Navigate the Geomechanics and Rock Physics (GaRP) Laboratory
The Rock Preparation Workshop has equipment to prepare and clean consolidated and unconsolidated samples. Samples are prepared with a diameter of up to 20 mm with varying length.
(ABOVE) Preparation of consolidated samples. (a) Large rocks are cut to smaller manageable sizes using the large rock saw. (b) Rocks samples are cylindrically cored using a plugging machine. The plugging machine has the option to use either water or liquid nitrogen. (c) The ends of the cored specimens are trimmed using the small rock saw. (d) A precision end-face grinder is used to precision-ground the end of the specimens to strict tolerance of ± 0.02 mm in accordance with typical rock mechanics procedures. (e) Example of specimens from Cretaceous shale samples. (f) Radial and axial strain gauges attached to specimens for static elastic properties (Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio and bulk modulus) measurements.
(BELOW) Preparation of unconsolidated (firable) samples. (a) Plunger and accessories. (b) Plugged cylindrical specimen inside a heat shrink sleeve with porous sintered disc at the ends. (c) and (d) Example of specimen from Pliocene sandstone.
(BELOW) A Soxhlet extractor, placed under a fume hood, is used to clean the cylindrical specimens to remove contaminants prior to testing.
