DICLE UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
SOIL MECHANICS (GEOTECHNICAL) LABORATORY
Laboratory Name
Soil Mechanics (Geotechnical) Laboratory
Laboratory Supervisor
Prof. Dr. M. Salih KESKİN
Address
Dicle University, Faculty of Engineering
Sur, Diyarbakır, Türkiye
Telephone
+90 (412) 241 10 00
Available Tests and Equipment
Test 1: California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Test
Material Tested:
Soil
Equipment Used:
CBR Testing Apparatus
Purpose:
To evaluate the bearing capacity and strength characteristics of subgrade soils and pavement materials used in transportation engineering.
Test 2: Triaxial Compression Test
Material Tested:
Soil
Equipment Used:
Triaxial Testing Apparatus
Purpose:
To determine the shear strength parameters and stress-strain behavior of soils under controlled loading conditions.
Test 3: Unconfined Compression Test
Material Tested:
Soil
Equipment Used:
Unconfined Compression Testing Machine
Purpose:
To determine the compressive strength and undrained shear strength of cohesive soils.
Test 4: Direct Shear Test
Material Tested:
Soil
Equipment Used:
Direct Shear Box Apparatus
Purpose:
To determine the shear strength characteristics of soil and evaluate soil stability under loading conditions.
Test 5: Liquid Limit Test
Material Tested:
Soil
Equipment Used:
Liquid Limit Testing Device (Casagrande Apparatus)
Purpose:
To determine the liquid limit and classify fine-grained soils according to their consistency characteristics.
Test 6: Consolidation Test
Material Tested:
Soil
Equipment Used:
Oedometer
Purpose:
To evaluate settlement behavior and compressibility characteristics of soils under sustained loading.
Test 7: Vane Shear Test
Material Tested:
Soil
Equipment Used:
Vane Shear Apparatus
Purpose:
To determine the undrained shear strength of soft cohesive soils.
Test 8: Automatic Compaction Test
Material Tested:
Soil
Equipment Used:
Automatic Soil Compactor
Purpose:
To determine the optimum moisture content and maximum dry density of soils for earthwork and pavement applications.
Laboratory Overview
The Soil Mechanics (Geotechnical) Laboratory supports undergraduate and graduate education, scientific research, and professional engineering applications in the field of geotechnical engineering. The laboratory is equipped with modern testing systems used to determine the engineering properties, strength, deformation characteristics, and classification parameters of soils.
The laboratory provides students and researchers with practical experience in soil characterization, foundation engineering, slope stability, earth structures, and ground improvement applications. In addition, it supports research projects and consulting studies related to geotechnical design, site investigations, and infrastructure development. Through its experimental capabilities, the laboratory contributes to the safe, economical, and sustainable design of civil engineering structures.