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Laboratory of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology

Head: Daira Krope

The Laboratory of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology of the Geology Department of the University of Latvia participates in the implementation of bachelor and master study programmes in geography, geology and environmental sciences and doctoral studies; it carries out scientific and experimental activities, implementing the latest research methodologies and findings. The laboratory aims to ensure the study process and scientific activities, as well as to acquire and implement the latest research methods in hydrogeology and engineering geology.

Key objectives:
· To provide laboratory work, practicals, and seminars in various courses like engineering geology, soil mechanics, engineering geological research and methods, hydrogeology, laboratory research methods in geology, etc.;
· to provide research facilities for students, postgraduate students and academic staff;
· to ensure the implementation of the latest research methods in the field.

The laboratory has a wide range of testing of the physical and mechanical properties of soils

Testing the physical properties of soils:
Laboratory sample reduction according to EN 932-2:1999
Petrographic description according to EN 932-3:1996L
Determination of water content according to EN ISO 17892-1:2015, EN 1097-5:2012
Determination of bulk density according to EN ISO 17892-2:2015, EN 933-1:2013
Density of mineral particles according to EN ISO 17892-3:2015-12-15
Determination of particle size distribution (granulometric composition) according to EN ISO 17892-4:2016 and EN 933-1:2013 L and ISO 11277:2020
Plate index of mineral materials EN EN 933-3:2014 L
Shape index of aggregates LVS EN 933-4:2012 L


Plasticity by:
Flow (falling cone) and plastic limit ENS CEN ISO/TS 17892-12:2018
Flow (balancing Vassiliev cone) and plasticity limits ГОСТ 5180-2015

Filtration coefficient (clay and sandy soils) according to CEN CEN ISO/TS 17892-11:2019
Filtration coefficient (clayey and sandy soils) ГОСТ 25584-90
Filtration coefficient at max density according to Latvian State Roads Road Specification 2017, Annex 12.3 and GOST 25584-90, Annex 5.

Proctor compaction to EN 13286-2:2012/NAC:2015
Natural slope angle according to the method of E.Czapowski

Organic content according to ISO 11277:2020, LVS EN 1997-2+AC:2014 L, "Latvijas valsts ceļi" Road Specification 2017, Annex 12.5.

Testing the mechanical properties of soils:
Staged loading test with oedometer (strain modulus Eoed, consolidation factor cv) according to EN ISO 17892-5:2017, ASTM D-2166, ASTM D-2435, ASTM D-2435M-11, ASTM D-3877
Simple and direct shear tests (internal friction angle, bond) according to EN ISO 17892-10:2018, ASTM D-3080 and ASTM D-6528
Consolidated triaxial compression tests on water saturated soils – CIU, CAU, CID, CAD tests (ISO 17892-9, ASTM D-4767, ASTM D-7181) and unconsolidated undrained triaxial test (UU) according to ISO 17892-8

   

Room 009 laboratory equipment

 
Automatic soil testing and filtration equipment.
Automatic soil testing and filtration equipment.
Automatic direct and simple shear equipment.
Automatic direct and simple shear equipment.
Simple shear ring.
Simple shear ring.
Automatic soil consolidation equipment (oedometer).
Automatic soil consolidation equipment (oedometer).
Soil oedometers with manual application of load steps and manual reading. Consolidation cells.
Soil oedometers with manual application of load steps and manual reading. Consolidation cells.
Consolidation cell.
Consolidation cell.
Consolidation cell equipped with semi-automatic readout.
Consolidation cell equipped with semi-automatic readout.
GOST soil shear equipment.
GOST soil shear equipment.
Sample cutting out assistant.
Sample cutting out assistant.
Modified Proctor test.
Modified Proctor test.
Filtration test device.
Filtration test device.
Semi-automatic groundwater level detection equipment.
Semi-automatic groundwater level detection equipment.
Large sieves (300 mm) and sieving device.
Large sieves (300 mm) and sieving device.
Large-scale soil sampler.
Large-scale soil sampler.
Triaxial test device.
Triaxial test device.
       

Room 225 laboratory equipment

Sieving device with 200 mm sieves.
Sieving device with 200 mm sieves.
Sieving device equipped with bottom washing option.
Sieving device equipped with bottom washing option.
Sand sample splitter.
Sand sample splitter.
Semi-automatic falling cone for the determination of the flow limit.
Semi-automatic falling cone for the determination of the flow limit.
Drying oven (capacity 225 litres).
Drying oven (capacity 225 litres).
Drying oven (capacity 225 litres).
Drying oven (capacity 225 litres).
Constant temperature bath for pipette and aerometer analyses (for clay and silt fractions).
Constant temperature bath for pipette and aerometer analyses (for clay and silt fractions).
Clay soil blender (left), sandy soil sample splitter (right).
Clay soil blender (left), sandy soil sample splitter (right).
Silica gel desiccator (left), high precision balance (right).
Silica gel desiccator (left), high precision balance (right).
Constant temperature bath for pycnometers.
Constant temperature bath for pycnometers.
Pycnometers for the determination of soil particle density.
Pycnometers for the determination of soil particle density.
Determination of weight and volume of soil in water.
Determination of weight and volume of soil in water.