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Experimental Rock Deformation Laboratory

The development of the laboratory is in progress. We have already set up most of the required facilities for the basic research.

We have built and maintain two major high pressure temperature experimental rock deformation facilities. One of them is a high pressure (400 MPa) and temperature (1200°C) gas medium deformation apparatus equipped with axial and torsion actuators (Modified Paterson Press). This instrument, an Institute Facility, is funded by my Swarnajayanti Fellowship. The other one is a 1500 kN triaxial high pressure (250 MPa) high temperature (200°C) deformation apparatus for deforming large sample size (1.0 inch to 2.5 inch). This instrument, dedicated to our rock physics related research and teaching, can also measure permeability, resistivity, seismic velocity and acoustic emission during the deformation.

We heavily use IIT Kanpur’s central facilities, particularly, Advanced Center for Material Science (ACMS), Advanced Imaging Center and Central Workshops.

The laboratory has several experimental facilities and related preparation kits. These are primarily used for research and teaching two courses [ES411A: Structural Geology and ES657A: Experimental Rock Deformation and Rock Physics]. A list of such facilities with specifications can be found below. To use these facilities and know more about them, please contact us.

Experimental & Analytical Facilities

  1. Gas-medium (400 MPa, max) internally-heated (1200°C, max) deformation rig with axial and torsion actuators
  3. 1500 kN Triaxial Load Frame (250MPa and 200°C)
  5. Uniaxial Rock Testing Setup (500 kN)
  7. 30 MPa pressure vessel (triaxial cell)
  9. 12 ton press (with heating)
  11. Ultrasonic pulse transmission set-up
    • Vp-Vs sensors
    • High voltage (900V) frequency generator
    • PC Oscilloscope
  12. Gas Pycnometer
  14. Combined liquid-gas permeameter (ΔP: 20 MPa, CP: 70 MPa, T: 130 °C)
  16. Pulse decay permeameter
  18. Soft material deformation table (Pure, Simple and combined shear)
  20. Optical Microscopy (reflected and transmission); imaging
  22. High pressure temperature Adsorption-Desorption set-up

Preparation Facilities

  1. Mini workshop
  3. Low speed diamond saw
  5. High speed diamond saw
  7. Rock core drill machine
  9. Automatic rock cutting and polishing machine
  11. Grinding machine
  13. Lapping machine I
  15. Lapping machine II
  17. Colloid (Quartz) polishing machine
  19. Hydraulic press
  21. Hydraulic hot mounting press
  23. Jaw crusher
  25. Pulveriser
  27. Standard oven (400 °C)
  29. Vacuum oven (300 °C)
  31. Precision Lathe Machine with all accessories
  33. Mini Precision Lathe
  35. Drill Press (dry)
  37. Vaccum Impregnation Unit