Calibration function

• 4 free analogue Ports with A/D converter (interface+ /- 10 VDC)

Control Parameters

The normal load (axial) can be operated in constant, ramp or cycle modes in three different operating modes:  • Velocity control  • Force control  • Displacement control

The Shear load (Horizontal) can also be operated in constant, ramp or cycle modes in three different operating modes: • Velocity control  • Force control  • Displacement control

The set-up of the test parameters can be done either via the front operational panel which includes of control buttons and function buttons with LCD display or directly by software.