Professional Documents
Culture Documents
P. K. ROBERWN
Depanwmrof CMI Engineering, The Universi~ of Alberta, Edmonton. Alto., Chada T6G 2G7
Reaivcd April 3, 1989
Accepted October 13. 1989
Several charts exist for evaluating soil type from &ctric cone penetration test (CpT) data. A new systemis propowd
based on normahzed CPT data. The new chans are based on extensive data available from published and unpublished
experience worldwide. The new charts are evaluated using data from a 300 m deep botehoie with wire-line CFT. Good
agreancnt was obtained betwea~ sampies and the CPT data using the new aormahd chzs. Recommendations an
provided concaning the location at which to measure pore ptesurs during cone pa~etratiot~.
Key nvmk soil chssif&on. cone penetration test, in s&u, case history.
Iicxinepludeursakaqtlapouridmtifiakcype&solenpartamdesdoIlnCad’asais&~ou~ne(~~ CFTlo).
L’onpropose~nouvcaurysrimebasinudesdoanics~nonnalisia-Lesnoo~lbrquasantCrabIisenpanvtt
d’une quantiti impmaw dedon&s provaaa deI’cxp&i~ pubk et non pub&e &travus k mot& Les nouveaux
abaques oat Iti vitifii en u&ant ks don&s obtames dam un forage de 300 m de profoadeur avcc un CPT B able.
Une bonne concordance a Cri obtenue attre ies 6chantilloas et lcs don&es de CPT utikant is nouveaux abaques.
L’on pr&alte des rrcommandationsquantilapodtiondupoiatdcwsurrde~prrssionintardtklle~thpiniarcion
au choe.
Mats ciis : chssifxation du sol, essai de p&tration au c&e, in sine, his~ire de as.
maduit par la revue]
Can.ccoluh.J. 27. ISI- (1993)
IUoodUCtiOll
posedbased on normahd measuranents. A discussion is
One of the primary applications of the cone penetration also presented regard@ the recommended position of
test (CPT) is for stratigraphic
profrIiag.Considerableexpe- measurement of pore presure duringcone penetration.
riaxe exists concerning the ida%ification and chssification
of soil types fromCPTdata.samal soil ciassiEcafion &am
exist for CPT and for cone pen&on testing with pore soil dasifhGoa
pressure mcasuranents (CPTU). Some of the most comprehasive recent work on soil
In this paper the limitations of &sting CPT and CPTU clasificationusing&ctricconepenetromeserdatawaspre-
dasifdon charts are discussed and a new system is pro- sented by Doughs and Olsen (1981). One important distinc-
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CAE;. GEOTECH. J. VOL. 27.1990
. 152
“s AREA = ASt
,FRlCllON
SlEEVt
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.
FIG. 3. Proposedsoil bchaviourtype dassificltion dmrt basai on nonnaked CPT and CPTU dam.
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154
40 U
1 c
-* --
N
-
. l
e
.
.
.
.
w .
- U
.
. .
.
. *- .
.
. -
. -
sum
.
. .
.
. -
.
l
. .-
.
. -
.
. .-
. -
. -
. . .
. .-
. .
.
I. t . .
FIG. 4. Summary of soil profde and geotechniial chraa&Gcs from 300 m deep borchok (after B&ion et uf. 1989).
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q, -0"
II l
5
_ a
‘*
FRlCllON RATlo, - X100% PORE PRESSURE RATIO.6,
*-G
FIG. 5. CPT and CP’IU dam fromthe deep borehok @otted on the proposed aormalizcd soil behaviour type dassification duns.
and 1, are available, the left-hand chart (Fii. 3) can be nomalized parametersthe soil would be clasified as a
used. The error in using uncorrected qc datawillgamalIy slightly overconsoIi&tcd clay (clay to silty day) on the
onlyinfluence the data in the lower part of the chart where nonnaked friction ratio chart and as a silt mixture(clayey
nomaiized cone resimnce is less than about 10. This part silttosikyday)ontheno-porepressure ratio chart.
of the chart is for soft, fine-grained soils where qc can be However, if the rate of pore pressure dissipation during a
smallimducanbelarge. pause in penetration were very slow, this would add con-
Included in the normal&d soil behaviour type dassifica- fidence to the dassification as a clay. If the dissipation were
tiondmtsisazonethat repreSmilpproximatelynormally more rapi& say WI0 dissipation in 2d min (2 I& c fso
consolidated soil behaviour. A guide is also provided to <4min),thesoilismonlikdytobeadayey~.
