# US 2026/0168902 A1 · Soil Mass Coupling Test Apparatus and Test Method for Researching Full-Scale Strength of Soil Mass > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0168902 A1 - Document ID: US20260168902A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/531,424 - Filed: 2026-02-05 - Published: 2026-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2024-12-02 - Assignees: Shijiazhuang Tiedao University - Applicants: Shijiazhuang Tiedao University - Inventors: Chao YIN; Shuaiwei WANG; Cunbao ZHAO; Wei YUAN; Wei WANG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260168902A1 ## CPC - G01N 3/24: by applying steady shearing forces (G01N3/26, G01N3/28 take precedence) - G01N 3/068: {with optical indicating or recording means} - G01N 3/08: by applying steady tensile or compressive forces (G01N3/28 takes precedence) - G01N 3/18: Performing tests at high or low temperatures - G01N 33/24: Earth materials (G01N33/42 takes precedence) - G01N 2203/0222: Temperature - G01N 2203/0242: With circulation of a fluid - 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 The present application provides a soil mass coupling test apparatus and a test method for researching full-scale strength of soil mass. The soil mass coupling test apparatus includes a soil mass testing machine, a linear rail, a box body, and an environment simulation assembly. The soil mass testing machine includes a testing platform and a loading assembly, which is configured to conduct one or more tests selected from tension test, compression-shear test, and tension-shear test on the soil mass samples, thereby testing the properties of the soil mass. The box body is movably installed on the linear rail and features a testing chamber for accommodating the soil mass sample and at least partially accommodating the loading assembly. The environmental simulation assembly adjusts the testing chamber to the appropriate temperature and humidity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A soil mass coupling test apparatus, comprising: a soil mass testing machine, comprising a testing platform and a loading assembly arranged on the testing platform; a linear rail, arranged horizontally at one side of the soil mass testing machine; a box body, slidably arranged on the linear rail, wherein the box body comprises a testing chamber which has an inlet-outlet on a side facing towards the soil mass testing machine, the inlet-outlet being movably connected with a box door of the box body; and wherein the box body has a testing position and an idle position, and the loading assembly is at least partially accommodated within the testing chamber when the box body is in the testing position, and the loading assembly is disengaged from the testing chamber when the box body is in the idle position; and an environment simulation assembly, comprising a temperature control module and a humidity control module, both of which are disposed in the box body, wherein the temperature control module is configured to adjust a temperature of the testing chamber, and the humidity control module is configured to adjust a humidity of the testing chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wall of the testing chamber is provided with a heat exchange hole connected with an air duct, an output end of the temperature control module and an output end of the humidity control module being respectively connected with the air duct. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the box body further comprises an equipment accommodating chamber; the temperature control module and the humidity control module are arranged in the equipment accommodating chamber; and the equipment accommodating chamber is in communication with the testing chamber through the air duct and the heat exchange hole. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a multi-blade centrifugal fan and a frequency converter arranged in the air duct to realize a dynamic regulation of an air volume; and a flow deflector arranged in the air duct or the testing chamber; wherein a cross-sectional shape of the air duct is circular, the air duct is configured to supply air from a top of the testing chamber and return air from a bottom of the testing chamber to form an vertical air flow, and the temperature control module and the humidity control module are respectively in communication with the air duct through a temperature channel and a humidity channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the environmental simulation assembly further comprises an instrument detection module; and the instrument detection module is connected with the temperature control module and the humidity control module, and is configured to detect components in the temperature control module and the humidity control module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the soil mass testing machine further comprises a reaction frame, and the reaction frame is arranged on the testing platform and configured to form a testing area together with an upper surface of the testing platform, the testing area comprising a tension-shear zone, a tension zone and a compression-shear zone; the loading assembly comprises a first shear testing assembly arranged in the tension-shear zone, a tension testing assembly arranged in the tension zone, and a second shear testing assembly arranged in the compression-shear zone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the reaction frame comprises: a top plate, disposed above the testing platform; and two side plates, arranged opposite to each other and connected between the top plate and the testing platform, wherein the top plate, the two side plates and the upper surface of the testing platform enclose to form the testing area, the tension-shear zone being arranged adjacent to a first side plate of the two side plates, and the compression-shear zone being arranged adjacent to a second side plate of the two side plates. