10. correlations ‘Technology Dynamic soundings in site investigations: some observations and 1g), PhD, MICE, MHIKIE, FGS, Manstock Geotechnical Consultancy Services Ltd, E, BScTech, DipASE, MICE, MIHE, University of Manchester Institute of Science and grammes of continuous dynamic sampling and SRS15 dynamic cone penetration besting have been carried out at a number of sites in Nels England. Site conditions include various alluvial and glacial sequences, fills and industrial Conventional cable percussion boring. method used and discusses the informa: quantitative and qualitative terns. The rosules have been compared with results of iavestigations by The paper reviews the ps on obtained for selected sites in Te is concluded that dynamite soundings, combined with continuous sampling, provide a cost efficient and useful contribution to geotechnteal practice in the U.ke uwrropuetiow 1, In several recent projects requiring und Investigation, conventional boreholes have been difficult or unduly costly in places owing to difficult access conditions. Hand-held sampling and probing equipment offered econonic access, The suitability of this approach has therefore been assessed. The main investigations in the cases reported below were by conventional percussion boreholes, with the Probing and sampling by Geodrive Ltd, under Separate contracts. To correlate investigations in each case, sone probe holes were positioned ose to boreholes. PROBE AND SAMPLING EOULEMENT 2. Dynanic Probing was carried out waing an SRS15 type penetrometer. The test {5 similar to the Standard Penetration Test (SPT), but uses a 50 kg hanner and drop of 0.5m, with’a 15 em2 cone, in accordance with the German Standard, DIN 4094 (Ref. 1). The entire apparatus weighs about 140 kg. The Dtp specification (Ref. 2) was not available at the time, but the Procedures given in Section 8.44 are essentially similar and closely follow draft British and European Standards in preparation. 3. A typical dynamic probe log is given on Hg. 1, The blow count per 100mm penetration (8100) ‘ts normally recorded. Logs can be Supplemented with descriptions from adjacent Sampling holes and interpretations based on ‘“orrelations, as discussed below. of, The continuous sampling equipment consists Goad, Sets Of 2 or 3m length sanole cubes, tn» Stn, SOem and NOmn Sianeter, with {iwheiy oversized cutting. shoes, deiven into soll by use of a hani-held high frequency Beeussion hamee. Le 42 normally porsinie co AMPLe to depths of about 10\to 12m. The eving rate can give an indication the state terials peneteated, tue is aftected by Pont "tation testing the UK. Thomas Teor, London, 1988 sanpler diameter, penetration length, side friction, operator technique snd power applied. Tr has not to date been found anenable to useful correlation with sot] engineering properties. Penetration rates vary from 10-1508/m with an average of 37s/m. Production rates vary between about 30m and 70n/day, dependent upon site and access conditions. PTH] READING DIAGRAM (NTO0 Valuss) ) [@tewslieomm| gto. te 20" a Ta, E os ££ Rescotion Re 2 Loose t goto 0 very wl ta, 6 ee, are say Gor oa te sory aay Mey, 78 secasara fe growl ant eo | Le Sincere ta es | ta E oe, TB s.0_| 82 E jo] F te.) E- bs} ta £ ns 2 s0_ ‘a artis «DIN 408 -SaSt6 oom (ET a Tergin(Nm) 0,6 09090000 Fig.1 Dynamic Penetrometer Log (Ash Lagoon, Hole 5B) 3SESSION 2; DYNAMIC PROBING TABLE 1 ENERGY COMPARISON FOR SPT & SRS15 PROBE Mass Drop Ex As fs Xk TPE Wke He kJ mm2_bi/m2 SPT 63,5 0.76 04474 2026 237 1.00 spr 1068 443 4(1.87) SRS 50 0.5 04245 1500 163 2.06 15 alo Nores Based on SPT "Cone". Ex = free fall energy of hammer = Well Aa = Projected area of tips Es = Specific Energy Ex/Ase K. = Correlation Factor: N = K.NLOO K = Es2/Es1 x 300ma/100nm) fo spt "shoe" 5. the technique produces a continuows profile suitable for logging, splitting and rredy of soil fabric. Samples are of suffteient Sharity for determination of moisture contents iid index properties. Undrained strength of Stays can be estimated by inspection, supported by penetroneter readings. However, the Raeth/diameter ratio of the sampler is high (L/b d= 25) and sometimes produces incomplete recovery; this can be overcone by re~drtiling the hole in shorter sampling drives. The method fo ouffictently fast and flexible to allow for additional borings without interfering with « planned investigation programme. BWERCY COMPARISONS & CORRECTION FACTORS 6. The delivered energy for the SRS15 and SPT is compared on Table 1. For the SPT the specific energy depends on the sampler area assured, Taking the full area included by the Sampler, acting as a plog