An automated soil testing machine and an associated stereo- photogrammetric device for instructional use in the undergraduate level soil mechanics, soil mechanics laboratory, geotechnical engineering, and design of earth structures courses will be developed. Specific experiments designed for the use of equipment include triaxial test, consolidation test, model footing investigation, and soil-inclusion interaction study. It is believed that this micro- computer-controlled soil testing machine with accompanied stereo- photogrammetric capability would provide at least two major improvements over existing equipment: (1) exposing students to the up-to-date electronic control and sensing techniques applicable to geotechnical engineering, and (2) enhancing students' appreciation of the importance of deformation evolutions for a foundation-related problem.
