| Geocomp’s Lab Systems Division, with the support of
its Egyptian agent, Noor Scientific, recently completed the
installation of automated soil testing equipment and training for the
Soil Mechanics & Geotechnical Engineering Laboratory (GEL), a
division of Soil Mechanics & Geotechnical Engineering Institute
Housing & Building National Research Center (www.hbrc.edu.eg) in
Cairo, Egypt.
In the
second phase of the laboratory’s modernization program (the
first phase was completed in August 2006), Geocomp supplied two systems: a triaxial stress path system and a direct residual shear system. As of August
2007, these systems were ANS/ ISO/IEC 17025:2005 compliant. GEL will
use this equipment for teaching, research, and production.
|
The Housing & Building National
Research Center in Cairo, Egypt
|
The research center is a branch of the Egyptian Ministry
of Housing, Utilities & Urban Development. It prides itself on
being the first geotechnical laboratory in Africa and the Middle East
with the most technologically advanced computer-controlled soil
testing equipment. This ranks high on the list of achievements for
the ministry — on par with Egypt’s subway system —
the first of its kind on the African continent.
|
GEL now lists among its soil testing capabilities:
triaxial, stress path, and cyclic direct simple shear. Dr. Rachid
Hankour, Geocomp’s VP and director of Lab Systems, oversaw the
installation of the equipment, and conducted training sessions which
were enthusiastically attended by technicians, engineers, professors,
and researchers. 
Dr. Hankour (right) instructing a
member of the Soil Mechanics & Geotechnical Engineering Lab on
using the LoadTrac II.
|
|