or "cone", leads to Ne2-06xi100, Taking the wall area of the shoe only, leads to N= lel0xN100. Thus on energy grounds, the correlation factor K might be Expected to range from about I to 2, with this Variability due mainly to the behaviour of the SPT. 7. Various correction factors appear necessary. These have recently been examined for the SPT by Skempton (Ref. 3)- Space preclides full discussion here of their Boplication to Dynamic Probing, but in summery = Both SPT (in UK, normatiy) and SRS15 have a irtp hammer with a sharp release and low rod frictions Neither therefore requires an energy reduction factor for the loss in free fall Yelocity due to friction and other effects. Velocity Energy Ratio, BRv, can be taken a5 1.00, Marin et al (Ref. 4) report ERv = 0.99 for sinilar dynante probing apparatus. = A reduction factor is necessary for loss of hammer energy on impact. This "Dynamite Efficiency" is considered to be about 0.60 for the trip hanner SPT. There is currently no data fon this for the SRS15; for present purposes it 4s assumed equal to that for the SPT. 4 = ‘the Ser xequites correction for borehole Gianever D. The stendard is 75mm dianeter; should be increased by (at least) 52 for D = 150en; 15% for D = 200ma and probably nore f Jarger holes. The SPT drive, 150-450nm betc 75mm diameter hole, is specified to minimise Stress relief due to boring. The SRS15 prot ethod does not induce stress relief and forrection for this effect In not therefore necessarye = The SPT can be corrected for overburden pressure and effects of overconsolidation, Similar corrections may apply to the SRS19, the differing apparatus and method could le differences in detail. = The §RSI5 requires correction Lf enersy Josses occur due to rod Friction. Dahlberg, Bergéahl (Ref. 5) found rod friction significantly {nereased blow counts. They Fecommend rod rotation to minimise rod fric Gand ensure rod verticality) and relate tod Friction to torque, based on energy considerations. This leads to a reduction N100 of about i per 40Nm torque for the SRS 8. In the present investigations the pes torque required to turn the rods was measur after every 1.0m penetration. In many inst Zero torque was measured and the probe blow counts reflect only point resistances Wher Significant torque was measured, the blow aid appear to require reduction ~ see below 4 far/8 [Be fool | Bhes Rie a", of / i Asa 5 oy “ Lf | == SRS15 Noo odd 3) DF Blow Count N, Noe Pig.2 Correlation of N100 with Relative DensityEXISTING CORRELATIONS 9. Various correlations have been published between the dynamic penetrometer NIOO, SPT N and relative density Dr (Refs. 1,6). These are summarised in Fig. 2. The standard U.K. relationship between N and Dr sets a lover bound to interpreted Dr and may therefore be conservative. The DIN standard gives significantly higher Des for a given N, varying with waterial type. (This references US practice for which N values are typically around 1,2 times N. UK. No attempt has been made at this stage to correct Fig. 2 for such interpretations of the SPT.) 10. The W100 ~ Dr relationship ean be plotted for K = 1.10 and K = 2,06 (SPT "shoe" and "cone", respectively). Relationships based on the DIN code for sand and gravel tend to relate to SPT "shoe" values for loose and wediua dense materi ‘The DIN results for the denser range and for uniform dry and wet sands appear anomalous, but may relate to sensitivity {n Dr for such materials. 11. Muronach{ et al (Ref. 6) report w= 2,N100 as a best fit for gravels, sands, clays and volcanic ash, with considerable scatter in individual results. No particular trends with naterial type are discernable, This relationship is close to that derived on energy grounds, assuming the SPT to act as a cone. ‘Typteal’ Japanese practice gives N around 120% of W (U.K.) and correction for this may therefore be appropriate. PAPER 10: TONKS AND WHYTE TABLE 2 ASH LAGOON AND EMBANKMENT MATERIAL DESCRIPTION SPT RSIS, N00 ONESTONLESS ‘ASH FILL Vetoose 0-4 0-2 Brown, grey & Loose e102 black, Silts MeDense 10-30 6-15 and sande, Dense 30-50 15-27 V.Dense 50927 SAND FILL Loose 410 2 4 Brown, clayey M. Dense 10-30 5-15 ALLUVIAL SAND Loose 4-10 Grey/brown clayey. GLACIAL SANDS M.Dense 10-30 12-15 Brown eilty, Dense 30-50 15-30 Fine to medium V.Dense >s0 930 conesive ca__w100. CLAY FILL v.Soft 15-20 —2- 3 Brown, sandy, Soft 20-40 3-6 silty, reworked Firm 40-50 7-8 Boulder Clay BOULDER CLAY Firm 40-75. To12 Dark brown sandy.Stiff 75-130 12-22 TABLE 3 CANAL BANKS x WATERIAL DESCRIPTION eT 8515 ° DESORPTON NNO _K _'s100 seu (redim SAND seo] SOUESIONLESS sagen Ja&|*"] GEMNOLICRIEL vetoose 0-4 ; Geyiieae "Teese 10 2 BAS 16 Silty sand & ash. ory Laos > Lackey | 4-8 | s-0 {e-20] Ec) “4 hoses, meen Ty sty SAND 5-29 Nadim donee Imectom foam SAND, [2-25 | 4-8 [x29 | some raver DEPTH m. Sots 3 eayey SCT lemyeiay [ew] «8 [70-40 [Fem sandy fa-rs| 2-0 [evel leny cum “10 [sity fea |a-m [rsa leu “12 ° 10 2 30 SPT'N' SRS "N100" ¥ig.3 Landslip Macclesfield ESTUARINE SANDS Loose — B-1l_ 3-6 black/grey,stity M.Dense 11-24 6-15 sands, with silt /elay' laminations GLACEAL SANDS Loose = 10 > 6 Orange-brown MeDense 10-30 6-18. silty, fine to Dense 30-40 16-22 nedive sands. cougsive cu__wi00 CHEMICAL WASTE V.Soft ~0-20-—0- 3 White to blue/ “Soft 20-40 3-7 Brey eile. Fire 40-75 7-10 stife 75 >lo ESTUARINE CLAY V.Soft 6-20 1-2 Light brown-grey Soft 20-40 2-5 laminated, siley. BOULDER CLAY Soft 33-40 5+ 7 Dark brown, Firm 40-75 7-12 sandy clay StLEE 75-130 12-22 usSESSION 2: DYNAMIC PROBING CASE stuoTES Landslip, Macclesfield TE, the project Tnvolved stabilising a sizable landslip, with the construction of reinforced goll walls. Conventional Anvestigation holes were supplemented by continuous sampling and dynanic probing for the aifficulr access areas and heavily vegetated hillside. The Investigations showed the hillside to be comprised of mainly glacial sands, but with the landslip seated in a band of clay about migheight of the slope. 13, A typical comparison of SPT and Dynamite Probe results is given in Fig. 3. This conveniently indicates @ range of N100 values for glacial sands and clays, Whilst there is sone scatter ia both SPT and Probe results within layers, it wae found that the general trends tended to give reasonable consistency. For the cohestonless sotis, K was typically around 1,7, although higher in some very loose areas. Probe D2 was immediately behind the slip area and indicates a loosened upper zone. 14, For the cohesive sofls a fatrly consistent trend of undrained strength with blow count was found, Cu = kl. N100, with kl around 7.5e It is interesting co note that this cortesponds quite closely to Butler and Stroud's relationship for Glacial Clays (Ref. 7). Taking Cu = 4.5 Nand N= 1,7 NIOO gives Cu = 7.7 N100. (the cohesive soils correspond to the zones of fod friction and NI00 values have been corrected as described above.) Ash Lagoon ond Embankment. “Ts. This investigation was for a major Andusteial installation near Runcorn. An embankment about 15a high and 28 degrees slope had a history of instability. In 1986 significant movenents occurred necessitating interim renediel vorks and regular monitoring until permanent stabilisation was effected. Site investigation {neluded 32 boreholes and 16 Geodrive Sanpling and Dynanic Penetromecer profiles. 16. The main Findings afd materials encountered are eumarised in Table 2. The naterials included considerable extents of ash £111, sone of which was chemically contaninated. ‘The ash had been wostly placed hydraulically in Lagoons, but end-tipped or reworked in places to form lagoon bunds and embankments. A pronounced structure vas identified in places, The probe log in Fig 1 shows fill which had been placed in layers. Such structure would not be identifiable by spr. 17, Por the cohestonless materials K typically ranges from 1.4 to 2 (ignoring sone local varsations attributed to randon variations within the ground). K = 1.7 represents a good overall fit for all results. No significant differences in correlation were discernable between material types and densities. Few results vere obtained in cohesive materials, but these tend to suggest kl (=Cu/N100) in the range 6 to 8 iis Ganal_ Banks. “TE. The project Involved study of about Lka of canal bank, for potential development. A number of existing bulldings and major structures were located alongside this length canal. Site investigations included 55 holes, with sampling and probing on steep slopes, ‘amongst pipelines and in other areas shore access was virtually impossible with conventions! equipment. The variable ground conditions enabled the equipment to be assessed in a wide range of materials including fills an chenteal waste; estuarine sands and clays; glacial sands and boulder clays. 19, The main Findings are summarised on Tabl 3. Por the cohestonless materials, there was again good correspondence between N and NLOD, with K varying in the cegion of 1.5 €0 2.0, typteally around K = 1.7. 20. ‘There was concern that, despite "water balance" being applied, SPTs in some loose sand might underestimate in'eitu relative densities, on secount of adverse groundwater conditions, affected by the canal and various pumping operations. Dynamic probing generally indicate similar relative densities, but did aot reveal very loose zones, giving confidence to the interpretation of a feu low SPT N values having. been influenced by boring methods. 