Expansion Index Test Apparatus
Product Code : LSK-SM-10671
Expansion Index Test Apparatus (SKU LSK-SM-10671) measures how much a compacted soil swells when soaked under a set load, giving the expansion index used to rate expansive clays for foundations, slabs and pavements. Geotechnical labs in engineering colleges, polytechnics and TVET centres use it. Colleges, testing laboratories, tender contractors and distributors place orders for the unit with Science Lab Supplies in Ambala, India.
Specifications
The swell test unit is described one fact per row below. In short, a cast aluminium base and collar with brass hold-down rods hold a 101.6 mm ID x 25.4 mm stainless steel specimen ring between porous stones, a 5.7 kg brass weight loads the specimen and a dial indicator records its swell.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | LSK-SM-10671 |
| Construction | Cast aluminium base and collar with stainless steel specimen ring |
| Base and collar material | Cast aluminium |
| Hold-down rods | Brass |
| Specimen ring material | Stainless steel |
| Specimen ring size | 101.6 mm ID x 25.4 mm high (4 x 1 in) |
| Porous stones | 101.4 mm dia x 12.7 mm thick (4 x 1/2 in) |
| Loading weight material | Brass |
| Loading weight mass | 5.7 kg (12.6 lb) |
| Dial indicator, inch | 0.3 in range x 0.0001 in graduations |
| Dial indicator, metric | 8 mm range x 0.002 mm graduations |
| Test duration | 24 hours or less on the cured sample |
| Supplied by | Science Lab Supplies, Ambala, India |
Applications and Experiments for the Expansion Index Test Apparatus
The specimen is compacted into the ring, loaded with the brass weight and inundated with water; the dial reading of vertical swell over the test period gives the expansion index. Results help students and engineers classify how expansive a clay is before design work begins.
- B.Tech / B.E. civil engineering: expansion potential of clays in foundation engineering practicals, with specimen dimensions checked on a Vernier Caliper.
- M.Tech geotechnical and research labs: comparing treated and untreated expansive soils, alongside drying behaviour measured with the Shrinkage Limit Set.
- Diploma civil engineering and TVET construction modules: why swelling clays crack floors and pavements.
Standard Scope of Supply
The apparatus comprises the cast aluminium base and collar with brass hold-down rods, the stainless steel specimen ring, porous stones, the 5.7 kg brass loading weight and a dial indicator in inch or metric graduation. State inch or metric on your enquiry so the quotation names the dial fitted.
Packing, MOQ and Lead Time
Ask for one apparatus or several for parallel testing; the quotation shows the packing, delivery time and price for that quantity. Extra porous stones or a compactor for specimen preparation can be listed alongside, useful for institutes buying TVET workshop equipment on one tender.
Science Lab Supplies holds an Importer-Exporter Code as a registered exporter and can ship to buyers in Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and the UAE. Dial preferences and quantities can be sent from the contact page, the unit added to the enquiry cart, and tenders for swell-test equipment entered through the lab tender page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an expansion index test take?
The specification gives a test duration of 24 hours or less on the cured sample, so a class can set up specimens one day and read the final swell the next.
Which dial indicator is fitted?
Two graduations are listed: 0.3 in range with 0.0001 in divisions, or 8 mm range with 0.002 mm divisions. State your preference and the quotation will confirm it.
What does the 5.7 kg brass weight do?
The 5.7 kg (12.6 lb) brass weight applies a constant surcharge to the specimen while it soaks, so the measured swell reflects the same loading condition in every test.
Who supplies the apparatus?
Science Lab Supplies supplies the expansion index unit from Ambala, India, quoting universities, polytechnics, TVET centres, testing labs, contractors and distributors directly and confirming the dial graduation chosen.
Related Expansive Soil and Swell Test Equipment
Swelling clays are studied with several tests that complement one another. These items from the Soil Mechanics and Balances and Scales ranges measure volume change, compressibility and plasticity, prepare specimens and weigh them, and each can share a quotation with the expansion index apparatus.
- Soil Volume Change Meter — uses about 10 teaspoons of soil and 140 g of water per test.
- Prong Plate — three rust-resistant metal prongs plus shrinkage and crystallizing dishes.
- Consolidation Apparatus — loading unit rated to a maximum of 20 kg/cm².
- Automatic Mechanical Soil Compactor — 102 mm ID mould option with automatic blow counting.
- Plastic Limit Set — brass or stainless steel 3 mm reference rod for thread rolling.
- Laboratory Bench Oven — two shelves with three shelf positions.
- Triple Beam Balance 610g — stainless steel pan with magnetic damping.
Browse the full Soil Mechanics range, the Balances and Scales range for weighing specimens, or all TVET lab equipment.
Last updated: 9 October 2026
