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Cone Penetration Test

This document provides an overview of geotechnical site characterization using cone penetration testing (CPT). It describes the CPT process, including the use of electronic probes to continuously measure soil properties with depth. It discusses corrections that can be made to CPT data and compares CPT results to standard penetration test (SPT) data. The document also introduces seismic piezocone testing, which can additionally measure downhole shear wave velocity. Finally, it presents a soil behavioral classification chart and examples of CPT profiles with interpreted soil types.

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148 views19 pages

Cone Penetration Test

This document provides an overview of geotechnical site characterization using cone penetration testing (CPT). It describes the CPT process, including the use of electronic probes to continuously measure soil properties with depth. It discusses corrections that can be made to CPT data and compares CPT results to standard penetration test (SPT) data. The document also introduces seismic piezocone testing, which can additionally measure downhole shear wave velocity. Finally, it presents a soil behavioral classification chart and examples of CPT profiles with interpreted soil types.

Uploaded by

lamyuwang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Geotechnical Site Characterization by

Cone Penetration Testing


Paul W. Mayne, PhD, P.E.
Professor, Geosystems
Civil & Environmental
Engineering

Mid-America
Earthquake Center

FHWA

Anvil

63.5-kg Drop
Hammer
Repeatedly
Falling 0.76 m

Standard Penetration Test

Rotary-drilled
Borehole

Split-Barrel
(Drive) Sampler:
O.D. = 50 mm
I.D. = 35 mm
L = 760 mm

Standard Penetration Test (SPT)


Procedures: ASTM D 1586
N = measured Number of Blows to
drive sampler 300 mm into soil.

Representative SPT Profile


Downtown Memphis
SPT-N (bpf)
0

20

40

60

Soil Profile
80

100

Depth (meters)

4
8
12
16
20

1982 B1

Fill

1982-B3

Silty Sand

1982-B5
Sandy
Silt
Gravelly
Sand
Desiccated
OC Clay

24

Clayey
Sand

28

OC Clay
Gravelly Sand

Corrections to SPT N-value

Effect
Overburden
Stress

Term

vo'

CN

Value

(Pa/ vo')0.5 but < 2

Energy
Ratio1

Safety Hammer

CE

0.6 to 0.85
0.3 to 0.6
0.85 to 1.0

Borehole
Diameter

65 to 115 mm

CB

Sampling
Method

Standard sampler

CS

1.00
1.05
1.15
1.0
1.1 to 1.3

Donut Hammer
Automatic Hammer
150 mm
200 mm

Particle
Size

Sampler without
liner
10 m to 30 m

6 to 10 m

4 to 6 m

3 to 4 m
Median Grain Size (D50) of
Sand in mm

Aging

Time (t) in years since


deposition

Rod
Length

Overconsolidation

Variable

OCR

Obtain by energy measurement per ASTM D4633

CR

1.0
0.95
0.85
0.75

CP

60 + 25 log D50

CA

1.2 + 0.05 log


(t/100)

COCR

OCR0.2

Corrections to SPT N-value

Nmeasured = Raw SPT Resistance (ASTM D 1586).

N60 = (ER/60) Nmeasured = Energy-Corrected N Value

where ER = energy ratio (ASTM D 4633). Note: 30% <


ER < 100% with average ER = 60% in the U.S.

N60

CE CB CS CR Nmeas = Estimated corrected N

(N1)60 = CN N60 = Energy-Corrected SPT Value

normalized to an effective overburden stress of one


atmosphere: (N1)60 = (N60)/( vo)0.5
with stress given
in atm. (Note: 1 atm = 1 bar = 100 kPa = 1 tsf).

