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A centrifuge is essentially a sophisticated load frame on which samples can be tested. Analogues to this exist in other branches of civil engineering: the hydraulic press in structural engineering, the wind tunnel in aeronautical engineering, the flume in hydraulic engineering and even the triaxial cell in geotechnical engineering. In all cases a model is tested and the results are extrapolated to a prototype situation.
Modelling plays an important part in geotechnical engineering, especially testing in a centrifuge. For physical modelling, the correct replication of the processes that might take place in reality is of concern. To do so the prototype situation is usually reduced in scale and tested. Modelling asks for the appropriate scaling laws. In geotechnical modelling, the major soil parameters to reproduce are the strength and stiffness.
The GeoCentrifuge of GeoDelft is the core of the physical Modelling facilities. A crew dedicates its activity to perform experiments in a project organisation. GeoDelft can be commissioned to run projects on lumpsum basis.
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