MUHAMMAD ARSLAN, DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL 2007

ENGINEERING UET LAHORE

SPLIT SPOON SAMPLER

The ‘Standard Penetration Test’, commonly known as the ‘SPT’, is carried out in a borehole, by driving a
standard ‘split spoon’ sampler (Fig. 9.1) using repeated blows of a 63.5kg (140 lb.) hammer falling
through 762mm (30 in.).

Whilst split spoon design vary to some extent, it is not thought to have a major effect on penetration
resistance. The British Standard split spoon has recently been altered to bring it into line with the IRTP,
by introducing a ball check valve in its head. (But note that the vents must be maintained clean and free
of soil, and that BS 1377 contains a dimension error which has been corrected in Fig. 9.1). In the USA it is
sometimes the practice to use a split spoon which has liners, for ease of sample storage . (1985) found
that drillers sometimes omit this liner, because sample recovery is then improved, and that the omission
of liners led to a 15% decrease in N. A major uncertainty at the time of writing results from the use,
particularly in the UK and when gravel or stoney soils are encountered, of the solid o cone in the place of
 MUHAMMAD ARSLAN, DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL 2007
ENGINEERING UET LAHORE
the standard open cutting shoe. There is certainly evidence (Clayton 1993) to suggest that the use of the
solid cone may, in certain instances (in sands and in the chalk), have approximately doubled the
penetration resistance. It is therefore recommended that, as far as possible, its use is avoided.

In this test, rods and hammer characteristics affect penetration because, in a given soil, N is inversely
proportional to the energy delivered to the split spoon (Palmer and Stuart 1957; Schmertmann and
Palacios 1979). Thus if two different hammer/rod systems deliver different energies, two different
penetration resistances will be recorded, where

The energy delivered to the SPT split spoon is theoretically the free-fall energy of a 63.6 kg mass falling
through 762 mm, i.e. 473.43. In practice, however, it has repeatedly been shown that up to 65% of this
free-fall energy may be lost (Kovacs et al. 1977; Seed et al. 1985; Riggs 1986; Skempton 1986; Clayton
1990; Decourt 1990). This may occur as a result of:

1. inertial energy absorbed by over-heavy rods, and the weight of the SPT hammer’s anvil;

2. energy spent in heat and noise when the SPT weight impacts with the anvil;

3. bending energy, when rods which are bent, or rods of too small a second moment of area are
used;

4. input energy reduction due to the hammer not being lifted for the full 762mm; and

5. energy losses due to friction between the various hammer components, or between lifting ropes,
sheaves and catheads on the drilling rig.

split spoon is driven in a hole as deep as possible, and preferably more than 12 m deep. A fast data
acquisition unit is used to capture the force — time relationship as the energy from each blow of the
hammer passes down the rods. The energy transferred is obtained from the following integration:

where c = propagation velocity of the stress wave in the rods (normally approximately 5.1 m/ms), A
= cross-sectional area of the rod, E= Young’s modulus of the rod, F(t) = force measured in the rod at time
t, and t' is the time

SHELBY TUBE
 MUHAMMAD ARSLAN, DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL 2007
ENGINEERING UET LAHORE
To collect undisturbed samles a very simple sampler consisting of a section of thin-walled “Shelby” or seamless
steel tubing which is attached to an adapter is used, as shown in Figure. The adapter or the sampler head contains
a check valve and vents for the escape of air or water. A sample can be obtained by pushing the sampler into the
soil at the desired depth. The operation must be performed carefully so as to experience minimum deformation.
The principal advantages of the Shelby tube sampler are its simplicity and the minimal disturbance of soil.

Shelby Tubing Sampler

 MUHAMMAD ARSLAN, DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL 2007
ENGINEERING UET LAHORE

Hydraulic Piston Sampler

The hydraulic piston sampler is designed for taking undisturbed samples in low strength fine soils, such as silt and
soft to stiff clays.

The necessary hydraulic load is generated from the hydraulic power unit on a drilling rig, or by using a purpose
built Hydraulic Power Pack. An operating pressure of 1200 p.s.i (80 bar) is usually adequate for taking samples in
the soil conditions for which the unit was designed.

The piston sampler is of the stationary type. The entire unit is rigid and of fixed length (2850 mm) from the drill rod
connection at the top end to the piston head at the bottom. The only moving part is the hydraulic cylinder which
slides up and down the central rods. The stroke length is exactly 1 metre.

The sample tube is attached to the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder by means of 3 screws. Hydraulic oil flowing
through the piston sampler causes the cylinder with attached sample tube to move downwards into the soil. At the
end of the stroke the apparatus is lifted out of the ground and the full sample tube is removed, replacing it with an
empty one.

The direction of flow of hydraulic oil is then reversed, causing the cylinder with attached sample tube to move
upwards. When the cylinder has moved to its highest extent, the piston head is visible at the bottom end of the
sample tube. The apparatus is then lowered into the ground ready for taking the next sample.

To ensure a good seal against the bore of the sample tube, the pressure exerted by the piston seal can be adjusted
by tightening or loosening the screws on the back-plate of the piston head. (The back plate compresses the seal
when it is tightened up).

The standard sample tube is 4" bore (101.6 mm) made from aluminium and is 1000 mm long. With a wall thickness
of just 1.75 mm, these tubes produce a soil sample with minimum disturbance. The area ratio is just 7%.

THE FIGURE IS SHOWN ON THE NEXT PAGE…..

MUHAMMAD ARSLAN, DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL 2007
ENGINEERING UET LAHORE
MUHAMMAD ARSLAN, DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL 2007
ENGINEERING UET LAHORE