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Cone Penetration Test CPT

The Cone Penetration Test (CPT) involves pushing a cone-tipped rod into the ground to obtain subsurface data. As the cone penetrates at a constant rate, sensors measure tip resistance, sleeve friction, and pore water pressure to provide detailed soil stratigraphy. CPT rigs use hydraulics to push the cone while recording various parameters to characterize soil type, strength, and density with depth.

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Kenneth Onwuegbuchu
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161 views3 pages

Cone Penetration Test CPT

The Cone Penetration Test (CPT) involves pushing a cone-tipped rod into the ground to obtain subsurface data. As the cone penetrates at a constant rate, sensors measure tip resistance, sleeve friction, and pore water pressure to provide detailed soil stratigraphy. CPT rigs use hydraulics to push the cone while recording various parameters to characterize soil type, strength, and density with depth.

Uploaded by

Kenneth Onwuegbuchu
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cone Penetration Test (CPT) http://cee.engr.ucdavis.edu/faculty/boulanger/geo_photo_album/Site ch...

Cone Penetration Test (CPT)


The CPT test has become one of the most common and economical methods of
subsurface exploration. The cone penetrometer is pushed into the ground at a
standard velocity of 2 cm/s and data is recorded at regular intervals (typically 2 or 5
cm) during penetration. The results provide excellent stratigraphic detail and
repeatability provided proper care has been taken in calibration of the equipment
(transducers and electronics). The cone penetrometer is instrumented to record a
number of different parameters, with the most common being the force of the tip, the
force of the sleeve, and the pore pressure behind the tip. Cone penetrometers have
also been used to provide or measure electrical properties, shear wave velocities,
visual images of the soil, acoustic emissions, temperature, and water samples.

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Cone Penetration Test (CPT) http://cee.engr.ucdavis.edu/faculty/boulanger/geo_photo_album/Site ch...

This is a relatively small CPT testing rig. If the


truck weight is insufficient to push the cone to
the desired depth, the truck has anchors that
can be screwed into the ground to increase its
reaction force. A hydraulic ram (center of
truck's flatbed) is used to push the 1.4-cm
diameter cone into the ground beneath the
center of the truck.

The conical cone tip has been unscrewed from


the lead rod. This tip is equipped for pore
pressure measurements behind the tip.

Both the friction sleeve and conical tip have


been removed from the lead rod. This rod
contains instrumentation that measures tip
force, sleeve friction force, pore pressures
behind the tip, rod inclination and accelerations
(for shear wave velocity measurements).

CPT penetrating the ground beneath the truck.

Close-up of the hydraulic ram used to push the


cone. A 1- meter section is about to be added to
the top of a previous rod. The ram will then be
raised, grab the new rod and push it down at 2
cm/s. Note that the electronic cable is
pre-threaded through the insides of the rods.

A computer screen shows the data acquisition


results while advancing the cone.

This larger CPT rig has an enclosed cabin. The


pop-up section on the cabin roof provides room
for the hydraulic ram to operate. The assistant is
about to strike a base plate with a sledge
hammer. The hammer impact triggers a high
speed data acquisition system which records the
resulting accelerations at the hammer and the
cone tip. Shear wave velocities versus depth are
calculated using the recordings obtained with

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Cone Penetration Test (CPT) http://cee.engr.ucdavis.edu/faculty/boulanger/geo_photo_album/Site ch...

the cone tip at different depths (typically


1-meter intervals).

A completed hole is being grouted with a


bentonite-cement slurry in accordance with
local regulations. The instrumented cone had
been fully withdrawn and a separate set of rods
were re-inserted to the bottom of the hole. The
rods are withdrawn as grout is poured into the
top. This procedure ensures that the grout fills
the entire hole, avoiding any potential blockage
of the hole by caving soil.

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