Geotechnical Laboratory Testing

S&ME provides laboratory testing of soil, rock and other materials for site characterization, geotechnical design, quality control and performance assessment purposes.  Our services range from the most basic visual-manual examination of recovered samples to simple measurement of grain size, moisture content or plasticity properties of soils,  to highly specialized shear strength and consolidation tests requiring sophisticated instrumentation and skills. S&ME uses state-of-the-art testing equipment, advanced processes and automation. Our goal is to provide our clients with fast turnaround and accurate test results.

S&ME puts great stress on prompt, efficient, but careful sample handling. This is important so that laboratory tests provide repeatable data that represent conditions in the field to the extent possible. Methods for containment and packaging of soil samples and transportation of the samples to the laboratory follow standard procedures to minimize the opportunity for moisture content change or disturbance. Samples are processed as soon as possible following arrival, since as storage time increases, moisture will migrate within a tube or condense within a sample jar and change the soil properties. Intact samples are stored in the proper position in the laboratory and extracted from the sampler using a specially constructed extruder.

An AASHTO accredited lab recognizes the laboratory’s compliance to certain requirements of ASTM International and AASHTO test methods and practices for testing soil, concrete, bituminous paving and other construction materials. View a list of S&ME AASHTO-Accredited laboratories on the AASHTO Re:source website and filter using the name “S&ME”. In addition to the inspections and sample testing, we strive for our labs to establish internal quality control systems that meet elevated criteria. For example, S&ME continues to provide internal training and certification of our technician staff through the NICET and ACI certification programs.

Our soils labs routinely provide:

  • Preservation and Handling of Soil and Rock Samples
  • Soil and Rock Classification
  • Direct Shear
  • Triaxial Shear
  • Consolidation and Swell
  • Hydraulic Conductivity
  • Dispersive Characteristics of Clay
  • Electro-chemical
  • Bearing Ratio

Output from laboratory tests are individually reviewed by geotechnical engineering staff.

Licensed for Radioactive Testing of Geotechnical Materials

For many sites across the country, radioactive contamination creates challenges with routine soil and rock testing. Our Knoxville facility is one of two labs in the country that is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Health and Environment and Division of Radiological Health to test low-level radioactively contaminated material for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.