Unsaturated soils | Hydraulic conductivity | Shear strength | Consolidation and volume change | Waste rock | Field testing Our lab uses heavy frame consolidometers that facilitate both direct loading for small normal stresses and lever loading for high normal stresses. The direct load tests are required for such materials as supersaturated tailings slurries with low initial densities. Our specially modified consolidometer rings enable multiple falling head hydraulic conductivity testing without interrupting the consolidation test. Consolidation and direct hydraulic conductivity test of uranium tailings