Our lab consists of two spaces: the Rock Sample Preparation Lab (Engineering Hall, B314) and the Rock Mechanics Lab (Weeks Hall for Geosciences, B138).
Rock Mechanics Lab
Conventional triaxial deformation apparatus
- manufacturer: GCTS
- year purchased: 2015
- specs: 1,000 kN load frame, 0-140 MPa confining pressure, P- and S-wave velocity measurements, up to 200C temperature control
- use: rock strength and deformation experiments on cylindrical (up to 2″ diameter) and prismatic samples (currently up to 1″ width)
ISCO pumps
- manufacturer: Teledyne ISCO
- year purchased:
- specs: 0-70 MPa
- use: pore pressure/flow control during experiments performed in the GCTS
Cryogenic Triaxial Pressure Vessel
- manufacturer: custom designed and built at UW-Madison
- year built: 2024
- specs: 0-50 MPa confining pressure, currently tested down to temperature -30ºC
- use: ice deformation experiments inside the GCTS frame (together with UW Surface Processes Group)
Battleship load frame
- manufacturer: custom-designed at UW-Madison
- year built: 19??, in 2024 equipped with new electronics for load and position control
- specs: 2000 kN
- use: any experiments requiring large space and large force
True-triaxial apparatus
- manufacturer: custom-designed at UW-Madison
- year built: 1992
- use: large block (5.5″x5.5″x8″) true-triaxial experiments for borehole testing under in situ stress conditions; possible drilling under stressed conditions;
Small true-triaxial apparatus
- manufacturer: custom-designed at UW-Madison
- year built: 196?
Acoustic emission system
- manufacturer: Vallen Systeme GmbH
- year purchased: 2019
- specs: 12 channels, 10 MHz sampling rate
Helium porosimeter
- manufacturer: custom-designed at UW-Madison
- year built: 199?
Rock Sample Preparation Lab
Drill Press
- manufacturer: JET
- year purchased: 2017
3-ft rock saw
- manufacturer: Savage
- year purchased: long ago
Surface Grinder
- manufacturer: Chevalier
- year purchased: 1993
Precision saw
- manufacturer: Allied High Tech Products Inc.
- year purchased: 2017
- use: precise cutting
Rock saw
- manufacturer: MK diamond
- year purchased: 2019
- use: cutting rocks and cores