Fundamentals of CONE PENETROMETER TEST (CPT) SOUNDINGS

J. Dav d Ro!e"s# P$.D.# P.E.# R.G.

Cone Penet"at on Test

CPT sound n!s %an &e ve"' effe%t ve n s te %$a"a%te" (at on# es)e% all' s tes * t$ d s%"ete st"at !"a)$ % $o" (ons o" d s%ont nuous lenses. Toda# most of t$e %omme"% all'+ava la&le CPT " !s o)e"ate ele%t"on % f" %t on %one and ) e(o%one )enet"omete"s# *$ose test n! )"o%edu"es a"e outl ned n ,STM D+-../# ado)ted n 011-.

 ,STM ado)ted t$e CPT )"o%edu"e as test D+2330 n 01.3. It s a valua&le met$od of assess n! su&su"fa%e st"at !"a)$' asso% ated * t$ soft mate" als# d s%ont nuous lenses# o"!an % mate" als ()eat)# )otent all' l 4uef a&le mate" als (s lt# sands and !"anule !"avel)# and landsl des.

S$a)e of Cone T ) and "ate of advan%e

T$e standa"d (ed %one+ )enet"omete" test (CPT) nvolves )us$ n! a 0.30+ n%$ d amete" --o to 56o %one t$"ou!$ t$e unde"l' n! !"ound at a "ate of 1 to 2 cm/sec.

Sleeve vs T ) "es stan%e

T$ese dev %es )"odu%e a %om)ute" (ed lo! of t ) and sleeve "es stan%e# t$e "at o &et*een t$e t*o# ndu%ed )o"e )"essu"e 7ust &e$ nd t$e %one t )# )o"e )"essu"e "at o (change in pore pressure divided by measured pressure) and l t$olo! % nte")"etat on of ea%$ 8 %m nte"val a"e %ont nuousl' lo!!ed and %an usuall' &e )" nted ons te

 CPT " !s usuall' em)lo' 0 m lon! "ods. T$e' %an usuall' )enet"ate no"mall' %onsol dated so ls and %olluv um# &ut $ave also &een em)lo'ed to %$a"a%te" (e *eat$e"ed 9uate"na"' and Te"t a"'+ a!e st"ata. Cemented o" un*eat$e"ed $o" (ons# su%$ as sandstone# %on!lome"ate o" mass ve vol%an % "o%: %an m)ede advan%ement of t$e )"o&e

 T$e %one s a&le to del neate even t$e smallest (6.53 mm;0;3+ n%$ t$ %:) lo* st"en!t$ $o" (ons# eas l' m ssed n most %onvent onal su&su"fa%e sam)l n! )"o!"ams.

T ) Res stan%e
T$e tip resistance s measu"ed &' load %ells lo%ated 7ust &e$ nd t$e ta)e"ed %one. T$e t ) "es stan%e s t$eo"et %all' "elated to und"a ned s$ea" st"en!t$ of a satu"ated %o$es ve mate" al# *$ le t$e sleeve f" %t on s t$eo"et %all' "elated to t$e f" %t on of t$e $o" (on &e n! )enet"ated. T$e ta)e"ed %one $ead fo"%es fa lu"e of t$e so l a&out 0- n%$es a$ead of t$e t ) and t$e "es stan%e s measu"ed * t$ an em&edded load %ell n tons;ft8 (tsf).

 T$e t ) of t$e %one )enet"omete" senses out a$ead of tself as t ndu%es a lo%al &ea" n! fa lu"e of t$e so l t )asses t$"ou!$. T$e t ) "es stan%e "e%o"ded &' t$e nst"ument s an ave"a!e a%"oss t$ s t ) nfluen%e (one. T$e"efo"e# %aut on s$ould &e e<e"% sed *$en evaluat n! ns tu st"en!t$ )a"amete"s fo" $o" (ons less t$an a&out / n%$es (86 %m) t$ %:

=o%al o" Sleeve F" %t on

T$e local friction s measu"ed &' tens on load %ells em&edded n t$e sleeve fo" a d stan%e of 3 n%$es &e$ nd t$e t ). T$e' measu"e t$e ave"a!e s: n f" %t on as t$e )"o&e s advan%ed t$"ou!$ t$e so l. If %o$es ve so ls a"e )a"t all' satu"ated# t$e' ma' e<e"t a))"e% a&le s: n f" %t on# ne!at n! t$e nte")"et ve )"o!"am.

