1. Introduction
Soil Mechanics & Hydraulics Laboratory, Karachi was established in 1956 by
U.S AID (I.C.A. AID) (U.S.Bureau of reclamation Colorado) (U.S.A).
This laboratory is fully equipped with relevant Scientific Instrument regarding
SOIL MECHANICS FIELD.
This Laboratory has taken part many Development works in PAKISTAN as well as
Soil Mechanics & Hydraulics Laboratories Synchronize with Three Government Laboratories
and Recognized Engineering Universities.
Soil Mechanics & Hydraulics Laboratories being a part of US Aid & UNDP.
Also participate with Benazir Income Support Program, Government Organizations & NGO’s
We are equipped with High Qualified Geotechnical Engineers, Technicians and Laboratory
Staff involving 54 active Employees.
At presently this Laboratory is working for Public sector as well as private sector.
Following Public sector Departments are particularly assigns their projects to this
1. Irrigation Department work for Guddu ,Sukkar & Kotri Barrages.
2. The N.H.A.
3. The M.E.S.
4. Educational Institutions / Universities.
5. The N.L.C/The F.W.O
6. The City Government
7. Pak P.W.D.
8. Geolog
9. TCF(The Citizen Foundation & HALCROW
Apart from this mostly Private Sectors / BUILDERS assigns their Projects to this
Laboratory.
2. GEO-TECHNICAL INVESTIGATION
Geotechnical Investigations:
• Take a part on Projects of Geotechnical and soil investigation for Irrigation department
(Govt of Sindh).
• Soil investigation for buildings, towers and road projects. Field work mainly consists of
drilling and field testing. Drilling is carried out either by rotary- wash method or
percussion method.
• Collection of soil and water samples.
• Field testing including standard penetration test, pressure meter test, , packer test,
field permeability test, field density test, field CBR test.
• Pile works: We also provide the Services for Execution of bored cast in situ piles of 16”, 22”,
26”, 30” &36” diameter. Working includes boring of holes , fabrication of reinforcement cage,
preparation and pouring of concrete
Extraction of Cores:
• Extraction of Concrete Cores and Testing
• Extraction of Asphalt Cores and Testing
Laboratory Tests & Reporting
As per Standard ASTM and AASHTO
• Compressive Strength of Cube,Cylinder,Bricks,Pavers Tiles etc
• Hammer Test
• Core Cutting
• FDT(Field Density Test)
Soil Testing & Investigation
• Grain Size Analysis (sieve analysis and hydrometer test) as per
• Natural Moisture Content
• Bulk Density/Dry Density
• Liquid & Plastic Limit
• Specific Gravity
• Direct Shear
• Unconfined Compression Test
• Consolidation Test
• Permeability Test
• Standard and Modified Proctor Tests
• Soaked and UnSoaked CBR
• Three Point CBR
• Organic Matter Content
3. Water Testing As per Standard ASTM and AASHTO & APHA
• Water Testing by using Standards
• For PH, TDS, Sulphate & Chloride
• Carbonate and Bicarbonate
Cement Testing
• Cement Consistency
• Initial and Final Setting Times
• Compressive Strength
• Preparation of Sample
Steel Testing
• Tensile Strength of Steel Bar
• Elongation %
• Unit Weight
ASPHALT/BITUMEN SECTION
• Asphalt mixed design
• Ext. Gradation
• Marshal Stability cake & testing
• Sp. Gravity of bitumen
• Flash point of bitumen
• Penetration test
• Ductility test
• Stripping & Coating of bitumen
• Determination of core compaction ( sample supplied by client)
Aggregate Testing
• Gradation Analysis
• Maximum and Minimum Density of Sand
• Dry Density
• Fineness Modulus of Sand
• OrganicMatterContent
• Sodium Sulphate Soundness-
• Crushing Value
• ImpactValueD5874 - 16
4. • Los Angeles Abrasion test
• 10%FineValue
• Absorption Test
• Specified Gravity
• Flakiness Index
• Elongation
Instrument Calibration:
Dial Indicator, Pressure gauges, Compressive strength Machine, CBR, Marshall Machines, Oven, Speedy
Moisture tester, Weight balance & Hydraulic Jack etc.
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Geophysical survey is ground-based physical sensing techniques used for minerals, water well,
archaeological imaging and mapping. We are providing Electrical Resistivity Survey, Gravity,
Magnetic and Induced Potential for identification of mineral’s and groundwater.
Application of Geophysical survey:
• Mapping of Groundwater Resources
• Aquifer Identification and quality
• Bedrock Profiling
• Soil Conductivity Mapping
• Rock Fracture Detection Mapping
• Cavity Detection
Electrical Resistivity Survey
Through Electrical resistivity we can measure the electrical properties of the subsurface. Most
soils and non-ore bearing rocks are electrically resistive. Soil moisture and ground water are
often electrically conductive due to contained dissolved minerals.
Therefore the resistivity measured in the ground is predominantly controlled by the amount of
moisture and water within the soil and rock, and the concentration of dissolved solids in that water.
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8. Director
Deputy Director Deputy Director (Hyderabad)
(Soil Mechanics Hydraulics Laboratory, Karachi)
Assistant Director
Research Officer Research Officer
JRO JRO
ARO ARO
