GEO-CHAT Session 6

The Cone Penetration Test

Cone Penetration Testing (CPT)
What we will cover:
Basics of the cone penetrometer
Role of cone penetration testing
Advantages of CPT
Safety
Cone penetrometer sizes
CPT sensors
CPT Interpretation
WHAT DO YOU NOTICE?
Simplified version of the CPT
Basic Cone Parameters CPTU
(CPT with pore pressure
measurement)
Cone system is capable of recording the
following parameters at varying depth
intervals:

Tip resistance
Sleeve friction
Dynamic pore pressure
Temperature
Cone inclination

At the start of a sounding a set of

baseline readings are taken to determine
temperature shifts and zero load offsets
 Resistivity CPT RCPTU
(CPTU with soil resistivity
measurement)
Combines a traditional piezo cone with a
resistivity module.

Principle:
Measured voltage drops across the
electrodes in the soil at a given
excitation current

Therefore the soil resistance is

measured and then converted to soil
resistivity.

Calibration of this system can be done in

a tank with solutions of known resistivity
 Seismic CPT SCPTU
(CPTU with seismic wave velocity
measurement)
Combines a traditional piezo
cone with seismic wave
velocity measurements.
The geophone is located
approximately 0.2 m above
the cone tip.

Principle:
Time required for wave to
reach the cone is measured

Before each test, the rods are

de-coupled from the rig to
avoid transmission of energy
down the rods.
Pore Pressure Dissipation Testing
PPD
Done using convention
piezocone apparatus

The pore pressure measured

with time

Measured at u2 location

Useful for:

1. Obtaining the equilibrium pore

pressure
2. Depth of phreatic surface
3. In situ horizontal coefficient of
consolidation
4. In situ horizontal coefficient of
permeability
Role of CPT
Determine subsurface stratigraphy and
identify materials present

Estimate soil parameters

Provide results for direct geotechnical design

Soil profiling may need to be supplemented

by sampling, other in-situ or laboratory tests
Advantages of the CPT

Advantage over traditional combination of

boring, sampling and other testing:

1. Fast (1.2 m/min?)

2. Continuous or near continuous data
3. Repeatable and reliable
4. Portable
5. Costs savings
Disadvantages?
 Safety
Improved safety using push-in methods
1. No hammer or rotating parts
2. Similar safety precautions compared to
direct push equipment (pinch points,
clamps)

No cuttings for disposal

Lower visibility and public exposure with
enclosed trucks
CPT Sizes
Tip area = 2 cm2
Tip area = 10 cm2 ASTM Standard,
sleeve area = 150 cm2 1000 bar capacity

Tip Area = 15 cm2 ASTM Standard,

sleeve area = 225 cm2 1500 bar capacity

40 cm2
CPT Sensors
Pore pressure
Inclination
Seismic
Vision
Geo-environmental (pH, electrical,
fluorescence
CPT Interpretation
Soil type (soil behaviour type SBT)
In-situ soil state (Relative density, OCR)
Strength (Peak friction angle, undrained shear
strength)

Stiffness/compressibility
Consolidation/Permeability