The use of the geotechnical centrifuge for instructional purposes

Abstract

The c e n t r i f u g e has been used as a r e s e a r c h t o o l f or numbers of y e a r s , but i t s use as an e d u c a t i o n a l t o o l has only been r e a l i z e d r e c e n t l y . T h i s p r o j e c t p r e s e n t s r e s e a r c h which was undertaken to e x p l o r e the f e a s i b i l i t y of u s i n g UNB's g e o t e c h n i c a l c e n t r i f u g e f o r d e m o n s t r a t i v e experiments i n the undergraduate l a b o r a t o r y . The c l a s s of problems which can be s i m u l a t e d on the c e n t r i f u g e a r e i d e n t i f i e d . Recommendations on s o i l p r e p a r a t i o n and optimum u t i l i z a t i o n of v i s u a l m o n i t o r i ng o f the s o i l sample i n f l i g h t are p r e s e n t e d.