# US 12,000,820 B2 · Multifunctional and modular geotechnical testing device

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- Number: US 12,000,820 B2
- Document ID: US12000820B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/248,559
- Filed: 2021-01-29
- Published: 2021-08-26
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-02-26
- Assignees: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Applicants: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
- Inventors: Jun Kang Chow; Yu Hsing Wang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000820B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/246: {for water content}
- G01N 1/08: involving an extracting tool, e.g. core bit
- G01N 2001/1062: {Sampling under constant temperature, pressure, or the like}
- G01N 2001/2873: {Cutting or cleaving}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A multifunctional and modular geotechnical testing device for testing a soil sample is provided. The testing device includes a testing cell, a plurality of needle probes, and a plurality of lateral pressure-measuring sensors. The testing cell has an oedometer ring for accommodating the soil sample, with a plurality of holes located on and angularly distributed over an internal lateral surface of the oedometer ring forming a plurality of channels to access the soil sample from outside. The plurality of needle probes, each configured to house a pore water pressure-measuring sensor, is detachably mountable to the plurality of channels from outside for simultaneously measuring the pore water pressures. The plurality of lateral pressure-measuring sensors is removably attachable to an inner peripheral side of the testing cell for measuring lateral pressures of the soil sample.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A multifunctional and modular geotechnical testing device for testing a soil sample, the testing device comprising:
a testing cell comprising an oedometer ring for accommodating the soil sample, the oedometer ring including a plurality of holes located on and angularly distributed over an internal lateral surface of the oedometer ring, the plurality of holes forming a plurality of channels to access the soil sample from outside the oedometer ring for measuring pore water pressures at plural selected angles of the oedometer ring; and
a plurality of needle probes detachably mountable to the plurality of channels from outside the oedometer ring, the plurality of needle probes being configured to simultaneously measure the pore water pressures at the selected angles of the oedometer ring for avoiding adverse effects due to time-lag when compared to sequential measurements of the pore water pressures, wherein the plurality of needle probes is configured to house a plurality of pore water pressure-measuring sensors used for performing simultaneous measurement of the pore water pressures at each hole of the plurality of holes, wherein each needle probe of the plurality of needle probes is configured to house a corresponding pore water pressure-measuring sensor of the plurality of pore water pressure-measuring sensors.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The testing device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of lateral pressure-measuring sensors removably attachable to an inner peripheral side of the testing cell, the plurality of lateral pressure-measuring sensors being arranged to be located at plural selected locations of the inner peripheral side of the testing cell for measuring lateral pressures of the soil sample at the selected locations when the plurality of lateral pressure-measuring sensors is immersed in the soil sample.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The testing device of claim 2, wherein:
each individual lateral pressure-measuring sensor is a piezoresistive force sensor or a piezoelectric force sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The testing device of claim 2, wherein:
each individual lateral pressure-measuring sensor is coated with three or four polyurethane coatings and a super hydrophobic coating for waterproofing the individual lateral pressure-measuring sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The testing device of claim 1, wherein each individual needle probe is accessible to the soil sample through a respective hole for measuring a corresponding pore water pressure present at the respective hole, each individual needle probe comprising:
a barrel for filling with de-aired water;
a tube insertable into the respective hole, the tube being coupled to the barrel for receiving the de-aired water such that the de-aired water is accessible to the soil sample;
a plunger coupled to the barrel for pushing the de-aired water forward to fill up the individual needle probe so as to remove air bubbles from the individual needle probe, causing the de-aired water to be pressurized from the pore water; and
a sensor holder configured to receive a respective pore water pressure-measuring sensor and position the respective pore water pressure-measuring sensor into the barrel, allowing the respective pore water pressure-measuring sensor to measure the corresponding pore water pressure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The testing device of claim 5 further comprising:
the plurality of pore water pressure-measuring sensors for measuring the pore water pressures at the selected angles of the oedometer ring.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The testing device of claim 6, wherein:
the respective pore water pressure-measuring sensor is a piezoresistive force sensor or a piezoelectric force sensor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The testing device of claim 6, wherein:
the respective pore water pressure-measuring sensor is coated with three or four polyurethane coatings and a super hydrophobic coating for waterproofing the respective pore water pressure-measuring sensor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The testing device of claim 5, wherein the plurality of pore water pressure-measuring sensors and the plurality of lateral pressure-measuring sensors use pressure-measuring sensors of a same type.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The testing device of claim 5, wherein the individual needle probe further comprises:
a stiff O-ring positioned at an end of the plunger and used as a plunger stopper for sealing the individual needle probe, thereby preventing the de-aired water from flowing out or air from flowing into the individual needle probe.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The testing device of claim 5, wherein:
the respective hole has a diameter greater than a diameter of the tube of the individual needle probe by at least 1 mm for avoiding clogging of soil particles; and
the respective hole has a length at least 0.5 mm longer than a length of the tube for allowing filtering materials to be placed in the respective hole.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The testing device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of holes is substantially-evenly distributed angularly over the internal lateral surface of the oedometer ring.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The testing device of claim 12, wherein the plurality of holes consists of three holes.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The testing device of claim 1, wherein each individual hole comprises a channel and a large-diameter end for placing of filter materials to avoid clogging.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The testing device of claim 1, wherein the testing cell further comprises:
a top flange for holding the oedometer ring in position and preventing any external interference that potentially changes boundaries and loading conditions of the soil sample.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The testing device of claim 1, wherein the testing cell further comprises a cutting tool mountable on the oedometer ring for trimming the soil sample to be used in testing.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The testing device of claim 16, wherein the cutting tool is made of stainless steel.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The testing device of claim 16, wherein the oedometer ring further includes a plurality of grooves configured to receive the cutting tool for securing the cutting tool to the oedometer ring.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The testing device of claim 1, wherein the oedometer ring is cylindrical in shape such that the soil sample is in a form of disc.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The testing device of claim 1 further comprising:
a stress-applying mechanism for applying a stress to the soil sample to compress the soil sample; and
a displacement-measuring sensor for sensing a displacement made in compressing the soil sample.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The testing device of claim 20, wherein the displacement-measuring sensor is a dial gauge or a linear variable displacement transducer.