Facilities

The Geomechanics Laboratories include facilities for testing and monitoring geomaterials at the microscale (particle/aggregate level), mesocale (laboratory testing) and macroscale (field monitoring).

The services provided by the Laboratories range from standard geotechnical tests (i.e. oedometer cell, direct shearbox, triaxial cell), unconventional geotechnical testing with particular focus on geomaterials with pore-water under tension (capillary pressure) (i.e. High-Capacity Tensiometer, WP4 chilled-mirror psychrometer , suction-monitored oedometer, shearbox, and uniaxial tensile apparatus), grout characterization (i.e. grout penetration test with NES apparatus, rotational viscometer, Zetasizer Nano and Mastersizer 2000 for particle characterization), and multiphase fluid core injection (Hassler core cell).

The Geomechanics Laboratories capability for the hydro-mechanical characterization of geomaterials is coupled with University facilities (AMRL - Advanced Materials Research Laboratory ) for the imaging at the particle scale (i.e. Scanning Electron Microscope, X-Ray Diffraction, Mercury Intrusion Porosimeter).

For more information on the Geomechanics Laboratories, visit Geomechanics Laboratories web link or contact Dr Matteo Pedrotti .

Specifications/key features

Soil, clay, grouting, microstructure, hydro-mechanical behaviour, 

Example projects

Geoenergy case study: Dr Matteo Pedrotti will use the Geomechanics Laboratories to investigate the mechanisms at the clay particle scale underlying crack initiation during CO₂ injection. The understanding of these mechanisms is aimed at informing models to predict the long-term sealing efficiency of the caprock.

The NERC GeoX is a national facility for in situ imaging, specifically designed to allow x-ray tomographic imaging of samples during experiments at geological conditions.  
The recent development of very powerful x-ray imaging techniques allows us to see inside our samples without destroying them; meaning we understand the internal structures of rocks, soils, ice, plants, animals and man-made materials better than ever before. However, the most cutting edge systems allow us to collect images in just fractions of a second and allow us to put experimental equipment inside the imaging equipment. This means that with the right experimental equipment we could improve our understanding of the processes themselves: by watching them happen. 

Specifications/key features

Environmental cells available: 
• High temperatures: room temperature to 1200°C, fixed thermal gradients along samples also possible 
• Low temperatures: -20°C – 250°C (saturated and un saturated, or with flow) 
• Uniaxial deformation (loads up to 5kN, -20°C to 250°C)
• Uniaxial deformation (loads up to 10kN, 20 to 1200°C, saturated and un saturated, or with flow)
• Triaxial deformation (loads up to 70kbar, temperatures to 250°C)
• Saturated and un-saturated, or with flow
• Image analysis Suite for data processing 
More details here

Example projects

Multiphase fluid flow, in situ precipitation, fracture formation, porosity structure and evolution, microstructure analysis, defect distribution, 3D mineralogy

The advanced adsorption facilities at Strathclyde comprise an intelligent gravimetric adsorption (IGA) assembly that has been adapted to allow the simultaneous adsorption of a range of competing gases and vapours. 

Specifications/key features

The assembly allows up to four concurrent gas flows to be utilised, each with a controlled flow within the system. In addition, the kit has the option to create vapour streams, for example moisture from water, that can be used as challenge components and added into the adsorption matrix. The measurements allow data to be obtained for equilibrated isotherms, providing insight into total adsorption capacity, as well as kinetic resolution, providing information on the time required for charging and discharging of adsorption capture systems. The IGA facilities are available for use by academic and industrial users.

Example projects

Dr Ashleigh Fletcher uses the IGA for carbon dioxide adsorption measurements, in addition to challenging such systems with competing gases. The system has also been used for water vapour adsorption measurements and the evaluation of competing gas streams for separation technologies. The results allow the prediction of adsorption behaviour and the optimisation of materials for such applications.

Our Environmental Lab includes a suit of specialist inorganic and organic analytical instruments used to support research, collaboration, consultancy and sample analysis. 

Our inorganic analytical facilities include ICP-OES for metal ion analysis and IC for anion analysis. These instruments are used to determine the concentration of dissolved ions in solution. The laboratory also includes a wide range of sample preparation techniques including microwave digestion (Mars 6) and Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) allowing for a wide range of sample types and matrices to be extracted and analysed.

Our organic analytical facilities include a range of standard GC-MS and GC-FID for determination and quantification of organic compounds in a range of solid, liquid and gaseous samples; GC-IRMS for compound specific organic isotopes of (C, H, N, S, O) and GCxGC-ToF for low detection and forensic organic analysis of organic compounds.

Both inorganic, organic and sample preparation facilities are available for use by researchers and industry in collaboration with Strathclyde researchers.

Specifications/key features

Inorganic Analyses: ICP-OES, IC and KONE
Organic Analyses: GC-MS, GC-IRMS, GCxGC
Extensive sample preparation areas for a variety of sample types.

Example projects

Dr Mark Stillings has used the labs to trace groundwater infiltration pathways. He investigated how organics dissolved in groundwater can be used to trace different groundwater infiltration sites at the surface, illuminating which fracture pathways are transmissive to flow.