indicate the variation of normabed CPT and CPTU data Themannerinwhichthedissipationoccurscanaisobe
for changes in (1) overconsolidation ratio (OCR), age, and important. In stiff, overconsolidated clay soils, the pore
sensitivity (SJ for f+-grained soils, where cone penetra- pressurebehindthetipcanbeveryiowandsometimesless
tion is generally mdramed, and (2) OCR, age, cememuion, than the equiliirim pore pressure, rro,whereas on the face
and friction angle (&‘) for cohesionless soils, where cone oftheconctheponprrsnuecanbevayiargcduetothe
penetration is generally drained. largeiaaeaKillWXIMisUWSacaredbythecOnepeIEUil-
Gemrally,soilsthatfaRinzones6and7rqresemapprox- tiOIt_WilCKlpcnnrationiSstoppcdh Oleramotidataidays,
imately drained penetration, whereas soils in zones 1.2.3, porepressmsrecordedbehindthetipmay~~
and 4 represent approximately undrained penetration. Soils beforedecrea>othea@iiriumpotepresstm.Therise
in zones $8, and 9 may represent pardally dr&ned penetra- canbecausedbylocaleqmlimionofthehighporepressme
tion.Anadvantageofmeamingporepmsuresduriugcone gradient around the cone tip (Campan& et &. 1986).
penetration is the ability to evaluate drabage amdizions
more directly.
ThcchansinFig.3arrstillglobalinnantrcandshould CISChistory
be used as a guide for defining soil behavi~ur type based To illustrate the advantage of using mmnakd data, a
onCPTandCPTUdata.Factorssuchaschangesinstress case history involving a deep borebole with wire-line CRT
history, in sim messes, se&My, stiff&S, macrofabric, will be briefly presented. The deep (300 m) borehole was
aud void ratio will aiso influence the &ssi&ation. pafomcdaspartofamearchprogramtostudythehnd
Occasionally, soils will fall within differas zones in each subsidence of Bologna in It&y (Belfiore ezol. 1989).
chart; in these cases judgement is quired to correctly Ahydraulicdrillrigquippedwithawire-iinesystemwas
classify thk soil bchaviour type. Often, the rate and mm- used for sampiiug and cone penetration testing. During the
ner in which the excess pore pressure dissipates during a boring 30 undisturbed samples were taken and 27 static
pause in the cone penetration will sigaificaatiy aid in the penetration tests were performed, using both elefztricCPT
classification. For exampie, a soil may have the following and CPTU. At suitable devations, dissipation tests were
CPlU parameters: qt = 0.9 MPa, f, = 40 kPa, and carried out with the CPTU to measure equilibrium pore
=72kPaatadepthwhereo = 18OkPaand&= presmresandtherateofdissipationoftheaccisspore
ZkPa. Hazce, the nomalized~CPTU pammems are pressums. Geophysical data were also obtained, including
QI = (qt - U*o>/U;o= 8, FR = v;/& - UIolj X 100 = dectrical,seismic, and miioa&vity logs. FulI details of the
5.6%, and B, = Au/(q, - u,,) = 0.1. Using these test program are given by Belfiore er ol. (1989).
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CAN. GEOTECH. J. VOL. 27.1990
1%
PREFWUEO MEASUREMENTS FOR COFIRELATIONS USING CPTu
A summary of the soil proftie and the CPTU data are pre-
sented jn Fig. 4. From the results of the boring, a total of
14 well-defmed compressible layers were identified and are
marked by a C in Fig. 4. The compressible layers consist
of approximately normally consolidated clayey silt and silty
clay, of medium to high plasticity. A total of 13 cohesionless
drainage layers were also identified and marked by a D in
Fig. 4.
It can he seen from Fig. 4 that the points of minimum
q* represent the compressible layersand lie approximately
on a straight Iine corresponding to a normalized cone resis-
tance of about 2.8. The corrected qr range from 3.7 MPa
WEZ, - -cnoNToo, - LAAQ
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NOYES 157
Forcone pcnctmionin stiff,bigh-OCR. fme-grainedsoils ~iOnr&y soil will fall within different zones on each
themcamred qc is generallylarge. The pore pressure ul is ~.~thcsccascsthcrateandmatmerinwhichthecxccss
also generally Iargc, but problems with falter compression PO= PnssUra dissipate during a pause in the pamration
are frqucntly encountered and pore pressures may be can significantly aid in the classification. A case history
tmrehable (Battagho et d 1986).However, the pore pressure mvob’f% ~&ine CPTU data from a 300 m deep borehole
u2 is often smah and can sometimes be less than the has been Pnsamd to illustratethe usefulness of applying
equilibrium pore pressure. An exception to this can occur nom data for soil ciassification.
