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Solution:
UDOT purchased
Geocomp’s Shear Trac
II in March 2003,
selecting the
equipment over other
options on the
market because of
its reliability,
strong technical
support and
attractive
cost/benefit ratio.
The equipment now
performs the
consolidation and
shear phases of the
Lab’s standard
direct shear and
residual shear tests
under full automatic
control.
The
purchasing decision
was influenced by
cost as well as
Geocomp’s reputation
for providing strong
technical support.
“In the past, we
have had difficulty
getting equipment
manufacturers to
respond to
problems,” Graham
said.
Benefits:
Geocomp’s Shear Trac II has increased UDOT’s productivity dramatically.
“We
are now able to get
a lot more done in
the same amount of
time because we
trust the machine to
do what it was
designed to do
without constant
monitoring,” Graham
said.
Reliability is no
longer an issue.
“The quality of the
equipment and its
construction are
superior,” Graham
said.
UDOT’s new Shear
Trac II – the lab’s
first totally
automated test
equipment – has
opened Graham’s eyes
to the benefits of
automation. “The
benefits were
obvious after the
first test. Because
the Geocomp system
is totally
automated, it allows
us to work on other
things while running
a direct shear test,
or we can let tests
run overnight after
everyone has gone
home!” he said.
UDOT
is also pleased with
the new system’s
advanced reporting
capabilities.
“The
software allows easy
data retrieval and
evaluation, and it
generates quick,
user-customized
reports. None of
this was possible
with our old
equipment!” Graham
said.
The
equipment began to
pay for itself
almost immediately.
“The Shear Trac II
is as close to plug
and play as you can
get. All the
software was loaded
and the equipment
was ready to go to
work the day it
arrived,” Graham
said. “Within a few
minutes it was up
and running.”
UDOC
users find the Shear
Trac II easy to
operate. “The
controls and
displays on the
Shear Trac II make
it extremely easy to
control the machine.
But where it really
excels is the
software,” Graham
said. “It is laid
out logically so
inputting test
parameters is quick
and easy.” Test
parameters may be
altered at any point
during a test and
applied immediately.
“[We can] convert
units instantly at
any point before,
during and after a
test with a simple
click of the mouse,”
Graham said.
UDOC’s old equipment
used software
developed by a third
company.
Software/hardware
compatibility issues
resulted in problems
including
“completely losing
entire tests because
of machine
malfunction and
resulting data
loss,” Graham said.
Selecting a
comprehensive
solution from
Geocomp has
completely
eliminated these
issues.
Geocomp’s technical
support team, led by
Dr. Rachid Hankour,
has been
“outstanding,”
Graham noted.
“[Geocomp] is very
prompt in getting
back to us if we
have a question,” he
said. To date the
equipment has not
required
maintenance.
“The
equipment is
designed with the
geotechnical
engineer in mind,
and it is built
right,” Graham said.
“Efficiency and
productivity are
increased greatly
with the right
equipment, and
Geocomp has the
right equipment.”
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