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Final Report of the Plate load test at IBN FIRNAS HOUSING COMPLEX PROJECT
in Al-Tajeyat District-Baghdad

Technical Report · March 2015

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Alaa Hussein Al-Zuhairi

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 Final Report of the
Plate load test
at

IBN FIRNAS HOUSING COMPLEX PROJECT

in Al-Tajeyat District-Baghdad

Prepared by:
Consulting Engineering Bureau Laboratories (CEBL)
College of Engineering
University of Baghdad

March 2015
1-8
 PLATE LOAD TEST
I- Introduction:
Plate load test is the most reliable method for obtaining the coefficient of sub-
grade reaction and the modulus of deformation of a soil, commpacted subgrade and
compacted subbase.

II- Plate loading apparatus

The loading apparatus is consisted of the following parts:
1. Bearing plate:
Circular steel bearing plate 30 mm thickness and 305 mm diameter is used.
2. Hydraulic jack:
Hydraulic jack capacity is 35 ton (350 kN).
3. Settlement recording devices:
Dial gauge, capable of measuring settlement of the loaded plate to an accuracy
of 0.01 mm.
4. Reaction beam (chessiet of a full loaded truck).
5. Miscellaneous apparatus includes.
5.1. Comprssion post
5.2. Reference beam steel stands and
5.3. Other construction tools required for preparation of the test & loading
apparatus.
The details of the loading apparatus can be seen in Figure (1).
4

5.1 5.2
1 GL

Figure(1): Loading Apparatus

2-8
III-Field work:
The tests were carried out on 3 March, 2015 and conducted at the site of the
Ibn Firnas Housing Complex Project in Al-Tajeyat district at Baghdad Governorate.
The tests were performed according to (ASTM D-1194). (See Plates No. 1 & 2)
The test was conducted in two locations pointed out by your represetative engineer in
the site. The first location was on the surface of the 25cm compacted subbase layer in
60 Acres area while the second location was on the surface of compacted natural
ground in 30 Acres area at the project site.
The plot of intensity of pressure versus observed settlement is given in Figures
(3) & (4).

IV- Method of calculation:

a- The yield point, as shown in Figure (2) is obtained at the intersection of the
lines extended from the straightest initial and final portions of stress-settlement
curves. From this yield point the ultimate bearing capacity, qult is predicted.
b- Calculate qall at 1/2 yield point load.
c- Estimate 
 = corrected settlement = observed settlement - c
c = to be estimated by backward projection of arithmetic load-settlement
curve to zero load (if any).
d- Calculate the modulus of subgrade reaction, Ks as:
q all
Ks  kN/m3

e- Calculate the modulus of deformation, E as:
E  1.5 R Ks
Where, R is the radius of the plate.
f- The allowable bearing capacity may be calculated by dividing the the minimum
value of ultimate bearing capacity of the soil that estimated from the
following two approches by a factor of safety of 3:
3-8
 (1) The approach explained in (a) above.
(2) The plate stress which gives a settlement (Sp) corresponding to allowable
settlemet of the actual footing (Sf) that can be calculated from the
following equation:
2
 B p ( B f  30) 
Sp  Sf  
 B f ( B p  30) 
 
Where,
Sp = plate settlement corresponding to the actual footing settlement (mm).
Sf = allowable settlement of actual footing (mm) = 25mm.
Bp = plate diameter (cm) = 30.5cm.
Bf = width of footing (cm) = 80cm (given by site engineer)

Load intensity, q (kPa)

qall qult
c

Observed settlement, mm

Figure (2): Calculation Procedure

V- Results and Disscusion:
The test results are summarized in Table (1). It is observed that the allowable
bearing capacity, modulus of subgrade reaction and modulus of deformation of the
25cm compacted subbase layer excuted above the natural ground in 60 Acres area
were estimated as 443 kPa, 282979 kN/m3 and 64.7 MPa respectively. While, they
are assessed as 483 kPa, 258929 kN/m3 and 59.2 MPa respectively for the
compacted natural ground in 30 Acres area in the site.
4-8
Table No.(1) Plate Load Tests Results

Estimated Modulus of Sub Modulus of

point
Location Allowable Bearing grade reaction, Ks Deformation,
No.
Capacity, qall (kPa) (kN/m3) E (MPa)
1 60 Acres area 443 282979 64.7
2 30 Acres area 483 258929 59.2

Applied pressure, kPa

0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250 2500

0.0
= 0.5mm q all = 665 kPa qult = 1330 kPa
c
1.0
Loading
2.0
Unloading
3.0

4.0
Measured settlement, mm

5.0 Yield point

6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

11.0

12.0

13.0

14.0

15.0

Figure (3): Plate Load Test Results for Point (1) at 60 Acres area

5-8
 Applied pressure, kPa

0 250 500 750 1000 1250 1500 1750 2000 2250 2500

0.0
= 0.2mm q all = 725 kPa qult = 1450 kPa
c
1.0
Loading
2.0
Unloading
3.0

4.0
Measured settlement, mm

5.0
Yield point
6.0

7.0

8.0

9.0

10.0

11.0

12.0

13.0

14.0

15.0

Figure (4): Plate Load Test Results for Point (2) 30 Acres area

6-8
Plate (1): Plate Load Test Steps for Point (1) at 60 Acres area

7-8
 Plate (2): Plate Load Test Steps for Point (2) at 30 Acres area

8-8

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