GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING – II

(FOUNDATION ENGINEERING)

STANDARD PENETRATION TEST

Prepared by:
Mc-Lloyd Sarate
Standard Penetration Test

is an in-situ dynamic penetration test

designed to provide information on the
geotechnical engineering properties of soil.
Bearing Capacity of Sand Based
on Settlement :
Bowles Principle:

When B< 1.22 m.

Qall (net) = 19.16 Ncor Fd ( Se )

25

When B> 1.22 m.

Qall (net) = 11.98 Ncor ( 3.28 B + 1 ) Fd ( Se )

2

3.28 B 25
Where:

Qall (net) = net allowable soil pressure

Ncor = corrected standard penetration test
B = width of footing
Fd = depth factor
Se = tolerable elastic settlement in mm.
Correction Factor:
CN = 0.77 log 1915 (peck)
σ
CN = correction factor to be applied to number blows per ft.
σ = overburden pressure at the depth observed

1. When σ < 24 kPa, this equation is not valid

2. When σ > 24 kPa, use the correction factor
3. When σ = 96 kPa, no correction should be made
Relative Density
.
SPT N-value Relative Density
0-4 Very Loose
4-10 Loose
10-30 Medium
30-50 Dense
Over 50 Very Dense
Consistency of Soil
.
SPT N-value Consistency
<2 Very Soft
2–4 Soft
4–8 Medium
8 – 15 Stiff
15 – 30 Very Stiff
> 30 Hard
Bearing Capacity of Soil Based on
Standard Penetration Test
Meyerholf’s Formula:
Allowable Bearing Capacity
1. When B < 1.22 m.
Qall (net) = 12N Fd

D
Fd = 1 + 0.33 < 1.33
B

Fd = depth factor
Bearing Capacity of Soil Based on
Standard Penetration Test
Meyerholf’s Formula:
2. When B > 1.22 m.

B + 0.305 2

Qall (net) = 8N Fd
B
Bearing Capacity of Soil Based on
Standard Penetration Test
Bowles Formula
Allowable Bearing Capacity
1. When B < 1.22 m.
Qall (net) = 12N Fd

D
Fd = 1 + 0.33 < 1.33
B
Bearing Capacity of Soil Based on
Standard Penetration Test
Bowles Formula:
2. When B > 1.22 m.

2
B + 0.305
Qall (net) = 12.5N Fd
B

N = Standard penetration resistance

Approximate Values of Angle of Internal
Friction from Site Investigation Data
Cone Penetration Test Method

σv = effective soil overburden pressure in kPa

Qc = resisting force divided by the projected area of cone
Pa = one atmosphere, 100 kPa or 2ksf.
θ = angle of internal friction
Approximate Values of Angle of Internal
Friction from Site Investigation Data
Standard Penetration Test Method

N60 = blow count for Standard Penetration Test Resulting

from 60 standard blows
σv = effective soil overburden pressure
Pa = one atmosphere, 100 kPa or 2ksf.
θ = angle of internal friction
THANK YOU!