Abstract: A resonant column device configured to perform a resonant column test on a specimen and measure an angular deformation of the specimen. The resonant column device has a housing mounted on a base, a specimen container within the housing, a cell wall surrounding the specimen container, a load frame within the housing with a support bar above the specimen container, a torque motor suspended from the support bar with a plurality of springs, and a laser deformation sensor within the housing outside of the specimen container. The specimen container is configured to hold the specimen during testing. The cell wall is configured to fluidly isolate the specimen container from an interior volume of the housing. The torque motor is configured to apply a torsional harmonic load to the specimen, and the laser deformation sensor is configured to measure an angular deformation of the specimen.