The University of Ottawa is pleased to invite qualified vendors to submit a proposal for a triaxial testing systems for soils and evolutive materials.
This system will performs triaxial tests on soils and materials with varying initial chemical compositions (chemical factors, C) under controlled temperature (T) and hydraulic (H) conditions, including water content and pore water pressure. It is designed to assess the thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) behaviour of materials under static loading conditions. Multiple sensors installed in and on the samples continuously monitor temperature (T), pore water pressure (H) — both positive and negative — and strain (M), including axial and volumetric strain, throughout the test. The machine operates over a wide temperature range, from -30°C to at least 85°C, enabling tests under various environmental conditions. It supports a broad range of advanced testing capabilities, including: (i) Strain-controlled shearing; (ii)K₀ loading; (iii) Consolidation tests; (iv) Stress path testing; (v) CD, CU, UU triaxial tests under controlled temperatures; (v) Advanced loading scenarios under different THMC conditions.
1.0 - Load frame/ environmental triaxial testing system with submersible load cell
1.1 - Must include a 125 kN (or higher) electro-mechanical, two-column digital loading frame with a minimum stroke of 125 mm, platen diameter of at least 158 mm, horizontal daylight of at least 700 mm, and vertical daylight of at least 1500 mm.
1.2 - Must support speed ranges from 0.00001 to 100 mm/min (unloaded) and up to 60 mm/min at full load. Must allow velocity, displacement, and load control modes, include a smart keypad for standalone operation, one closed-loop control channel, and USB port for PC control.
1.3 - Must be able to accommodate triaxial cells with sample diameters up to (or ≤) 300 mm.
1.4 - Must include a tray made from austenitic stainless steel, compatible with most cell fluids and designed to fit the selected load frames.
2.0Triaxial Cell
2.1 - Must be Stainless Steel Triaxial Cell.
2.2 - Triaxial cell must be able to receive samples up to ≤100mm diameter without balanced ram.
2.3 - Must have a maximum operating pressure of at least 20 MPa.
2.4 - Must support a maximum axial load capacity of at least 100 kN.
2.5 - Must accommodate specimens with diameters of at least up to 100 mm.
2.6 - Must support on-sample instrumentation for specimens with diameters of at least up to 70 mm.
2.7 - Must accommodate samples with heights of at least up to 200 mm.
2.8 - Must include a dynamic cell pressure port for use with compatible pressure control systems during cyclic or dynamic loading.
2.9 - Must include at least 5 electrical feedthrough ports integrated into the cell base for sensor connections.
2.10 - Must be corrosion-resistant.
2.11 - Must have flexible specimen membranes, compatible with 100 mm diameter samples, dimensions: 360 mm length × 1 mm thickness; suitable for use in high-pressure triaxial testing up to 20 MPa. Quantity: 20.
2.12 - Must include a base pedestal and top cap set compatible with 100 mm diameter specimens for use in the triaxial cell.
2.13 - Must include a load frame tension adaptor kit compatible with 25 mm diameter load rams, suitable for use in systems without a load cell mounted on the crossbeam. The kit should allow secure coupling between the load ram and the top beam, and include all necessary adaptors for tension loading.
2.14 - Must include at least three 5-liter containers of thermal bath fluid suitable for Type A cells, with an operating temperature range that includes -30°C to +85°C or wider.
2.15 - Must include a 50 mm range Linear Displacement Transducer (strain gauge type) with ≤0.075% accuracy, 2 m cable, and DIN plug compatible with common data loggers.
2.16 - Must include a displacement transducer bracket set compatible with 25 mm load rams and 19 mm bore.
2.17 - Must include a Type 10 internal submersible load cell with a capacity of at least 100 kN, rated for a minimum of 64 MPa pressure, with accuracy of ±0.3% FRO (linear) or better, or ±0.15% FRO (polynomial) or better, and an operating temperature range covering -20°C to 80°C or wider.