Cone Penetrometers

Electronic Steel Probes with 60 Apex Tip


ASTM D 5778 Procedures
Hydraulic Push at 20 mm/s
No Boring, No Samples, No Cuttings, No Spoil
Continuous readings of stress, friction, pressure

Cone Penetration Tests (CPT)


Cone Trucks

Mobile 25-tonne rigs with


enclosed cabins to allow
testing under all weather
conditions

Corrections to CPT
Tip Stress correction for porewater

pressures on unequal areas Important


in Intact Clays & Silts
Sleeve Friction correction for porewater
pressures Use equal end areas on
friction sleeve
Baseline corrections Obtain before &
after sounding

Anchored Cone Rig


Mud Island, Downtown Memphis, TN
6-tonne Geostar truck
with 20-tonne hydraulic
pushing system
No special license
Twin earth anchors
Has penetrated to
depths over 32+ meters
at sites in SC, AL, MO,
TN, & AL

CPT Profile, Downhole Memphis


qt (MPa)

Depth (m eters)

fs
ub
qt

20

40

u b (kPa)

fs (kPa)
60

500

1000

-200

12

12

12

16

16

16

20

20

20

24

24

24

28

28

28

200 400 600 800

Comparison CPT and SPT


Downtown Memphis
SPT-N (bpf) and qc (MPa)
0

20

40

60

80

0
4

1982 B1
1982-B3

Depth (meters)

8
12
16
20
24
28

1982-B5
CPT-qc (MPa)

100

Seismic Piezocone Test


Obtains Four Independent
Measurements with Depth:

Cone Tip Stress, qt


Penetration Porewater Pressure, u
Sleeve Friction, fs
Arrival Time of Downhole Shear
Wave, ts

Vs
fs
u2
u1

60o

qc

Downhole Shear Wave Velocity

Anchoring System
Automated Source
Polarized Wave
Downhole Vs

Automated Seismic Source


Electronicallyactuated
Self-contained
Left and right
polarization
Modified beam
uses fin to enhance
shear wave
generation
Successfully
tested to depths of
20m
Capable of being
used with traditional

Downhole Shear Waves


Left Strike

0.08
0.06
Amplitude

0.04

Right Strike

0.02
0
-0.02 0

50

100

150

CROSSOVER Method

200
Time (ms)

-0.04
-0.06
-0.08

0.08
0.06

Shear Wave at 8.15 m

Amplitude

0.04
0.02

Shear Wave at 9.20 m

0
-0.02 0

50

100

150

200
Time (ms)

-0.04

CROSSCORRELATION

-0.06
-0.08
500
500
400
400
300
300
200
200
100
100
0
0
-100 -5
-100-200
-200
-200
-300
-300
-400
-400

Maximum crosscorrelation at t = 6.75 ms


Shear wave velocity = 155 m/s
-150

0
-100

-50

10
50

100

15
150

200

20

Time shift
(ms)

Seismic Cone Penetrometer Data


Sounding performed for research

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering


Georgia Institute of Technology

Sod Farm, Charleston, SC

qt (MPa)

Depth (m)

10

fs (kPa)
20

100

200

U2, U0 (kPa)
300

-100

400

900

Vs (m/s)
0

1400

12

12

12

12

16

16

16

16

20

20

20

20

24

24

24

24

28

28

28

28

32

32

32

32

36

36

36

36

400

800

CPT Soil Behavioral Classification

Soil Behavior Type (Robertson et al., 1986; Robertson & Campanella, 1988)
1 Sensitive fine grained
5 Clayey silt to silty clay
9 sand
2 Organic material
6 Sandy silt to silty sand
10 Gravelly sand to sand
3 Clay
7 Silty sand to sandy silt
11 Very stiff fine grained*
4 Silty clay to clay
8 Sand to silty sand
12 Sand to clayey sand*
*Note: Overconsolidated or cemented

Sounding - Shelby County, TN

0
0

qt (MPa)
5 10 15 20 25

Friction Ratio (%)


0123 45678
0

u2 (kPa)

Vs (m/sec)
0
250
500

-500 500 1500 2500

SM
Clayey
SiltSilt

Dense Sand

Depth BGS (m)

Dense Sand

10

10

10

10

15

15

15

15

20

20

20

20

25

25

25

25

Stiff Clay

CPT-Related Websites
The Liquefaction Site (and CPT site):
www.liquefaction.com

Link page to manufacturers, suppliers, and CPT services:


http://www.usucger.org/insitulinks.html

Listing of available videos on CPT and other in-situ tests:


http://www.geoinstitute.org/in-situ.html

The book Cone Penetration Testing in Geotechnical Practice


(Lunne, Robertson, & Powell, 1997):

Review: http://geotech.civen.okstate.edu/magazine/books/
Order:

http://www.routledge-ny.com/

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