The Field Inspection Testing Kit combines a Field Inspection Pocket Vane Tester and a Heavy Duty Pocket Penetrometer for rapid preliminary evaluation of cohesive soils in the field or laboratory. The compact set supports quick assessment of soil consistency, penetration resistance and approximate undrained shear strength without requiring electrical power.
- Two instruments in one kit: Includes a pocket vane tester and heavy-duty pocket penetrometer.
- Cohesive soil testing: Designed primarily for clay, silt and similar fine-grained cohesive soils.
- Undrained shear strength assessment: The vane system supports rapid evaluation of cohesive soil resistance.
- Field and laboratory use: Suitable for excavations, exposed soil surfaces and suitable laboratory samples.
- Interchangeable vane blades: Different vane sizes allow selection according to expected soil strength.
- Vane geometry: Vane blades have a height-to-diameter ratio of approximately 2.
- Penetration depth: The vane is inserted approximately 5–6 cm into the soil for surface testing.
- Extension capability: Deeper measurements can be performed with an optional extension rod.
- Pocket penetrometer: Provides a rapid preliminary indication of soil consistency and penetration resistance.
- Manual operation: Requires no electricity, hydraulic unit or compressed air.
- Portable carrying case: Both instruments are stored in a practical plastic case.
- Packed dimensions: 24 × 21 × 5 cm.
- Approximate weight: 1.8 kg.
- Product code: LT-S0080.
| Product Code | Product Name | External Dimensions (cm) | Weight (kg) |
| LT-S0080 | Field Inspection Testing Kit | 24 × 21 × 5 | 1.8 |
What Is a Field Inspection Testing Kit?
The Field Inspection Testing Kit is a portable soil testing set designed for rapid preliminary evaluation of cohesive soils in field and laboratory applications.
The LT-S0080 combines two practical instruments in a single carrying case: a Field Inspection Pocket Vane Tester and a Heavy Duty Pocket Penetrometer.
This combination allows geotechnicians, geologists and laboratory personnel to perform quick soil checks before more detailed laboratory testing is carried out. Similar professional systems are specifically intended for geotechnical, geological and soil investigation work.
Pocket Vane Shear Testing
The pocket vane tester is used to obtain a rapid indication of the undrained shear strength of cohesive soils.
The instrument contains a cylindrical body with a torsional spring and interchangeable vane blades. The operator selects the appropriate vane according to the expected resistance of the soil.
The vane is inserted into the soil by approximately 5–6 cm and then rotated using the handle. The soil resists this rotational movement, allowing its shear behaviour to be assessed.
The vane blades use a height-to-diameter ratio of approximately 2, which is a common geometry for this type of field inspection equipment.
ASTM D2573/D2573M-18
The product page currently references ASTM D2573.
The active edition is ASTM D2573/D2573M-18, which covers field vane shear testing in saturated fine-grained soils.
The standard is used to determine the in-situ undrained shear strength of saturated clays and silts and is applicable primarily to materials with undrained strength below approximately 200 kPa.
Therefore, the existing ASTM D2573 reference is not wrong.
ASTM D8121/D8121M-23 for Handheld Vane Devices
There is now also a more specific ASTM standard for the type of small vane instrument included in this kit.
ASTM D8121/D8121M-23 specifically covers the approximation of cohesive-soil shear strength using a handheld or pocket vane shear device.
ASTM states that the method can be used in the field or laboratory, including on sample-tube ends, block samples, excavations and other suitably confined specimens. It is intended primarily for saturated fine-grained cohesive soils.
For the LT-S0080 product description, I would therefore keep ASTM D2573/D2573M-18 as the existing field-vane reference and add ASTM D8121/D8121M-23 as the more specific handheld-vane reference.
Interchangeable Vane Blades
Different soil strengths require different vane sizes.
The user selects a suitable blade according to the expected consistency and resistance of the material. Smaller or larger vane areas allow the instrument to work across different cohesive-soil strength levels.
For measurements below the immediate ground surface, an extension rod can be used. Your product description indicates that this extension is optional rather than part of the standard delivery.
This makes the system suitable both for surface checks and for measurements at greater depth on accessible or undisturbed samples.
Heavy Duty Pocket Penetrometer
The second instrument in the kit is a Heavy Duty Pocket Penetrometer.
The pocket penetrometer provides a quick indication of the consistency and penetration resistance of cohesive soils. It can therefore be used as a preliminary classification tool alongside the vane test.
The penetrometer does not replace a full laboratory compression or shear-strength test. Instead, it gives the user a rapid comparative result before deciding whether more detailed testing is required.
Commercial field inspection kits of the same configuration use interchangeable penetrometer tips for different soil consistency levels.
Field and Laboratory Applications
The compact design allows the kit to be used at different test locations without electrical power.
Typical applications include:
- geotechnical site investigations,
- excavation inspections,
- cohesive soil classification,
- preliminary soil-strength evaluation,
- laboratory sample checks,
- geological field studies,
- and quality-control investigations.
Because both instruments operate manually, the set can also be used in remote locations where electrical equipment would be inconvenient.
Portable Carrying Case
The complete LT-S0080 kit measures approximately 24 × 21 × 5 cm and weighs around 1.8 kg.
Both instruments are stored in a compact plastic carrying case. This protects the components during transport and keeps the field testing equipment organized between measurement locations.
Overall, the Field Inspection Testing Kit provides a practical combination of handheld vane shear and penetration testing for rapid preliminary assessment of cohesive soils.
