Resonant Column Device

The Wille Geotechnik resonant column is a high-quality piece of equipment designed to determine geotechnical properties of materials (e.g. soils) under low strain ranges for solid- or hollow-cylindrical samples. Resonant column devices are made with high-frequency electromagnetic torsional drives. These are used to vibrate the top of a soil specimen at frequencies of up to 2000 Hz in the first-mode resonance while the bottom is fixed or second mode while top and bottom are free.

The components used in the Wille Geotechnik RC are of the highest quality possible. The triaxial cell is designed for pressures of up to 1000 kPa. The volumes and pressures of the pore fluid are precisely monitored and controlled with an automatic pressure controller or pressure control panel. The system includes a data acquisition unit to collect different measuring values, such as force, travel, pressure, frequency, temperature and more. Transducers and sensors that provide analogous signals can be connected.


  • Features
  • Specifications
  • Upgrade Options
  • Software
  • Standards
  • Applications
  • For solid and hollow samples
  • Saturated and unsaturated conditions
  • Resonant column cell up to 1000 kPa for sample sizes with a 150 mm diameter and height of 300 mm
  • Isotropic and anisotropic (optional) test conditions
  • Different sample adapters for saturated and un- saturated test conditions are available on request
  • Pressure resistant electrical feed-through for internal transducers
  • Different models, such as fix-tree or free-tree also available
  • Electronic control unit, data acquisition and soft- ware modules
  • Function generator with controlled frequency and wave shape
  • Optional pressure resistant transducers (e.g. proximeter, accelerometer)
  • Certified calibration rods in different sizes
  • High-resolution sensors (accelerometer, submersible load cell, pressure transducer, displacement transducer)
  • Advanced user friendly resonant column software to control and measure the parameters with the ability to calculate and produce the results in tables or graphs

Diameter of solid and hollow samples

38/50/70/100 and 150 mm

Cell Pressure

1000 kPa (higher available)

Tortional frequency

Up to 2000 Hz

Applied pore pressure

Up to 1000 kPa

Calculation and evaluation:

  • Via Lissajous figure
  • Via strain/frequency curve
  • Strain dependent calculation of shear stiffness (G)
  • Calculation of damping (D), (Energy Based Method)
  • Shear velocity
  • Shear modulus
  • Calibration examples
  • FFT-Control measured signal (FFT Fast Fourier)

* Several other upgrade options (e.g. larger sample, automatic pressure controlling device, high-pressure cell) are available on request.

GEOsys Software is capable of measuring, controlling, and monitoring the following parameters:

  • Shear strain
  • Gamma (proximeter based measurement, available as an option)
  • Sample frequency
  • ASTM D-4015
  • Standard Test Methods for Modulus and Damping of Soils by Resonant-Column Method

  • Detailed information will follow soon
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