F" %t on Rat o# F"

T$e friction ratio s ! ven n )e"%ent. It s t$e "at o of s: n f" %t on d v ded &' t$e t ) "es stan%e (&ot$ n tsf). It s used to %lass f' t$e so l# &' ts &e$av o"# o" "ea%t on to t$e %one &e n! fo"%ed t$"ou!$ t$e so l. > !$ "at os !ene"all' nd %ate %la'e' mate" als ($ !$ %# lo* ?) *$ le lo*e" "at os a"e t') %al of sand' mate" als (o" d"' des %%ated %la's). T') %al s: n f" %t on to t ) f" %t on "at os a"e 0@ to 06@. T$e "at o seldom# f eve"# e<%eeds 0to 86@. Sands a"e !ene"all' dent f ed &' e<$ & t n! a "at o A 0@. T$e e<%e)t on s &u" ed *ood# *$ %$ %an "esult n F" values mu%$ !"eate" t$an 86 (and a"e not nte")"eted).

Po"e P"essu"e
P e(o%ones also measu"e insitu pore pressure ( n )s )# n e t$e" d'nam % (*$ le advan% n! t$e %one) o" stat % ($old n! t$e %one stat ona"') modes. P e(o%ones em)lo' a )o"ous )last % nse"t 7ust &e$ nd t$e ta)e"ed $ead t$at s made of $'d"o)$ l % )ol')"o)'lene# * t$ a nom nal )a"t %le s (e of 086 m %"ons. T$e ) e(o%ell must &e satu"ated * t$ !l'%e" n )" o" to ts em)lo'ment. T$e f lte" )e"mea& l t' s a&out 6.60 %m;se% (0 < 06+8 %m;se%). B$en us n! t$e %one to )enet"ate dense la'e"s# su%$ as %emented s ltstone# sandstone o" %on!lome"ate# the piezo filter element can become compressed, thereby inducing high positive pore pressures. Cut# t$e )last % f lte"s do not e<$ & t t$ s tenden%'# t$ou!$ t$e' do &e%ome &" ttle * t$ t me and ma' need to &e "e)la%ed )e" od %all'. In stiff over-consolidated clays t$e )o"e )"essu"e !"ad ent a"ound t$e %one ma' &e 4u te $ !$. T$ s )o"e )"essu"e !"ad ent often "esults n d ss )at ons "e%o"ded &e$ nd t$e CPT t ) t$at n t all' n%"ease &efo"e de%"eas n! to t$e e4u l &" um value.

D ffe"ent al Po"e P"essu"e

T$e Differential Pore Pressure Ratio s used to a d n so l %lass f %at on a%%o"d n! to t$e Un f ed So l Class f %at on S'stem (USCS). B$en t$e %one )enet"ates dense mate" als l :e sand# t$e sand d lates and t$e )o"e )"essu"e d"o)s. In %la'e' mate" als $ !$ )o"e )"essu"es ma' &e ndu%ed &' t$e d" v n! of t$e %one $ead. If t"ans ent )o"e )"essu"es a"e &e n! "e%o"ded t$at seem non+$'d"ostat %# most e<)e" en%ed o)e"ato"s * ll as: t$at t$e )enet"at on &e $alted and allo*ed at least f ve m nutes to e uilibrate# so a 4uas +stat % )o"e )"essu"e "ead n! %an &e "e%o"ded (t$ s %an ta:e 06 to 26 m nutes). In )"a%t %e# e<)e" en%ed o)e"ato"s t"' to sto) t$e advan%e and ta:e )o"e )"essu"e measu"ements n "e%o!n (ed a4u fe"s and 7ust a&ove o" ad7a%ent to nd %ated a4ua%ludes.

Tem)e"atu"e senso"
, s !n f %ant advanta!e of t$e ele%t" % %one s t$e temperature sensor. T$ s $as &een found to &e ve"' useful n assess n! t$e )"e% se )os t on of t$e (one# o" (ones# of satu"at on# *$ %$ s of !"eat m)o"t n slo)e sta& l t' and %onsol dat on stud es. , tem)e"atu"e s$ ft of a&out 5o F s %ommon at t$e !"ound*ate" nte"fa%e# even )e"%$ed $o" (ons * t$ n landsl des.

