Sampling
There are a number of myths relating to the CPT. Perhaps the biggest myth is that it cannot obtain sample. This is not true, the CPT platform can be used to deploy:
- high quality Bergemann (Delft) piston samples in soft clays
“disturbed” push windowless samples
Soil parameter evaluations
The highway engineer, perhaps more than most, requires a wide range of geotechnical parameters to assist in the design of suitable fill materials, cutting and embankment slopes, foundations and their deformation under structural loadings, and pavements.
Within the UK, the CPT is an under-identified tool for the rapid assessment of geotechnical parameters.
It should be noted that no uniform and consistent methodology currently exists to interpret all necessary soil engineering parameters within a common framework, however, the CPT platform can be used to deploy specialist modules to determine ‘analytical’ geotechnical parameters.
Such modules, include push pressuremeters; seismic cones; in-situ water content determination probes; shear strength vane apparatus and many more.
The use of these modules reduces spend on expensive laboratory tests and provides data in real time - unlike the days or weeks for laboratory test results to be determined
CPT correlations
