GEOTECHNICAL TEST DESCRIPTIONS
List of Accredited and Non-Accredited Test Descriptions
Download the Full List of Accredited and Non-Accredited Test Descriptions
* indicates Nata Accreditations
| Geotechnical | Description of Engineering Test Methods |
|---|---|
| *Sampling Soil |
Aggregates & Concrete AS 1141.3.1 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates - Sampling – Aggregates; RMS (NSW) Method T100 Sampling from a truck, stockpile. AS 1289.1.2.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Sampling and preparation of soils - Disturbed samples - Standard method; RMS (NSW) Method T100 Disturbed sampling from a stockpile. AS 1012.1 Methods of testing concrete - Sampling of concrete. RMS (NSW) Method T300 Fresh Concrete. |
| *Bulk Density Aggregate |
Uncompacted and compacted bulk density AS 1141.4 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates - Bulk density of aggregate. |
| *Sieving Aggregate (PSD) |
Particle Size Distribution AS 1141.11.1 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates - Particle size distribution - Sieving method. RMS (NSW) T201. |
| *Sieving Aggregate(<75mm) Material <75mm. |
AS 1141.12 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates - Materials finer than 75 um in aggregates (by washing). RMS (NSW) T203. |
| *Average Least Dimension Aggregate |
AS 1141.20.1 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates - Average least dimension - Direct measurement (nominal size 10 mm and greater). Methods for sampling and testing aggregates - Average least dimension - Direct measurement (nominal sizes 5 mm and 7 mm). RMS (NSW) Methods T235, T275 average least dimension; crushed faces. |
| *Wet/Dry Strength Variation Aggregate |
AS 1141.22 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates - Wet/dry strength variation. RMS (NSW) Method T215 Aggregate crushing value; wet/dry strength variation. |
| *Weak Particles Aggregate |
AS 1141.32 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates – Weak particles (including clay lumps, soft and friable particles) in coarse aggregates. Organic Impurities Aggregate AS 1141.34Methods for sampling and testing aggregates – Organic impurities other than sugar *Maximum Dry Compressive Strength Aggregate RMS (NSW) T114. |
| *Fractured Faces Aggregate |
RMS (NSW) Methods T239; crushed faces. |
| *Particle Shape Aggregate |
AS 1141.14 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates - Particle shape, by proportional calliper. RMS (NSW) Methods T213. Proportional caliper. |
| *Foreign Materials Content Aggregate |
Recycled Aggregates RMS (NSW) Method T276 Foreign material in Crushed Concrete. |
| *Particle Density and Water Adsorption Aggregate |
Fine Materials AS 1141.5 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates - Particle density and water absorption of fine aggregate. Coarse Materials AS1141.6.1 Point Load Aggregate RMS (NSW) Methods T223 |
| *Aggregate Crushing Value Aggregate |
AS 1141.21 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates - Aggregate crushing value. RMS (NSW) Method T215 Aggregate crushing value. |
| External tests Aggregate |
LA Value, Flakiness, Triaxial, Acid sulphate, Electrical Resistance, sodium sulphate & Resistance to Wear by Wet Attrition |
| *Soil Moisture Content |
Oven Dry AS 1289.2.1.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil moisture content tests - Determination of the moisture content of a soil - Oven drying method (standard method). RMS (NSW) T120. |
| *Plasticity Index (1 point) |
AS 1289.3.2.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil classification tests - Determination of the plastic limit of a soil - Standard method. AS 1289.3.3.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil classification tests - Calculation of the plasticity index of a soil. AS 1289.3.1.2 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil classification tests - Determination of the liquid limit of a soil - One point Casagrande method (subsidiary method) |
| *Plasticity Index (4 point) |
AS 1289.3.2.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil classification tests - Determination of the plastic limit of a soil - Standard method. AS 1289.3.3.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil classification tests - Calculation of the plasticity index of a soil. AS 1289.3.1.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil classification tests - Determination of the liquid limit of a soil - Four point Casagrande method. RMS (NSW) T108, T109. |
| *Linear Shrinkage Soil |
AS 1289.3.4.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil classification tests - Determination of the linear shrinkage of a soil - Standard method. RMS (NSW) T113 |
| *Emerson Class Soil |
AS 1289.3.8.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil classification tests - Dispersion - Determination of Emerson class number of a soil. |
| PH of a soil |
RMS (NSW) Methods T123 |
| *Shrink Swell Soil | AS 1289.7.1.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil reactivity tests - Determination of the shrinkage index of a soil - Shrink-swell index. |
| *Standard Compaction - (Only) Soil | AS 1289.5.1.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil compaction and density tests - Determination of the dry density/moisture content relation of a soil using standard compactive effort. RMS (NSW) Methods T111, T130 Standard compaction. |
| *Modified Compaction – (Only) Soil |
AS 1289.5.2.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes – Soil compaction and density tests – Determination of the dry density/moisture content relation of a soil using modified compactive effort. RMS (NSW) T112. |
| Max/Min Only |