CPT lo! t$"u a %om)le< &ed"o%: landsl de Note )o"e )"essu"e )ulses a&ove t$e sl ) su"fa%es T$e tip resistance values a"e mu%$ $ !$e" t$an t$e mo& l (ed s$ea" st"en!t$ &e%ause t$ese lo* st"en!t$ $o" (ons a"e 7ust a fe* n%$es t$ %:

Co""e%ted# o" DInte")"etedE =o!s

Most CPT " !s a"e e4u ))ed * t$ one o" seve"al automated nte")"etat on )"o!"ams# *$ %$ %lass f' 0 %m $o" (ons a%%o"d n! to t$e Un f ed So l Class f %at on S'stem. T$e most * del' em)lo'ed "out ne $as &een t$at develo)ed &' Ro& nson and Cam)anella (01/5)# ava la&le f"om >o!ento!le" F Co.# o" f"om t$e Natu"al S% en%es and En! nee" n! Resea"%$ Coun% l of Canada. T$e nte")"etat on )"o!"ams evaluate all of t$e measu"ed )"o)e"t es and %lass f' t$e $o" (on a%%o"d n! to ts &e$av o" ( n l eu of )et"olo!'). Fo" nstan%e# *$en %lass f' n! a %la'e' mate" al# t$e nte")"et ve )"o!"ams %ons de" und"a ned s$ea" st"en!t$# t ) "es stan%e and d ffe"ent al )o"e )"essu"e. , $ !$ d ffe"ent al )o"e )"essu"e s assumed d a!nost % of mo"e %la'e' mate" als.

OlsenEs C$a"t
, mo"e "ef ned CPT %lass f %at on %$a"t *as develo)ed &' Olsen (01//). It $as &een Ro!e"sE e<)e" en%e t$at t$e Olsen %$a"t )"ov des sl !$tl' &ette" "esults t$an t$e olde" %$a"ts t$at )"e%eded t.

SPt to CPT Conve"s on C$a"t

CPT to SPT Conve"s on C$a"t develo)ed &' Olsen (01//). Useful *$en attem)t n! to %o""elate &et*een CPT and olde" SPT data

C$a"t "elat n! Im)a%ts of ,!e# %onsol dat on# and ndu"at on

No"mal (ed Cone Penet"omete" test (CPT) so l &e$av o" %$a"t )"o)osed &' Ro& nson (0116). Im)o"tant to %ons de" t$ s *$en evaluat n! ove"%onsol dated s$ales o" sens t ve %la' mate" als

 Convent onal CPT " !s a"e mounted on d esel t"u%: f"ames# *e !$ n! a&out 2-#666 l&s. T$e ent "e *e !$t of t$e " ! s su))o"ted on $'d"aul % "ams to n%"ease t$e no"mal "ea%t on fo"%e )us$ n! t$e %one do*n*a"d.

M n CPT P"o&e
!eoProbe manufa%tu"es m n CPT " !s# on small t"a%:ed ve$ %les# vans# o" ) %:+u) t"u%:s Note t$e !"ound s%"e* an%$o"s# used to n%"ease no"mal fo"%e fo" )us$ n! t$e %one do*n nto t$e !"ound Ge"' useful fo" l m ted a%%ess a))l %at ons# su%$ as m d+slo)e &en%$es

 CPT " ! mounted on an a "&oat fo" use n s$allo* *ate" and ma"s$es alon! t$e Gulf Coast. Float n! " !s must &e an%$o"ed se%u"el' to sta& l (e t$e )latfo"m.

T') %al CPT summa"' lo!s

T') %al Geolo! % P"of le de" ved f"om CPT sound n!s

 CPT lo!s a"e e<t"emel' valua&le fo" %onst"u%t n! stratigraphic correlations# su%$ as t$e 0.t$ St"eet Canal fa lu"e n ne* O"leans n 866-# s$o*n $e"e.

St"en!t$l nes em)lo'ed fo" des !n

 T$e CPT lo! %an d s%e"n sl !$t va" an%es n dens t'# st ffness# and s$ea" st"en!t$# as s$o*n &' t$ese %om)a%ted f ll l fts

 Com)a" sons of %one )enet"omete" sound n!s n e<)ans ve s lt' %la' of an en! nee"ed f ll em&an:ment ta:en seven 'ea"s a)a"t. Note $o* t$e n t al effe%ts of %om)a%t on l fts *e"e e"ased &' mo stu"e a&so")t on# des %%at on and s*ell.