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first shear testing assembly comprises: a first slide rail, arranged horizontally on the testing platform and located in the tension-shear zone; a first soil mass specimen former, slidably arranged on the first slide rail; a first shear loading unit, arranged on the reaction frame and having a first extensible end extendable and retractable along a length direction of the first slide rail, the first extensible end being provided with a first shear block; and a first shear top block, arranged on the testing platform, wherein the first shear top block and the first shear block are arranged opposite to each other on two sides of the first soil mass specimen former and staggered in an vertical direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first shear testing assembly, the tension testing assembly, and the second shear testing assembly are arranged linearly, and the reaction frame has an adjustment slot above the first shear testing assembly, the tension testing assembly and the second shear testing assembly; and the loading assembly further comprises a tension-compression loading assembly slidably arranged in the adjustment slot, the tension-compression loading assembly having a lifting end vertically movable. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first soil mass specimen former comprises: a first connecting block, slidably fitted to the first slide rail; a first confining cylinder, disposed above the first connecting block and detachably connected with the first connecting block; a second confining cylinder, disposed above the first confining cylinder and detachably connected with the first confining cylinder; and a second connecting block, disposed above the second confining cylinder and detachably connected with the second confining cylinder, an upper part of the second connecting block being detachably connected with the lifting end, wherein the first connecting block, the first confining cylinder, the second confining cylinder and the second connecting block form a molding chamber for a soil mass sample, a radial cross-section of the molding chamber being circular, and a diameter of the radial cross-section of the molding chamber gradually decreasing from two ends towards a middle of the molding chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: a temperature monitoring element and a humidity monitoring element disposed on a side of the first connecting block, or a temperature monitoring element and a humidity monitoring element disposed on a side of the second connecting block, wherein the temperature monitoring element is configured to monitor a temperature of the soil mass sample, and the humidity monitoring element is configured to monitor a humidity of the soil mass sample. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first connecting block and the first constraining cylinder are connected together by a first snap-fit structure, and the second connecting block and the second constraining cylinder are connected together by a second snap-fit structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first constraining cylinder and the second constraining cylinder are respectively formed by a plurality of arc-shaped plates enclosed and fixed together by at least one hoop ring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the tension-compression loading assembly is provided with a laser level, and a laser direction of the laser level is vertical. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the box body is provided with an avoidance opening configured for avoiding the loading assembly, and the box body is further provided with a blocking element configured for opening or closing the avoidance opening. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a sealing ring detachably arranged, wherein when the loading assembly is extended into the testing chamber through the avoidance opening, the sealing ring is arranged around the loading assembly from an outside of the box body to seal the avoidance opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper configured for locking the box body at a position of the linear rail. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the stopper comprises: a mounting base arranged on an outer wall of the box body, and a first claw and a second claw rotatably arranged on the mounting base and configured for forming a clamping space for clamping the linear rail. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A method for researching full-scale strength of soil mass, which adopts the apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: determining a temperature and a humidity required for testing; fixing a prepared soil mass sample on the loading assembly, and moving the box body from the idle position to the testing position, to accommodate the prepared soil mass sample in the testing chamber of the box body; closing the box door of the box body, setting temperature parameters of the temperature control module and humidity parameters of the humidity control module based on a temperature and a humidity required for testing; waiting until a temperature and a humidity of the prepared soil mass sample tend to be stable, controlling the loading assembly to perform a soil mass coupling test on the prepared soil mass sample, and saving images and data of a test result; and after the soil mass coupling test is completed, adjusting the temperature control module to a cooling state to freeze the prepared soil mass sample that has been tested, and preserving a failure state of the prepared soil mass sample. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein a plurality of prepared soil mass samples are provided, the loading assembly is configured to perform a tension test, a tension-shear test, and a compression-shear test on the plurality of prepared soil mass samples respectively, and after soil mass coupling tests on the plurality of prepared soil mass samples are completed, a strength envelope of the plurality of prepared soil mass samples is plotted based on test results.