Electronic and Electromechanical Systems
ItalianoResonant Column Apparatus
THOR is a Resonant Column Apparatus able to execute torsional shear and resonant column tests (RCTS). THOR includes a powerful electromagnetic engine, allowing variable frequency torsional excitations up to 10 Nm on cylindrical specimens between 38 an 70 mm diameter.
THOR has been developed in cooperation with the Department of Geotechnical Engineering of University of Naples.
Our system has state-of-the-art sensors to measure angular deformations and torsional load: Angular displacement is obtained by two laser triangulation, with resolution up to a 1/1000 degree even in dynamic conditions.
THOR is composed by a cell capable of 1.5 MPa cell pressure, a control unit, and a standard PC with cards for data acquisition and control signals generation.
The cell works up to 1,5 MPa and there is an electromagnetic drive, with manually selected coils and Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB) magnets. Vertical displacement is measured by an LVDT sensor and cell and pore pressure are sensed by apposite transducers and controlled by PC via electro pneumatic converters.
