The 4th Geotechnical Laboratory Testing Technical Exchange Conference, hosted by Earth Products China Ltd (EPC) and GDS Instruments, was held in Tianjin from June 1-2, 2024. With the support of Tianjin University and other leading institutions, the event brought together experts, scholars, and graduate students nationwide to explore advancements in geotechnical testing. The second day included visits to national-level laboratories, providing attendees with insights into state-of-the-art equipment and testing methodologies.
Renowned experts from across the country, alongside technical specialists from the UK’s GDS and Broadbent, shared cutting-edge research and innovations in testing technologies.
Conference Review：
Prof. Chen Guangsi from Tianjin University presented a report titled "Study on the Undrained Shear Strength Characteristics of Saturated Clay." The research explored the shear strength properties of saturated clay under undrained conditions, focusing on the effect of shear rate. It was found that as the shear rate increases, the consolidated undrained strength increases, while the fast shear strength decreases. The study revealed the mechanical properties of saturated clay during the undrained shear process through experiments.
Prof. Kong Liang of Qingdao University of Science and Technology presented research on experimental testing of methane hydrate bearing soils. The research investigated the influence of saturation level, effective confinement pressure and clay content on the mechanical behavior of hydrate-bearing sediments through a triaxial testing program. This provided insights to support safe extraction of methane hydrates as an energy resource.
Prof. Kong also discussed using the GDS triaxial system for his doctoral research, as one of the first adopters in China. As a pioneering triaxial system in the country, training was provided by GDS. Prof. Kong went on to acquire additional GDS equipment for his lab. His current PhD students also utilize the systems. Over 20 years, GDS has enabled geotechnical engineering research and development in China, enabling successive generations to advance understanding of soil behavior.
Clayton Dodd, Sales Director of GDS Instruments, outlined the company's recent advancements in triaxial testing technology. He highlighted growing global uptake of GDS systems in laboratories across Europe, North America, Korea, India and Taiwan. For example, one Korean institution purchased 152 GDSTAS units in a single order.
GDS also released an updated software platform, GDSLAB2024, featuring enhanced functionality. Key innovations include multi-lingual support, user-customizable test scripts and formula editing. These changes facilitate more flexible and efficient testing.
Over decades, GDS equipment has enabled significant progress in geotechnical research worldwide. Continued platform innovations maintain the company's position at the forefront of soil mechanics testing technology.
Professor Li Xu from Beijing Jiaotong University, represented by Professor Liu Li, presented a keynote on the critical factors influencing unsaturated and frozen soils, including matrix suction and saturation. The research highlighted the importance of precision in testing technology and data analysis for equipment development in this field.
Dr. Jonathan Black from Broadbent, UK, presented on "Flood Performance of Earth Embankments" and "Physical Modelling in Geotechnics." An expert from Queen's University Belfast and a 15-year veteran at the University of Sheffield, Dr. Black detailed the Broadbent centrifuge's principles and applications in geotechnical testing.
The exchange conference aims to stimulate enthusiasm among GDS users to share their experiences. For users from EPC, it's a great platform to delve into challenges encountered in scientific research and experiments with experts. We advocate a friendly academic atmosphere and encourage collective discussion and progress.
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