CYCLIC PLATE LOAD TEST

Nithin S M2 GE
Roll no:101222

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AIM
 This is a field test which determines the coefficient of
elastic uniform compression Cu or modulus of
subgrade reaction ks

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THEORY
 WINKLER MODEL
k = spring constant
𝑞 = 𝑘𝑤 w = vertical deflection of the contact
surface

w
k

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COEFFICIENT OF ELASTIC UNIFORM COMPRESSION
 “Coefficient of elastic uniform compression is a
dynamic property of soil used in the design of
machine foundation and other dynamic analysis of
foundations, Coefficients of elastic uniform
compression (Cu) is the compressive stress causing
unit elastic compression for a given area under
dynamic loading”

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COEFFICIENT OF ELASTIC UNIFORM COMPRESSION
 The subgrade reaction at any point the beam is
assumed to be directly proportional to the vertical
displacement of the beam at that point. In other
words, the soil is assumed to be elastic and obeys
Hooke’s Law. Hence, the modulus of subgrade
reaction (ks) for the soil is𝑞 given by:
𝑘𝑠 = = 𝐶𝑢
𝑤
q = bearing pressure at a point along the beam
w = vertical displacement of the beam at that
point.
ks = the coefficient of elastic uniform compression,
Cu.

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CYCLIC PLATE LOAD TEST
 Plate Load Test – IS:1888-1982

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CYCLIC PLATE LOAD TEST
Bearing Plate:
 Rough mild steel bearing plate in circular or square shape
 Dimension: 30 cm, 45 cm, 60 cm, or 75 cm.
Thickness > 25 mm
 Smaller size for stiff or dense soil. Larger size for soft or loose
soil
 Bottom of the plate is grooved for increased roughness.
 Concrete blocks may be used to replace bearing plates.

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CYCLIC PLATE LOAD TEST
Test Pit:
 Usually to the depth of foundation level.
 Width equal to five times the test plate
 Carefully leveled and cleaned bottom.
 Protected against disturbance or change in natural
formation

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CYCLIC PLATE LOAD TEST
 TEST ARRANGEMENT
 Selection of Location
 Based on the exploratory boring.
 Test is carried out at the level of proposed foundation. If water table is
below the foundation level but the depth is less than width of plate
then the test is carried out at the level of water table. If the water table
is above the foundation level then the water level is reduced to
proposed foundation level by pumping out the water during the test;
however, in case of high permeability material perform the test at the
level of water table.
 In case the soil is expected to have significant capillary action and the
water table is within 1 m below the foundation, it becomes necessary
to perform the test at the level of water table in order to avoid the
effect of higher effective stresses due to capillary action resulting in
lower values of interpreted settlements.
 Reaction supports should be at least (3.5 x width of plate) away from the
test plate location, and loading arrangement should provide sufficient
working space.
 Test plate should be placed over a 5 mm thick sand layer and it should
9 be centered with the loading arrangement.
CYCLIC PLATE LOAD TEST
 LOADING CRITERION
 A seating pressure of 7 kPa is applied and then released after some
time before the test.
 Loads are applied in the increments of approximately 1/5th of the
estimated ultimate safe load. (Or, one may choose to increase the load
at an increment of 0.5 kN.)
 At each load settlement is recorded at time intervals of 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 16,
25 min and thereafter at intervals of one hour.
 For clayey soil, the load is increased when time settlement curve shows
that the settlement has exceeded 70-80% of the probable ultimate
settlement or a duration of 24 Hrs.
 For the other soils, the load is increased when the settlement rate drops
below 0.02 mm/min.
 The minimum duration for any load should, however, be at least 60 min.
 Record the final readings of the dial gauges
 Remove quickly but gradually the entire load and the plate is then
allowed to rebound.

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CYCLIC PLATE LOAD TEST
 LOADING CRITERION
 Again note the dial guage readings when no further rebound occurs or
the rate of rebound becomes negligible
 Increase the load gradually till its magnitude acquires a value equal to
the proposed next higher stage of loading (one-fifth or one-sixth load)
and maintain constant. Note the final reading of the dial gauges under
the new load as explained earlier
 Reduce the entire load to zero and record the final dial guage reading
when the rate of rebound becomes negligible.
 Continue the cycles of loading, unloading and reloading till the estimated
ultimate load has been reached, the final values of dial guage readings
being noted each time.
 The magnitude of the load increment should be such that the ultimate
load is reached in five to six increments. The initial loading and
unloading cycles up to the safe bearing capacity of the soil should be
with smaller increment in load.

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CYCLIC PLATE LOAD TEST
 OBSERVATIONS
 The bearing pressure–
settlement curve
obtained from a typical
cyclic plate load test is
shown in Figure.
 The recoverable part of
the settlement (during
unloading) represents
the elastic part and the
non-recoverable part
signifies the plastic
settlement (permanent
set)

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CYCLIC PLATE LOAD TEST
 OBSERVATIONS
 The elastic part of the
settlement is plotted as
a function of average
contact pressure
(bearing pressure) in
Figure
 The slope of this curve
is referred to as the
modulus of subgrade
reaction, ks, or the
coefficient of elastic
uniform compression,
C u.

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CYCLIC PLATE LOAD TEST
 SPRING CONSTANT (k)
 Referring to Figure in Slide no 12. Calculate the elastic settlement (se(1),
se(2),………….) for each loading stage
 Plot a graph of q versus se as shown in Figure in Slide no 13.
 Calculate the spring constant of the plate as
𝒒𝑨
 𝒌𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 = 𝒔𝒆

 The spring constant for vertical loading for proposed foundation can then be
extrapolated as follows (Terzaghi, 1955)
 Cohesive soil:
𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒕𝒉
 𝒌𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 = 𝒌𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒕𝒉
 Cohesionless soil:
𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒕𝒉+𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒕𝒉 𝟐
 𝒌𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 = 𝒌𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝟐×𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒕𝒉

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CYCLIC PLATE LOAD TEST
 Shear Modulus, G
𝒒 𝑬 𝟏
 𝑪𝒖 = 𝒔 = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟑
𝒆 𝟏−𝝁𝟐 𝑨
𝐸
 We know 𝐺 = 2(1+𝜇) Cu = subgrade modulus
2.26 𝐺 (1+𝜇) 1 E= modulus of elasticity
 So 𝐶𝑢 = = Poisson’s ratio
1−𝜇2 𝐴
(𝟏−𝝁)𝑪𝒖 𝑨 A= area of the plate
 𝑮= 𝟐.𝟐𝟔

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