4.

5 RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommended VS–SPT correlation equations are presented in Table 4.11 for All Soils, clays and
silts, sands, and gravels. For use in the recommended equations, field N-values should be
corrected for variations from the standard, such as non-standard sampler type, borehole diameter,
rod length, and normalized to the reference energy ratio of 60%. As discussed in Chapters 3 and
4, it is not appropriate to normalize penetration resistance for overburden stress for use with
these equations.
The recommended equations may be considered valid for N60-values of up to
approximately 100 bpf. Limiting blow counts to 100 bpf is consistent with the data that was used
to formulate most of the original equations and with BSSC guidelines for site classification,
which limits N-values to 100 bpf for any given layer of the soil profile [BSSC 2003]. The
recommended equations were developed for Quaternary soils and are appropriate for use if the
thicknesses of Holocene and Pleistocene soils are not known. If the age of the soil is known,
ASFs may improve the accuracy of correlation equations. The ASFs are presented in Columns 3
and 4 of Table 4.11.
Site-specific correlations between VS and SPT N-values may be developed by either
adjusting the coefficients and exponents for the equations presented in Table 4.11 to match site-
specific data, or if sufficient VS and SPT data is available, site-specific correlation equations can
be developed based on the regression procedure presented in Section 4.4.

Table 4.11 Recommended SPT–stress–VS correlation equations.

σ'v measured in kPa

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5 Cone Penetration Test Correlations

The CPT involves advancing an instrumented cone penetrometer into the ground and measuring
the cone tip resistance (qc) and sleeve friction (fs) at selected intervals (typically 1 to 5 cm). The
three most common commercially available CPT systems used for geotechnical site investigation
are the conventional CPT, the Piezo-CPT (CPTu), and the Seismic CPT (SCPT or SCPTu).
The piezocone or CPTu incorporates a pore pressure transducer to measure the dynamic
pore water pressure. The pore water pressure transducer is typically located behind the cone tip
in the “u2” position, as shown in Figure 5.1.

Figure 5.1 CPTu schematic [Mayne 2007].

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 The CPTu allows for correction of the tip resistance due to pore pressures acting on
unequal areas of the cone. The corrected tip resistance or the total tip resistance (qt) can be
calculated by Equation (5.1):

qt = qc + (1-an) · u2 ( 5.1)

where qc is the measured tip resistance and an is the net area ratio. The net area ratio is a property
of the cone, which is determined by calibration tests, and can be obtained from the CPT
contractor. Typical values of an range from 0.5 to 1.0 [Lunne et al. 1986].
The SCPT or SCPTu is performed in the same manner as the CPT or CPTu with the
addition of a geophone or accelerometer located in the CPT tip. Measurement of VS is performed
at selected intervals (typically 1 to 2 m) by striking a steel or wood beam pressed firmly against
the ground. The VS is calculated based on the difference in travel time of the shear wave between
the source and the geophone at two consecutive depth positions.

5.1 SOIL BEHAVIOR TYPE

The CPT does not retrieve actual soil samples for classification. Soil classification estimation is
typically based in interpreted Soil Behavior Type (SBT). Figure 5.2 presents the normalized
classification system proposed by Robertson (1990), which consists of nine SBTs. The
Robertson (1990) classification system is based on the normalized tip resistance (Q) and
normalized friction ratio (F). Q is calculated by Equation (5.2):

Q = [(qt – σv)/pa] · [pa/σ’v]n (5.2)

where σv and σ’v are the total and effective stress, and pa is atmospheric pressure in the same
units as qc and σv. The exponent “n” varies from 0.5 for clays to 1.0 for sands [Olsen 1997;
Robertson and Wride 1998]. An iterative method for determination of the exponent n is given in
Youd et al. (2001). Robertson (2009) proposed a continuous function for n based on the SBT
index (IC), which is defined in Equation (5.3) below:

n = 0.381 (IC) + 0.05 (σ’v /pa) – 0.15 (5.3)

The normalized friction ratio, F, is defined as:

F = [fs / (qt – σv)] · 100% (5.4)

Jefferies and Davies (1993) proposed IC to aid in classification of SBT. IC is essentially the
radius of concentric circles that define the boundaries on the Q-F chart. Robertson and Wride
(1998) modified the definition of IC to apply to the Robertson (1990) Q-F chart:

IC = [(3.47 – log Q)2 + (log F + 1.22)2]0.5 (5.5)

The relationship between IC and SBT developed by Robertson and Wride is presented in Table
5.1.

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Figure 5.2 SBT chart [Robertson 1990].

Table 5.1 CPT soil behavior types.

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5.2 PREVIOUS STUDIES

Various researchers have studied relationships between CPT resistance and VS. Table 5.2
summarizes the pertinent details of the previous studies, including: location, number of sites,
geologic age, depositional environment, and method of VS measurement. The studies explored
correlation relationships between VS and various parameters, including: CPT tip (qc), fs, IC,
effective stress (σ’v), depth (D), and the in situ void ratio (e).
Published CPT–VS correlation equations were generally developed for specific soils
types (i.e., “Sand” or “Clay”) or grouped together as All Soils. Correlation equations that were
reviewed for this study are listed in Table 5.3.

5.2.1 Sykora and Stokoe [1983]

Sykora and Stoke [1983] developed a relationship between qc and VS based on 256 data points
from 9 sites. The VS was measured using cross-hole logging. The dataset included tip resistances
ranging from approximately 1 to 70 MPa (10 to 730 tsf) and VS ranging from approximately 120
to 500 m/sec. A plot of Sykora and Stoke’s data and best-fit relationship are shown in Figure 5.3
with VS in ft/sec and qc in kg/cm2. Sykora and Stokoe found a linear relationship between qc and
VS, as opposed to nonlinear relationships proposed by other researchers for CPT and SPT
resistance values [Sykora 1987].

Table 5.2 Studies between the Cone Penetration Test and VS.

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