AbstractThe objective of this paper was to investigate the pressure distribution around a cone penetrometer using a pressure sensing mat under laboratory conditions. The investigation was conducted under (1) constrained conditions using cylindrical split pipe molds and (2) unconstrained conditions using a soil box. These tests were conducted in Capay clay and Yolo loam soil containing two different moisture conditions and two compaction levels.In the constrained tests, a maximum radial pressure of 111kPa was observed in the Capay clay soil with 3.4–4.3% d.b. moisture content and three blows of compaction (cone index value of 2040kPa) when using the 41mm diameter split pipe mold. These pressure levels decreased to 82 and 22kPa, respectively, when 65 and 88mm diameter molds were used. In both the Capay clay and Yolo loam tests, the average radial pressure and average cone index values showed similar trends.In the unconstrained tests, a maximum pressure of 9.0kPa was observed in the Capay clay with 4.5% d.b. moisture content and three blows of compaction (cone index value of 550kPa) at a horizontal distance of 25.4mm from the vertical axis of the cone penetrometer and minimum pressure levels in the range of 0.2–0.3kPa when the horizontal distance of the penetrometer was in the range of 56.8–66mm. The pressure levels are much smaller than the ones obtained in the constrained tests and may suggest that the pressure distribution under field conditions is small at a distance of 25.4mm or higher from the tip of the cone.The experimental data were statistically analyzed to identify significant factors. The results of the analysis for the constrained test indicated that the mold diameter and number of blows significantly increased the pressure readings within the soil mass. Increasing the mold diameter led to a decrease in the average radial pressure and increasing the number of blows contributed to an increase in the average radial pressure. In the unconstrained test, the average radial pressure distribution at a given point were significantly influenced by the horizontal distance of the point from the vertical axis passing through the center of the penetrometer shaft, soil type, and soil moisture content. Higher pressure values were obtained in the Capay clay tests compared to the Yolo loam tests. In all cases, the pressure levels were greater for the drier soil than for the moist soil.
Determination of the soil pressure distribution around a cone penetrometer
Journal of Terramechanics ; 44 , 3 ; 265-273
2007-04-11
9 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Determination of the soil pressure distribution around a cone penetrometer
Kraftfahrwesen | 2007
|Determination of the soil pressure distribution around a cone penetrometer
Online Contents | 2007
|Engineering Index Backfile | 1948
|Rotary Cone Penetrometer Investigations
NTIS | 1962
Electronic cone penetrometer for field tests
Kraftfahrwesen | 1987
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