COLOUR STANDARD CHART AZA0889

The AZA0872 Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) from Azalab is a robust, field-proven instrument designed for rapid in-situ evaluation of soil strength, stiffness, and compaction. It is extensively used by civil engineers, geotechnical consultants, and construction teams for pavement design, quality control, and site investigation works.

The DCP test provides a fast and economical method to assess the strength of subgrades, sub-bases, and granular base course layers, with results that can be directly correlated to California Bearing Ratio (CBR) values. This eliminates the need for time-consuming laboratory testing or undisturbed soil sampling, enabling immediate decision-making at site.

The AZA0853 Liquid Limit Device with Counter from AZALAB is a precision-engineered instrument used for determining the liquid limit of soils in accordance with the Casagrande method. This test is a fundamental component of soil classification and geotechnical investigation, providing critical insight into the plasticity, compressibility, and shear strength of fine-grained soils.

Designed for reliable, repeatable, and standardized testing, the AZA0853 is widely used in geotechnical laboratories, civil engineering departments, construction quality control labs, and academic institutions.

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Principle of Liquid Limit Test (Casagrande Method)

The liquid limit is defined as the water content at which soil transitions from a plastic state to a liquid state. In practice, it is determined as the moisture content at which a standard groove cut in the soil sample closes over a length of 12.5 mm under 25 blows of the liquid limit apparatus.

The AZA0853 consists of a polished brass cup mounted on an adjustable bracket. The cup is repeatedly raised and dropped from a fixed height of 1 cm onto a hard rubber base by means of a manually operated cam mechanism. A built-in mechanical counter accurately records the number of blows, ensuring compliance with testing standards and reducing operator error.

The AZA0862 Plummet Balance is a specialized laboratory apparatus designed for determining the specific gravity of fine-grained soils, particularly clays and silts that are difficult to test using conventional pycnometer methods. It is widely used in geotechnical engineering, soil mechanics laboratories, and construction quality control applications. Manufactured by Azalab, the instrument complies with ASTM D854 and IS 2720 (Part 3 / Sec 1) standards and provides rapid, repeatable, and reliable results for dispersed soil samples commonly used in sedimentation, pipette, and hydrometer analyses. Working Principle The plummet balance method determines the specific gravity of soil solids by measuring the apparent weight of a suspended plummet immersed in a soil–water suspension. The balance pointer directly indicates the percentage of soil in suspension via a calibrated scale, eliminating lengthy calculations. A rack-and-pinion height adjustment allows the plummet to be positioned at the required depth. The percentage of soil in suspension is read directly from the graduated scale, making this method faster and more user-friendly than traditional sedimentation calculations. The set is supplied with a temperature correction chart relating the constant K to suspension temperature for soils with specific gravity ranging from 2.4 to 2.8, facilitating accurate application of Stokes’ law.

The AZA0859 Sand Equivalent Test Set from AZA Lab is a standardized laboratory and field testing apparatus used to determine the relative proportion of sand versus clay-like or plastic fines in fine aggregates and granular soils. This test is critical in construction quality control where aggregate cleanliness directly affects the performance of asphalt pavements, concrete mixes, and base course layers. The test set conforms to ASTM D2419, IS 2720 (Part 37), and AASHTO T176, ensuring accurate, repeatable, and specification-compliant results. The Sand Equivalent Value (SEV) provides a simple numerical indication of aggregate quality by comparing the height of settled sand to the height of clay suspension after sedimentation. Working Principle A prepared fine aggregate sample is placed in a graduated cylinder and mixed with a standard calcium chloride-based solution. After agitation and a controlled settling period, heavier sand particles settle at the bottom while lighter clay and silt particles remain in suspension. The Sand Equivalent Value (SEV) is calculated as: SEV = (Height of Sand / Height of Clay Suspension) × 100 Higher SEV values indicate cleaner aggregates with lower clay contamination, which are preferred for structural and pavement applications.