Software package and information systems

Tender description

The University of Southampton is in the process of constructing a new innovation campus (Boldrewood), to include the National Infrastructure Laboratory (NIL) now under construction. As part of the new facility a large Triaxial testing apparatus is required for testing of soil and ballast. Responses received as part of this exercise shall be used to help shape the University's final specification of system requirements and scope any resulting procurement process. Deadline for the receipt of completed Questionnaires is Monday 11th December at 12:00 (mid day). Please Note: This soft market exercise is intended to allow interested organisations with appropriate experience to outline their views and provide impartial information to the University with no commitment to themselves or the University. This is not a call for competition at this stage. The University of Southampton is currently exploring a range of options to support the new innovation campus' National Infrastructure Laboratory (NIL). One of the NIL facilities under construction is a strong-floor (15 m by 30 m) and is due to open at the end of 2018 / early 2019. The new strong-floor will have a 280 bar hydraulic ring main running in a trench around the perimeter of the rectangular room supplied at up to 500 lpm by 280 bar on demand power-packs. Manifolds at regular intervals along the perimeter of the new strong-floor will be located in either a 210 bar (locally reduced) or 280 bar configuration and be available to operate portable hydraulic actuators being used for testing on a plug and play basis. An overhead travelling crane will be available to move equipment on the floor footprint of the new strong-floor. We intend to locate a large Triaxial testing apparatus onto the strong-floor and connect this to one of the existing manifolds. The University is keen to explore all options that may be currently available in the marketplace. The University is conducting soft market testing for a solution that must include the following capabilities: Performance requirements — To test samples of 300 mm diameter and 600 mm height. — Include compressed air controllers able to provide cell and back pressure reliably to 1kPa and preferably to 0.1kPa. Ideally these would operate at the full cell pressure rating (1 000 kPa). — To apply axial load at up to 250 kN in compression and extension testing. Able to record the load reliably to 0.1 % of full range. — To test at up to 10 Hz in either position or load control over appropriate operating ranges. E.g. typical tests on railway ballast could be between extremes of (1) 15 kPa confining stress and 90 kPa deviator, to (2) 500 kPa confining stress and deviator stress of 3 000 kPa. These are examples only and over the lifetime of the apparatus many other stress paths within the capability of the apparatus will likely be applied. — Connect with the Instron manifold at either 210 bar or 280 bar and use this hydraulic source to apply axial load.