AS 1289.5.5.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes – Soil compaction and density tests – Determination of the minimum and maximum dry density of a cohesionless material – Standard method |
| *California Bearing Ratio Soil |
AS 1289.6.1.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil strength and consolidation tests - Determination of the California Bearing Ratio of a soil - Standard laboratory method for a remoulded specimen. RMS (NSW) Methods T117, T132 Bearing ratio (remoulded specimens). |
| *Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (Aust Std) |
AS 1289.6.3.2 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil strength and consolidation tests - Determination of the penetration resistance of a soil - 9kg dynamic cone penetrometer test. RMS (NSW) T161. |
| *Pre-Treatment - Repeated Compaction Soil |
RMS (NSW) T102. |
| *Field Density - by Nuc Gauge with Std HILF |
AS 1289.5.7.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil compaction and density tests - Compaction control test - Hilf density ratio and Hilf moisture variation (rapid method). AS1289.5.8.1, Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes, Soil compaction and density test – determination of field density and field moisture content of a soil using a nuclear surface moisture – density gauge – direct transmission mode, AS1289.5.4.1, Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes, Soil compaction and density test – Compaction control test- Dry density ratio, moisture variation and moisture ratio |
| *by Nuc Gauge with Max/Min |
AS 1289.5.4.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil compaction and density tests - Compaction control test - Dry density ratio, moisture variation and moisture ratio. AS 1289.5.6.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil compaction and density tests - Compaction control test - Density index method for a cohesionless material. ). AS1289.5.8.1, Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes, Soil compaction and density test – determination of field density and field moisture content of a soil using a nuclear surface moisture – density gauge – direct transmission mode |
| *Field Density - by Nuc Gauge with Mod HILF |
AS 1289.5.7.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil compaction and density tests - Compaction control test - Hilf density ratio and Hilf moisture variation (rapid method). AS1289.5.8.1, Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes, Soil compaction and density test – determination of field density and field moisture content of a soil using a nuclear surface moisture – density gauge – direct transmission mode, AS1289.5.4.1, Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes, Soil compaction and density test – Compaction control test- Dry density ratio, moisture variation and moisture ratio |
| *Unconfined Compressive Strength - RTA - Lab |
RMS (NSW) Methods T131 Relative compaction; dry density ratio,; density index; compaction control- Hilf method; field density using a nuclear gauge. |
| *Unconfined Compressive Strength - RTA - Site |
RMS (NSW) Methods T116. Compressive strength tests (maximum, dry and unconfined). |
| Remoulded Permeability | AS 1289.6.7.1Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil strength and consolidation tests - Determination of permeability of a soil- Constant head method for a remoulded specimen, AS 1289.6.7.2 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil strength and consolidation tests - Determination of permeability of a soil - Falling head method for a remoulded specimen AS 1289.6.7.3 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil strength and consolidation tests - Determination of permeability of soil - Constant head method using a flexible wall permeameter |
| *Particle Size Distribution Soil (>75mm) |
AS 1289.3.6.1 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil classification tests - Determination of the particle size distribution of a soil - Standard method of analysis by sieving. RMS (NSW) T106. |
| Particle Size Distribution Soil Decant (<2.36mm) |
RMS (NSW) T107. Fine particle size distribution of road construction materials |
| *Particle Size Distribution Soil (<4.75mm) |
AS 1289.3.6.3 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes - Soil classification tests - Determination of the particle size distribution of a soil - Standard method of fine analysis using a hydrometer. |
| External Subcontract |
Soil Permeability AS1289.6.7. |
| *Concrete Crush Only |
AS 1012.9 Methods of testing concrete - Compressive strength tests - Concrete, mortar and grout specimens. RMS (NSW) Methods T305, T306 Compressive strength. AS1012.8, methods of test concrete – method for making and curing concrete – compression and indirect tensile test specimens |
| *Concrete Slump Only |
AS 1012.3.1 Methods of testing concrete - Determination of properties related to the consistency of concrete - Slump test. RMS (NSW) Method T301 Slump Test. |
| *Cast Cure & Crush |
AS 1012.8.1 Methods of testing concrete - Method for making and curing concrete - Compression and indirect tensile test specimens. RMS (NSW) Method T304, Making and curing compression specimens. AS 1012.12.1 Methods of testing concrete - Determination of mass per unit volume of hardened concrete - Rapid measuring method. RMS (NSW) Method T316 Measurement method. |
| External Subcontract |
Concrete Shrinkage and/or Flex |
| Site Classifications |
Residential & Industrial |
| Field logs |
Soil profiling, test pits, core/bore holes and other field observations including texture and colour. |
| Benkelman Beam |
This test procedure covers the determination of the rebound deflection of a pavement under a standard wheel load and tyre pressure, with or without temperature measurements. RMS (NSW) T160. |