CENTRAL MATERIALS TESTING LABORATORY (CMTL)
 

Civil Engineering Works constitute the core of a country's economic development. Successful operation and maintenance of these works require geotechnical investigation, field testing and laboratory testing of construction materials under simulated field conditions. Such investigations and testing facilities are essential for ensuring public safety and finding economic solutions to complex problems.
 

The need to establish the Central \materials Testing Laboratory (CMTL) comes out of  WAPDA's concern for its existing and planned development works. For the past 35 years, Wapda  has been active in developing Pakistan's infrastructure. In 1967, Wapda completed the 450 feet high Mangla Dam, containing 142 million cu. yd. of earth fill and 1.6 million cu. yd. of concrete. In 1974, Wapda completed the Tarbela Dam Project, the world's biggest earth and rock fill dam with a height of 485 feet containing 165 million cu. yd. of earth and 1.75 million cu. yd. concrete.
 

In addition, Khanpur Dam, Hub Dam, Simly Dam, Chashma Barrage, Taunsa Barrage, Taunsa Barrage and many link canals were constructed by Wapda Pakistan.

In order to further develop the water and power resources of Pakistan, Wapda intends to build a number of new dams, hydroelectric plants and thermal power stations in the near future. Presently underway are investigations and testing to finalize and design of the Diamer Basha and the Ghazi Brotha Hydro Power Project. Further, geotechnical testing is scheduled to begin soon for projects like the Bunji, Kalam, Neelum, Kohala, Dasu, Thakot and Pattan hydropower projects.
 

During the nineteen sixties and seventies, a few local laboratories at major project sites were set up for testing construction materials and for providing design parameters. However, each project could not afford all the costly and sophisticated equipment required for successful testing and design. Special tests were therefore performed in foreign laboratories. After the completion of these projects, the expertise generated in these local laboratories was often lost. further, these project laboratories, generally located in remote areas, gradually became unproductive for want of trained people spare parts and proper maintenance.

The need to establish CMTL as a permanent institution to provide for geotechnical investigations and for testing of material such as rock, soil, cement, concrete, asphalt, and water became imperative in response to the demands, of Pakistan's existing and planned development works.

The Government of Pakistan, through Wapda, decided in September 1986 to establish CMTL in Lahore as a joint venture with the United Nations Development Program, UNDP allocated a grant of US $ 4.3 million for the purchase of laboratory equipment, for the training of engineers and technicians abroad and for consultants assistance in various fields of expertise under UNDP project Pak/87/006. Wapda has contributed Rs.28.6 million for construction of buildings and for laboratory staffing.

The CMTL will enables Pakistani engineers to perform large scale tests and dynamic tests, establish Pakistan testing standards, and carry out research projects in Pakistan. Hence CMTL is a facility designed to support Pakistan's past, current and future development works. It is worth mentioning that CMTL  is the only laboratory in Pakistan which provides state of the art testing facilities at commercial level including the Dilatometer Test, SPT Calibration, Cone Penetration Test, Resonant Column Test, Cyclic Triaxial Test, Plate Load Test (100 Tons) and In situ shear Test.

CMTL operates under the administrative control of General Manager (Technical Services) and is headed by Project Director with staff Strength of 74 persons. The staff consists of experienced engineers, and scientific officers to carry out laboratory and field testing.

CMTL is situated adjacent to the Wapda Employee Phase-II Cooperative Housing Society, near the village of Muhammad Pura, about 1.5 Kms. Off Raiwind Road, in Lahore Pakistan. It is approximately 25 KMs. South west of Wapda House, located in downtown Lahore.
 

CMTL has 75 canals of land and is housed in its own building complex. having five blocks covering 46,000 sq. ft. In addition there will be a two story administration building, a library and a conference hall with a total area of about 18,000 sq. ft.

The following activiites are currently in progress.

• Plate load tests with Bore Hole Extensometer are in progress at Adit-4 of Diamer Basha Dam Project. A total of 16 No tests had been planned for this Adit No. 4&5 out of which 4 No. tests have been completed. 

• Upghradation of CMTL is underway for soil, rock Mechanics and Roller Compacted Concrete Sections. New equipment is being procured for Rock Mechanics section for concrete Sections. New equipment is being procured for Rock Mechanics section for newly inducted Hydro-fracture tests and dilatometer tests for rocks.

• RCC specialist Dr. Ernest Schrader has been Engaged by Wapda for upgradation of Roller Compacted Concrete Section of CMTL for special Tests of RCC. Infrastructure in this regard and new equipment are being arranged under WCAP-B3 Component.

• In-House testing in the following areas for project, such as Bunji Hydropower Project, Neelum Jhelum Hydroelectric Project and other project:
   

  • Concrete (Reinforced Cement Concrete Mixes, Roller Compacted Concrete Mix, Steel Testing etc.).
  • Soil Mechanics (Triaxial Tests, Consolidation Tests, Direct Shear Test, Compaction tests etc.).
  • Rock Mechanics (Hoek Triaxial Test, Big Direct Shear Test, UCS etc.).
  • Chemical & Environmental (Water Quality and Environmental Tests.

PROMINENT PROJECTS ON WHICH CMTL CARRIED OUT INVESTIGATION/TESTING DURING 2010-2011

 NAME OF PROJECTS

• 20 Bed Hospital, HESCO
• 50 Bes Shaheed Benazir Hospital Larkana.
• Soil Investigation work for Sunny view Complex.
• Resistively Survey for 10 No. Tube well Sites in Kasur.
• Refraction Survey for Dam Site in Chitral.
• SSI Work of 132KV  Grid Station , Garhi Yasin.
• SSI Work of 132KV Grid Station, Chundko.
• SSI Work of 132KV Grid Station , Jamrud.
• SSI Work of 132KV Grid Station, Dera Murad Jamali.
• SSI Work of 132KV Grid Station Chianwali.
• SSI Work of 132KV Grid Station, Jandiala
• SSI Work of 132KV Grid Station, Gellaywal.
• SSI Work of 132KV Grid Station, Risalpur.
• SSI Work of 132KV Grid Station, Trambri.
• SSI Work of 132 KV Grid Station, Shahlimar, Lahore.
• SSI Work of 132 KV Grid Station, Momanpura, Lahore.
• SSI Work of 220/132 KV Grid Station, Toba Take Sing.
• SSI Work of 220/132 KV Grid Station, Okara.
• SSI Work of 132 KV Grid Station, Fetha Shah Faisalabad.
• SSI Wrok of 132 KV Grid Station, Kot Shakir, Faisalabad.
• SSI Work of Interconnection for Orient Power House, Baloki.
• SSI Work of 220KV T/L IN & Out Ghazi Road, Lahore.
• SSI Work of 220 KV T/L Lahore.