Manual Soil Direct Shear Test Apparatus

Description

The Manual Soil Direct Shear Test Apparatus is designed for determining important soil shear-strength parameters through controlled direct shear testing. During testing, a prepared soil specimen is placed inside the shear box and subjected to a selected vertical pressure. Horizontal force is then gradually applied until the specimen reaches shear failure. The resulting shear force can be used to determine soil engineering parameters such as shear strength, cohesion, and internal friction angle. The apparatus supports vertical pressure levels of 50, 100, 200, 300, and 400 kPa, allowing soil specimens to be tested under different normal loading conditions. Multiple test results can then be compared to evaluate how the soil behaves under increasing vertical stress. A maximum horizontal load capacity of 1.2 kN provides sufficient shear force for routine laboratory soil testing, while the 1:20 lever ratio provides controlled application of the vertical load. The standard specimen has an area of 30 cm² and a height of 20 mm, providing a consistent sample geometry for comparative testing. Because this configuration is manually operated, it provides a practical and cost-effective solution for laboratories that require dependable direct shear testing without a fully automated testing system. The machine is especially useful in civil engineering, soil mechanics, foundation engineering, road construction, geological research, and academic laboratory applications where accurate evaluation of soil stability and shear behaviour is required. Specification Details Product Type Manual Soil Direct Shear Test Apparatus Model ZJ-1A Test Method Direct Shear Testing Specimen Area 30 cm² Specimen Height 20 mm Maximum Horizontal Load 1.2 kN Vertical Loading Levels 50 / 100 / 200 / 300 / 400 kPa Lever Ratio 1:20 Loading Method Manual Lever Loading Shear Box Single Shear Box Main Test Parameter Soil Shear Strength Additional Test Parameters Cohesion & Internal Friction Angle Approx. Dimensions 630 × 350 × 1050 mm Approx. Weight 55 kg Operation Type Manual Power Requirement No Electrical Power Required for Manual Configuration Primary Application Geotechnical & Soil Mechanics Testing