in amented and (or) sensitive stiff days where iarge a2 A~~aisobeenprcscnWrcgard@therccom-
pore pressures can be recorded due to the collapse of the maded position to measure pore pressures during cone
soil structure. Because the qc vahcs are gencrdy large and penetration. No single location for pore pressure
. the u2 pore pressures are generally smah, the correction to m~anents mceU ah rquiremenrs for ah soils. Hence,
q1 is often small and ncghgible. Hence, the penetration the ideal situation is to record pore prrssurts a two m mom
resistance (q& is often a more reliable measurement than lO@ot~ simultaneously. However, to avoid increased com-
the patctration pore pressureand is prefcrrcd for intcrpraa- PIetiCs with qt&JmCnt and saturation procedures it is
tion when pcnctmting stiff, high-OCR, fmegraincd soils. recommended t0 have flcxiiiin cone design so that pore
Dur@astopinthepcnctration,anyexcessporcprcssurc Prrsswscanbemcasuredcitheronthefaceofthecone
starts to dissipate and the rate of dissipation can be inter- tiporjustbthindb.Forpeacnatioaiwogranularsoilsand
preted to evaluate consolidation &azte&ics of the sur- soft cohesive soils it is razomtna&d to measure the pore
roundin soil (Torunsson 1977). In soft, low-OCR soils the prenmms just behind the cone tip. For pcneaation into stiff,
pore pressure dhipazion data are generallygood for pore high-OCRclayorsiltdcpositsitis razommended to change
pressure &mcnt Jocations both on the face and behind the the location Cmthe fidd) and record pore presurcs on the
tip.Howcvcr,instiff,higbQCRsoilsthedbipahmbeitind face of the cone tip. Howcva, for quantitative interpreta-
the tip can suffer from local cquabation with the much tion of pore pressures measured on the face of the tip dur-
highaporrprrssuresonthefaceofthetipandinterpnra- ingpenarationinniffsoilsitisimportaattoavoid,orbe
tion fxtn be difficiiE. aware of, pousial crrursdue to ftitcr &mcnt compression.
From the above observations it is clear that there is no
single location for pore pressure mcasuran cntsthatmccts
all requiranans for ah soil types. Hence, the preference is AcknowledgerlIerIt5
to record pore pressures at two or more Iocations simuita- The assistance of Professor R. G. Campanclla, the
ncously (to give tit, u2, ctc). Cones presently exist that can technical staff, and past graduate students, cspccWy
record pore pressures at two or more locations but satura- D. Gillespie, of the Cii Engineering Dcpattment, The Uni-
don proccdur~ are often complex. To avoid haeased axn- versity of British Columbia, is much appreciated. The sup
piexitics with equipment and samration procedures it is portand a&stance of Professor M. Jamiolkowski during
recommended to have flexibility in cone design so that pore the author’s stay in Italy are also much appreciated. The
pressures can be measured either on the face of the cone support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research
tip or just behinci it. Many cone designs already exist that Council during the author’s stay at The University of British
enable the filter location to be easily changed in the ficid. Columbia is also acknowledged.
For general piaoconc testing it is therefore rccommcnded
to measure the pore pressure just behind the tip for the fol-
lowing reasons: (1) good protection from damage, (2) easy BAUGH,MM. V~WXAT,V.. and tit), CC. 1980. Cone
saturation, (3) generally good stratigraphic detail, ~insoilprofiting.ASCEJournaloftbeGco~
(4) galeraIly good chss@Uion da& and (5) right location a Division, lob: 447461.
to correct qc. However, if a stiff, high-OCR, day deposit B,uto?t. M-M., &zooz, AD., Wtss~, AZE., MAKTIN, R-T.,
is encountered and measured pore pressures behind the tip atId Mm, M.H. 1983.Rlc picfocom pa4cuonlacr. synl-
become very smah, it is recommended to change the loca- posium on Cow Pararation Testing and Expaieacc, AXE,
tion (in the field) and record pore prcssums on the face of Gaxecimical Engine&Ig Division, St. Louis, pp. 247-263.
the tip. For quantitative interpretation of the pore prcssums BA~AGLIO,M.. and W, R. 1983.II @zocone csccu-
z$cnco~one.s”““dt?haCo~olliPoiitecnicd
measured on the face of the tip during penamtion in stiff
soils it is important to avoid, or be aware of, pommial errors BATTAGLI~ ML Bkzt, I)., JAMIOLKOWSK~.hf.,and
due to fdtcr compression. LAN~~LLOITA,R. 1986. Interpretation of CPT’s and
CPTu~~ofsaaaateddays.Proaxdings.
4thxntcn&onalG#rztdmrcalSallimr,sntgapo~.
BELFI~RLF., Corohmo. P-F.. PEZELLI,G., and VLUANI,B.
