Instructor Dr. John T. Germaine
Laboratory Sessions
Scheduled for two hours on Wednesday but this will change after the first lecture.
Perform laboratory assignments in small (3 to 5 person) groups.
Will meet in various rooms depending on experiment.
We will send you email when the lab material is available.
Read the material before the laboratory and be prepared to do the work.
Objectives
Make measurements of behavior of various materials used in Civil Engineering.
Provide physical observations to complement concepts learned in 1.030.
Introduce experimental procedures and common measurement equipment.
Exposure to a variety of established material testing techniques.
Conduct of the Course
Each of the ten assignments will be done in small groups.
Data will be made available electronically after each lab.
Each person will use the data and prepare an individual report.
The report will be due about one week after the lab session. (We will provide specific dates.)
The report will be graded based on clarity, data interpretation, and presentation.
Requirements
Attend lectures (short description of experiments).
Ten laboratory assignments (90%).
Participation, preparation, subjective evaluation, etc. (10%).
Laboratory Safety
Reference Materials
Administration of Each Laboratory Experiment No. 1: Data Acquisition and Instruments
30 minute group (Monday or Wednesday) session for overview
90 minute subgroup session to make measurements
Take all the data at the end of your session
No. 2: Tension I - Elastic Behavior
30 minute group session to learn about machine
60 minute (maybe less) subgroup session to test
30 minute individual unscheduled wrap up
Data posted at end of each session
No. 3: Tension II - Failure of Common Materials
90 minute subgroup session to test
30 minute individual unscheduled wrap up
Data posted at end of each session
No. 4: Direct Shear - Frictional Behavior
30 minute group session to discuss equipment
90 minute subgroup session to test
Data posted at end of each session
No. 5: Concrete I - Early Age Properties
No. 6: Compression - Directionality
30 minute group session to discuss equipment
90 minute subgroup session to test
30 minute individual unscheduled wrap up
Data posted at end of each session
No. 7: Concrete II - Compression and Indirect Tension
90 minute subgroup session to test
30 minute individual unscheduled wrap up
Data posted at end of each session
No. 8: Soil Classification
No. 9: Consolidation Test (Partial Experiment)
No. 10: Tension III - Heat Treatment
Five subgroup lab visits the week before to heat treat the specimens
90 minute subgroup session to test
30 minute individual unscheduled wrap up
Data posted at end of each session
Civil Engineering Facilities
Room 1: Machine Shop
Room 2: Loading Frames: 200,000 lb Balbwin, 60,000 lb Baldwin, 20,000 lb Instron
Room 3: Concrete Fabrication Lab
Room 4: Soil Structure Interaction, Earth Dams, Centrifuge
Room 5: Perini Lab - Structural Elements, etc.
Room 6: Compaction, Grain Size, Ovens
Room 7: General Open Space, Permeability, Scales
Room 8: Triaxial, Constant Rate of Loading, Permeability
Room 9: Hand Tools, Calibration Equipment
Room 10: Humid Room / Soil Sample Preparation
Room 11: Consolidation, Direct Shear
Laboratory Rules
Read Safety Precautions and sign the list.
Return all equipment and tools to storage areas when not in use or at end of day.
Ask when in doubt; an incorrect guess may be dangerous or expensive.
Do not alter any item without explicit permission of the instructor.
Learning Objectives
Top Learning Objectives
You should learn about:
Planning an experimental program, selecting the test configuration, selecting the test specimens and collecting raw data.
Documenting the experimental program including the test procedures, collected data, method of interpretation and final results.
Operating the laboratory equipment including the electronic instrumentation, the test apparatus and the data collection system.
Measuring physical properties of common structural and geotechnical construction materials.
Interpreting the laboratory data including conversion of the measurements into engineering values and derivation of material properties (strength and stiffness) from the engineering values.
Observing various modes of failure in compression, tension, and shear.
Observing various types of material behavior under similar loading conditions.
Measurable Outcomes (Assessment Methods; Laboratory Reports, 1.030 Quiz, Personal Evaluation)
You should be able to:
Calibrate electronic sensors
Operate a data acquisition system
Operate various types of testing machines
Configure a testing machine to measure tension or compression behavior
Compute engineering values (eg. stress or strain) from laboratory measures
Analyze a stress versus strain curve for modulus, yield and strength
Identify modes of failure
Describe the frictional behavior of soils
Classify soils according to the USCS system
Proportion a concrete mix to meet specific design requirements
Describe the directional strength variation of an anisotropic material
Evaluate the time rate of deformation of fine grained soils
Specify the necessary heat treating to obtain the desired steel properties
Write a technical laboratory report
Laboratory Ethics
Here are some practical applications of OUR Golden Rule:
If you open, close it.
If you turn it on, turn it off.
If you unlock it, lock it.
If you break it, repair it.
If you can't fix it, call in someone who can.
If you borrow it, return it.
If you use it, take care of it.
If you make a mess, clean it up.
If you move it, put it back.
If it belongs to somebody else and you want to use it, get permission.
If you don't know how to operate it, leave it alone.
If it doesn't concern you, don't mess with it.
Laboratory Precautions
Wear Eye Protection when working with power tools or testing specimens in compression.
Ask when in doubt - mistakes are expensive.
Do not apply higher input voltage to transducer than rated value.
Do not apply input voltage to output leads (green and white) of transducer.
Check input voltage before plugging in transducer.
Disconnect transducer before turning on or off power supplies or voltmeters.
Never close a valve connected directly to a transducer.
Monitor transducer output when making physical connections.
Do not wash plexiglass in detergent, use kerosene.