Notes of Caut on + 0
Some notes of %aut on a"e adv sed *$en a))l' n! t$e CPT met$od to evaluat n! d s%"ete lo*+st"en!t$ $o" (ons o" )a"t n!s# su%$ as landsl de sl ) su"fa%es.H T$e 56o t ) of t$e %one fo"%es a )ass ve fa lu"e of t$e !"ound n f"ont of t$e advan% n! t ). T$e nst"umented t ) senses so l "es stan%e a&out 80%m (/.3 n) a$ead of t$e advan% n! t ). T$ s means t$at t$e t ) "es stan%e "e)o"ted as Iundrained shear strengthJ s a%tuall' an average value# ta:en ove" t$e (one * t$ n 80 %m of t$e %one t ). If t$e t ) )enet"ates lo* st"en!t$ $o" (ons less t$an 80 %m t$ %:# t$e t ) "es stan%e "e)o"ted on t$e CPT lo! ma' not &e a "eal st % assessment.

Notes of Caut on + 8
,not$e" )"o&lem * t$ t$e CPT met$od s t$at %one sound n!s advan%ed t$"ou!$ des %%ated %la' * ll often &e nte")"eted as sand o" s lt m <tu"es (&' t$e %om)ute" (ed l t$olo! % nte")"etat on "out ne) &e%ause of "e%o"ded sleeve f" %t on. T$e o))os te )"o&lem o%%u"s *$en "e)o"t n! "tandard Penetration #est $"P#% &lo* %ounts afte" advan% n! d" ve sam)les t$"ou!$ %la'e' $o" (onsK T$e SPT test s &est su ted fo" !"anula" mate" als# and &lo* %ounts n )a"t all' satu"ated %o$es ve mate" als must &e "e!a"ded * t$ some de!"ee of s:e)t % sm as t$e' ma' s$ ft d"amat %all' u)on late" a&so")t on of mo stu"e.

CONC=USIONS + 0
&ngineering geologists a"e most often ent"usted * t$ %$a"a%te" ( n! d ff %ult s tes fo" su&se4uent anal's s &' geotechnical engineers. Ou" a& l t' to develo) t$e most effe%t ve )"o!"am of e<)lo"at on# sam)l n! and test n! s &u lt u)on ea%$ )e"sonEs un 4ue )ed !"ee of e<)e" en%e. T$e most effe%t ve means of %$a"a%te" ( n! %om)le< s tes n%ludes a t$o"ou!$ &a%:!"ound *o":+u) on t$e a"ea unde" nvest !at on# follo*ed &' a *ell+%on%e ved )"o!"am of su&su"fa%e e<)lo"at on t$at %ommonl' n%ludes small d amete" &o" n!s. Cone )enet"omete" sound n!s a"e &e n! em)lo'ed * t$ n%"eas n! "e!ula" t'# es)e% all' n evaluat on of so l l 4uefa%t on )otent al. En! nee" n! !eolo! sts s$ould %ons de" em)lo' n! &ot$ te%$n 4ues *$eneve" )oss &le# &e%ause ea%$ $as sl !$t advanta!es ove" t$e ot$e"# &ut a"e most )o*e"ful *$en %om& ned on t$e same s tes. T$e SPT test allo*s a f "st+$and loo: at su&su"fa%e mate" als *$ %$ t$e CPT does not# and %an )"ov de %"u% al Iground truthingJ as to t$e t')e of su&su"fa%e mate" al# es)e% all'# %o$ens onless mate" als * t$ f nes.

CONC=USIONS + 8
T$e CPT )"o%edu"e s %a)a&le of dete%t n! discrete horizons t$at *ould no"mall' &e m ssed us n! d" ve sam)les at s)e% f % de)t$ nte"vals. Cut# t$e a&solute values of t ) "es stan%e s: n (lo%al) f" %t on and )o"e )"essu"e !a"ne"ed n CPT sound n!s must &e evaluated * t$ a !"eat de!"ee of 7ud!ment# &e%ause t$e' %an &e mu%$ $ !$e" t$an a%tuall' e< sts# ns tu. S tes unde"la n &' natu"al !eolo! % st"u%tu"es s$ould not &e a))"oa%$ed l :e a foundat on nvest !at on# ta: n! su&su"fa%e sam)les at f <ed nte"valsL t$e' must &e atta%:ed nd v duall'# * t$ a fo%used )"o!"am of e<)lo"at on t$at em)lo's a "eal st % *o": n! model of t$e s teEs evolut on# fo%used on val dat n! t$e assum)t ons used to %onst"u%t su%$ models. T$e !"eatest dan!e" *e fa%e as a )"ofess on s t$e n$e"ent tenden%' to ma:e t$e s te e<)lo"at on f t ou" pre-conceived notions of s te %ond t ons# t$en em)lo' nsuff % ent e<)lo"at on to %onf "m o" den' su%$ assum)t ons.