A new soil bchaviour type ciassifrcation system has been 1989.A cormibutiimto the study of the s&idaux of Bologna.
presented using normaE.& cone penetration test para- 12thIxttcnWonaJ
. . Confercna on Soil Mechanicsand Founda-
meters. The new charts represent a thr~~dimcnsional Ensmecnng, Rio de Janeiro.
classification system incorporating all three pieces of data z”,, R.G., and Roauam P K 1988 Current status
oftbcpiezocon etest.Procccdings,1;tinr&naridnalsymposiom
~orraa~.fhecharuaregiobalinnatureandcanbe on Penetration Testing, ISGPT I, vol. 1. pp. 93-116.
t& to defme soil bchaviour type. Factors such as changes CAMpANnu R.G., PIE, D., and R-9 P.R. 1982.
ia stress history, in sifu stresses, sadivity, stiffness, Pore prrssurrs during cone ~atcaa&a testing. Procee&ngs,
macrofabric, and void ratio will also influence the da&ka- 2nd European Symposiumon Pautrarion Testing, ESGPT II,
tion. A tide to the influence some of these variabks have pp. 507-512.
on the classification has been included on the charts. 1986.Factors affecting the pore water pnssuns and its
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158 CAN.GEOlEC?LJ.V0L.27.19!30
measurement around a penetrating cone. Proceedings, L~NNE. T., EXDSMOEN, T., G-a, D., and How, J.D.
39th Canadian Geoteclulical conference, Ottawa. 1986. Laboratory and fold evaluationof cone penetrometers.
DOUGLAS,B-J.. and OLSEN,R.S. 1981. Soil dassification using PrOCdiIlgS, h-&4 ‘86, ASCE Specialty Conference.
datric cone penetrometu. Symposium on Cone Penetration Blacksburg. VA.
Testing and Experience, Geotechnical Engineering Division, OLSEN, R.S. 1984. Liquefaction analysis using the cone penetra- .’
ASCE, St. Louis, pp. 209-227. tion test. Proceed@, 8th World Conference on Earthquake
J~OGLAS, B-J., SIXUIYNSKY, A-1.. MAHAR, L.J., and Engineaing, San Fran&co.
WEAVER+ J. 198XSoil stratgtb dexrmhtions from the cone Otsp~, R.S., and FARED, J.V. 1986. Site chaaahdon using the
paxtmtion test. Proceedings. Cii Eng&a%g in the Arctic cone pamration tes. Pr-, In-s& ‘86, AXE Specialty
Offshore, San Francisco. Conference. Blacksburg. VA.
G-n, D.G. 1989. Evaiuatiw vdocicy and pore presswe data ROBERTSON, P.K. 1986.In sifu testing and its application to foun-
fromtheconepalcwiontcst.Ph.D.tllcsis.DqxzmwofCivil dation al&lea& Can&an Gux&&al Journal, 23: msw.
Engineering, University of British Cohtnbi Vancouver. ROBERTSON,P.K., CAMpANEIlA, R-G., GILLESPLE,D.. and
H~ULSBY,G. 1988. Discussion session contriion. Penetration GR!EG. J. 1986. Use of piaometer cone data. Proceedings,
Testing in the U.K., Birmin+m. In-s&u ‘86. AXE Specialty Conference, Blacksburg, VA.
ISOPT. International Symposium on Pcnctmtion Testing. 1988. ROY, M., TREIUBLA Y, M., TAVENAS, F., and Lr, ROCHELLE,P.
Report of the ISSMFETechnicalCommitcccon Paw&on 1982. Development of pore v in quasi-static pmaration
Testing. In Working party. vol. I. pp. 27-51. tests in sadhe day. Canadan Gcotcchaid Journal, 19:
ISSMFE. lntaaational Society for SoiI Mechanks and Fotmda- 124-138.
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Engaamg 1977. Repon of the Subcommittee on Stan- SENNESET,K., and JANBU,N. 1984. Shear streagth parameters
~kation of P awation Testing in Europe. Proaxdhgs, obtained from static cone penaration tests. American Society
9thIatamdoaaICoaf~onSoi.lM-&Foundation for Testing and Mater& Special Technical Pubiication 883.
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Eagmamg Tokyo, vol. 3, Appendix5, pp. 95-m. Swrs, F.P. 1982. Penetration pore pressure measured with
Jauo~~owS%i,M., aad ROBERTX)N,PX. 1988. Future tra& piezomcter cones. Roc&ings, 2nd European Symposium on
forpenetrationtesting,C&sing+rcss.Procw&s,Paletra- Penetration Testing. ESOPT II, Amsterdam, vol. 2,
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JONES, GA., and BUST. E.A. 1982. k&muter pendon TOR-*B.A. 1977.Tbeporc pressure probe. Nordiske
testing CUPT. Prowdings, 2nd European Symposium on GcotekniskeMote. Oslo, Paper 34, pp. 1.15-34.15.
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pp. 607-613. 24th Rankine Lecture. Gkxahique, 34: 449-489. I
KONRAD.J.-M. 1987. Piczo-friction-cone penetrometer testing in
soft days. Canadh Geotechnical Journal. u: 645-6St.
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