Soils

Blacktop Materials Engineering provides NATA accredited soil testing throughout Geraldton, the Midwest and regional Western Australia. Our experienced laboratory performs soil classification, compaction testing, field density testing, CBR testing, permeability testing and other geotechnical construction materials testing in accordance with Australian Standards and Main Roads Western Australia test methods.

Our laboratory has been assisting Western Australian construction projects since 2000, with over 40 years of management experience, and provides independent testing for projects ranging from local subdivisions through to major civil infrastructure.

Our soil testing services support:

• Civil contractors
• Local Government
• Main Roads projects
• Mining companies
• Consulting engineers
• Developers
• Earthworks contractors
• Concrete contractors

Supporting projects including:

• Civil construction
• Road construction
• Local government infrastructure
• Mining projects
• Industrial developments
• Commercial developments
• Residential subdivisions
• Remote construction projects

We provide NATA accredited soil testing throughout:

• Geraldton
• Midwest WA
• Pilbara
• Gascoyne
• Wheatbelt
• Goldfields
• Regional Western Australia

Our NATA accredited soil testing services include:

Field Services:

Sampling – Representative sampling of soils in accordance with recognised Australian Standards and Main Roads WA procedures

WA 100.1 / AS 1289.1.2.1

Site Selection – Assists in selecting representative sampling and testing locations to satisfy project and specification requirements.

WA 0.1, WA 100.1 / AS 1289.1.4.1, AS 1289.1.4.2

Layer Thickness – Measures pavement layer thickness to verify compliance with design and construction specifications.

WA 330.1

Road Pavement Texture Depth – Determines surface texture depth to assess skid resistance and surface drainage characteristics and reseal design.

WA 311.1

Field Density Tests (NDM) – Verifies that compacted earthworks achieve the density specified by project requirements and relevant standards.

WA 324.2 / AS 1289.5.8.1

Density Index – Assesses the relative density of cohesionless soils for earthworks and foundation applications.

AS 1289.5.6.1

Hilf Density Ratio – Provides an alternative method of assessing field compaction where specified for pavement construction.

AS 1289.5.7.1

Compaction Control – Verifies that compacted materials comply with specified density and moisture requirements during construction.

WA 134.1 / AS 1289.5.4.1, AS 1289.5.4.2, AS 1289.5.4.3

Field Moisture Content / Dryback – Determines the amount of water present in a soil sample for classification, compaction and quality control purposes.

WA 110.1, WA 136.1 / AS 1289.2.1.1, AS 1289.5.4.1, AS 1289.5.4.2, AS 1289.5.4.3

Dynamic Cone Penetrometer Tests – Rapidly assesses the in-situ strength and uniformity of pavement and subgrade materials

AS 1289.6.3.2

Perth Sand Penetrometer Tests – Assesses the strength of fine-grained pavement materials using a rapid in-situ penetration test.

AS 1289.6.3.3

Plate Load Bearing Tests – Measures the load-bearing capacity and stiffness of foundations, pavement layers and prepared subgrades.

BS 1377-9

 

Laboratory Services:

Compaction & Density

Sample Preparation – Reduces and prepares representative test portions in accordance with the applicable testing standards.

WA 105.1 / AS 1289.1.1

Dry Density/Moisture Content Relationship (Standard & Modified) – Determines the optimum moisture content and maximum dry density required to achieve effective field compaction.

WA 132.1, WA 132.2, WA 133.1, WA 133.2 / AS 1289.5.1.1, AS 1289.5.2.1

Minimum and Maximum Dry Density – Determines the density limits of cohesionless materials for density index and compaction assessments.

AS 1289.5.5.1

Soil Classification & Index Testing

Particle Size Distribution Sieve analysis – Determines the grading of soil to assess its suitability for earthworks, pavement construction and engineering design.

WA 115.1, WA 115.2 / AS 1289.3.6.1

Emerson Class – Assesses the dispersion characteristics of clay soils and their susceptibility to erosion.

AS 1289.3.8.1

Cone & Casagrande Liquid Limit – Determines the moisture content at which a fine-grained soil changes from a plastic to a liquid state.

WA 120.2 / AS 1289.3.9.1, AS 1289.3.9.2 & AS 1289.3.1.1, AS 1289.3.1.2

Plastic Limit – Determines the moisture content at which a soil changes from a semi-solid to a plastic state

WA 121.1 / AS 1289.3.2.1

Plasticity Index – Indicates the range of moisture contents over which a soil remains plastic and assists in soil classification.

WA 122.1 / AS 1289.3.3.1, AS 1289.3.3.2

Linear Shrinkage – Measures the shrinkage potential of fine-grained soils as they dry to assist with soil classification.

WA 123.1 / AS 1289.3.4.1

Soil Classification – Classifies soils using recognised engineering systems to support design, construction and quality assurance

AS 1726 Tables 9 & 10 – Laboratory Classification Elements Only

Particle Density – Measures the density of soil particles for use in geotechnical calculations and material characterisation.

AS 1289.3.5.1

Shrink-Swell Index – Assesses the volume change potential of expansive soils due to moisture variation.

AS 1289.7.1.1

Strength & Engineering Properties

California Bearing Ratio (Soaked and Unsoaked) – Evaluates the strength of subgrade and pavement materials for road and pavement design.

WA 141.1 / AS 1289.6.1.1

MDCS – Determines the maximum dry compressive strength of compacted materials used in pavement construction.

WA 140.1

UCS – Measures the unconfined compressive strength of cohesive or stabilized materials for engineering assessment.

WA 143.1 / AS 5101.4

Permeability of a soil (Constant Head & Falling Head methods) – Determines how readily water flows through soil for drainage, seepage and engineering design applications.

AS 1289.6.7.1, AS 1289.6.7.2

Chemical & Material Characterisation

Testing for Organic Matter – Determines the amount of organic material present, which can significantly influence engineering performance.

ASTM D2974

Total Soluble Salts (Soil & Water) – Measures soluble salt concentrations that may affect material durability and long-term performance.

WA 910.1

Calcium Carbonate Content – Determines the carbonate content of soils for classification and engineering assessment.

WA 915.1

 

Can’t find the soil test you’re looking for? Contact our experienced team to discuss your project requirements or view our complete Scope of Accreditation.