21. For the cohesive soils kl = 7 was found to give a best fit of the results. These naterials included sity chemical vaste, of considerable significance to the project, which hhad some unustial properties, but was amenable t useful correlations between Cu, N100 and index properties. Rod friction was found generally { cohesive strata, but also continued, decreasing with depth in some cases, on proceeding into faediun dense sande below. Readings have besa corrected as discussed. Study suggests such correction 18 warranted and leads to improved correlations. DISCUSSION 22, The dynamic penetrometer can give result which show useful correlations with engineering properties, suitable for some engineering purposes. ‘As with other penetration tests, results are influenced by various factors and fare at present best regarded as site and material specific. 23. the dynamic penetrometer can give more consistent representation of ground conditions than the SPT. It is less sensitive to operator method (hammer operation being fully autonatic) and is not subject to potential error from Loosening in vater-bearing sands, There is considerable merit in a continuous profile of blow count. "Rando" testing can, on occasion be unrepresentative and mise areas of interest+ 26, Energy considerations suggest correlation Factor, K, of about 1 co 2, depending on behaviour of the SPT, The investigations to date suggest that a reasona!¢ estimate of relative density can be obtained bY taking N= 1.73N100, The corresponding curveshown on Fig. 2. Refinement in this reletionship {9 considered dependent on refinenent in Interpretation of the SPT. 25. For cohesive soils, correlation with consistency or strength appears promising. Results appear amenable to assessaent similar to Feported correlations between SPT 'N" and undrained strength Cu (Ref. 7), but prevent data are insuffictent to verify this more generally. 26. Rod friction has been found in most types of cohesive soils but rarely in cohestonlees materials. It appears to increase vith Plasticity and decreasing stiffness, and with time (as matertal "squeezes" in), but can fecrease on shearing during driving or rod rotation, These effects preclude simple interpretation, The present data tend to support a theoretical reduction ia N1Q0 of about 1 per 40 Nn torque, but this se clearly very approxinate, 27, It appears preferable to minimise or eliminate rod friction. Sose alterations in technique and equipment to attenpt this are being examined. For present operational purposes a standard procedure should be adopted, to minimise rod friction and develop comparable date. The approach given in the DTP specification appears appropriate. This involves rotating the rods 1.5 turns after every 1.0m penetration and recording maxinun torques However, research is needed on this topic, for which more detatied measurements and procedures are necessary. CONCLUDING REMARKS. 28. Tn sumnary, the Dynamic Probe, particularly when coupled with continuous small diameter sampling, 1s capable of giving much useful and consistent data. Sone possible PAPER 10: TONKS AND WHYTE improvenents have been suggested. Tt has proved particularly suited to special applications such as where access is difficulr, As ever in site investigation, the Limitations of the equipment should be borne in mind and the results applied with judgenent and cross-checked against such other investigation data as nay be available. REFERENCES 1. DIN 409%, Penetroneters. Deutsche Normens Dynamic and Static Part 1, 1974 Pare 2, 1980. 2. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT, 1987. Speciffeation for Ground Tavestigation. 3. SKRMPTON Ask, 1986, Standard Penetration Test Procedures and the Effects in Sands of overburden Pressure, Relative Density, Particle Size, Ageing and Overconsolidat ton. Geotechnique 36, No+3, 425-447. 4. MARTIN J.H and SUCKLING A.C, 1984, Geotechnical investigations for Mount Pleasant Airfield, Falkland Islands, using the Flow Through Sampler. Ground Engineering, November. 5. DAHLBERG Re and BERGDANL U, L974. Investigations on the Swedish Ram Sounding Method. 8.6.1. 6. MUROMAGHL T and KOBAYASHI $, 1982, Comparative Study of Static and Dynanic Penetration Tests currently {n use in Japane Proc. 2nd Eur. Symp. Pon. Teste, Vol 1, pP 297-302. Ansterdam. 7. STROUD MeA. and BUTLER F.G, 1976. The | Standard Penetration Test and the Engineering Properties of Glacial Materials. Prac. Midland Geot Soc. Symp. on Glacial Tills. | 7