Collage of Engineering

Civil Engineering Department

CLE614 Soil Dynamics

Title : Cone Penetration Test

Submitted to : Dr. Yeşim Gürtuğ

By : Muftah Aljoat ID : 20153680

Adel Milad ID : 20152843

May/2016
 History of CPT
 Introduction
 Information about CPT
 CPT device consists
 Usage of CPT
 Process of CPT
 Advantages & Disadvantages
 Conclusion
 First develop in 1930’s as mechanical cone.
 Electric cones develop in 1960’s.
 Primary device for offshore investigations since
1970’s .
 CPT in this time is the most used and accepted in-
situ test methods for soil investigation world wide.
 It is to determine the Geotechnical engineering
properties of soils.
 It was used in 1950s at the Dutch Lab for soil
Mechanics so that it has also been called the
( Dutch cone test ) .
 In (CPT), a cone on the end of a series of rods is pushed into the ground with
constant rate .
 continuous measurements are made of the resistance to penetration of the
cone and a surface sleeve.

( Fig 1)
video 1 CPT device consists
 CPT are conducted to measure and evaluate
characteristics of specific soils (soft sensitive silt sand,
clay, and some coarse cohesion less soils) such as:
1. Soil type
2. Relative soil density and in-situ stress conditions
3. Shear strength parameters
 After analyzing the results obtained from the test, we can
determine the soil type and design of shallow foundations
through the estimation of stiffness and shear strength of
cohesive soils.
 The results from CPT may also be used, directly, for
design of piled foundations in sand and gravel.
 Indirectly, it can be used (shear strength) for piles in clay.
Fig 2 shows a range of cones from a mini cone at 2cm2 to a large cone of
40cm2 , The mini cones are used for shallow investigations, whereas
the large cones can be used in gravely soils.

( Fig 2) Types of cone

Engine Operated (200KN) Hand Operated (30KN)

( Fig 3)
( Fig 4)
 Advantages Disadvantages

• Rapid test • Soil sample not obtained

• Economy • Depth limited
• identification of problem soils • Normally can’t push through
• Detailed & precise data gravel

• Real time measurement • Requires special equipment

and skilled operator
 Save money for the owner by more accurately identifying the geological
strata.
 Seismic evaluations can be done to satisfy the new building code
requirements by measuring the low strain for shear wave velocity.
 Can be used to predict vertical pile capacity.
 In normally consolidated or recently aged cohesion less soils, provides
good estimates of settlement for shallow foundations.
 Cone Penetration Testing in Geotechnical Practice written by
Tom Lunne, John J.M. Powell, and Peter K. Robertson.
 Howstuffworks.com
 Southern Earth Sciences,.Inc
 subsurface exploration using the cone penetrometer test
(paper)
 Cone Penetrometer Test (paper)
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