2.18 - Must include a converter to enable communication between legacy serial devices and USB-enabled systems.
2.19 - Must include an adjustable fork winch stacker truck with at least 500 kg capacity and a minimum lifting height of 1550 mm. Forks must have adjustable outer width (160–690 mm) and a reach of at least 1000 mm.
2.20 - Must include a lifting assembly consisting of a cell lifting plate and sliding stop, compatible with HP20CL V2 or equivalent high-pressure triaxial cells.
2.21 - Must include an 8-channel, 24-bit synchronous data acquisition system with USB 2.0 interface, software-selectable input ranges from 22 mV to 32 V, and ±5 V excitation at 40 mA per channel. Must include power and USB cables.
2.22 - Must include a modular data acquisition software license with security dongle, supporting acquisition-only functionality and velocity-controlled unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests.
2.23 - Must include a software module for standard saturation and consolidation, supporting B-check, saturation ramps (cell and back pressure), and isotropic consolidation.
2.24 - Must include a software module for standard triaxial testing under controlled temperature conditions (covering -20°C to 85°C or wider), supporting UU, CU, and CD tests with pore pressure measurement.
2.25 - Must include a software module for advanced loading with independent control of axial stress, strain, or load; radial stress; back pressure; and low-frequency cyclic loading.
2.26 - Must include a software module for linear stress path control, supporting stress paths defined in p–q or s–t space.
2.27 - Must include a software module for K₀ consolidation with user-defined stress control to maintain constant sample diameter, using feedback from radial strain measurements or calculated from back2.27 volume change.
2.28 - Must include a hydraulic installation kit suitable for high-pressure systems up to 64 MPa, including appropriate stainless steel tubing, connection fittings, sealants, and basic tools for assembly.
2.29 - Cell Pressure Controller: Must include a pressure/volume controller with a minimum capacity of 20 MPa and 200 cc, featuring USB interface, standalone or PC control, automatic over-range protection, pressure accuracy of 0.1% FRO or better, and volume accuracy of 0.1% or better with resolution of 0.001 cc or finer.
2.30 - Must include a back pressure controller with a minimum capacity of 20 MPa pressure range and 200 cc, supporting standalone or PC control via USB, with 0.1% accuracy (or better) for both pressure (FRO) and volume, and volume resolution of 0.001 cc or finer.
2.31 - Must include a 20 MPa pore pressure transducer with 5-pin DIN plug, compatible with standard data interfaces, and accuracy of 0.10% FRO.
2.32 - Must include a de-airing block with one high-pressure valve rated for at least 64 MPa, suitable for use with a pore pressure transducer.
2.33 - Must include a temperature control system compatible with high-pressure triaxial cells, with a temperature range of -30°C to +100°C or wider, closed-loop feedback control, thermal stability of ±0.05°C or better, and sufficient heating/cooling capacity for high-power applications. Must include an in-cell temperature probe with accuracy and stability suitable for closed-loop thermal control in the range of -30°C to +100°C or wider.
2.34 - Must include at least 5 litres of thermal bath fluid with an operating temperature range covering -30°C to +85°C or wider, suitable for use in closed-loop temperature control systems.
2.35 - Must include a positive displacement pump system with a tank capacity of at least 40 L, 8 mm inlet/outlet connections, maximum pressure of at least 250 kPa, and flow rate of 3.8 L/min or higher. Must include a built-in backflow preventer, pressure switch control, and thermal overload protection. Compatible with water and silicone hydraulic oil.
2.36 - Must include a single-channel, automated gaseous back pressure controller for use with compressed air, nitrogen, or methane, with a maximun pressure of 20 MPa and supplied gas pressure of at least 22 MPa. Must include a pressure transducer with 0.1% accuracy (or better) for feedback control.
3 - Other Requirements
3.1 - In-person installation and in-person training must be included.
3.2 - Must include one (1) year warranty on parts and labor.
