IN-SITU TESTING

Test carried out on the site either prior to or during the construction process. This includes ground test
such as shear-vane, standard penetration, cone penetration, pressure meter; structure loading test,
such as test on piles, proof loading; displacement observation ground penetration radar.

Standard Penetration Test (SPT)
It is the most widely used in-situ test throughout the world, as an indicator of the density and
compressibility of granular soils. It is also commonly used to check the consistency of stiff or stony
cohesive soils and weak rocks (Narain, 2014).
The test consists of driving a standard 50-mm outside diameter thick walled sampler into soil at the
bottom of a borehole, using repeated blows of a 63.5-kg hammer falling through 760 mm.
One of the advantages of this test is that it is carried out in routine exploration boreholes of varying
diameters, so that (in contrast with other in-situ tests, such as the Cone Penetration Test) there is no
need to bring special equipment to site.

One of the advantages of this test is that it is carried out in routine exploration boreholes of varying
diameters, so that (in contrast with other in-situ tests, such as the Cone Penetration Test) there is no
need to bring special equipment to site.
Use of SPT results:
Profiling
Soil classification
Determination of geotechnical parameters
Direct design uses


GROUND PENETRATION RADAR
This is a test that was originally developed for mapping geological features. It is now increasingly used in
engineering and offers a unique non-invasive and non-destructive means for the characterization of the
subsurface and subsurface features (Gostomski, 2014).
Uses of GPR:
In site investigation process, GPR is used to determine the general arrangement of construction,
changes in material type, location of structural steelwork and layer thickness. It is also used to locate
buried objects therefore making it an ideal way to investigate the ground of a site prior to the start of
the project. It is also the only non-destructive technology that can identify non-metallic and metallic
objects in the ground.

DYNAMIC CONE PENETRATION (DCP)
PROPERTIES OF DCP:
The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer is essential for the testing of soil compaction
and testing of soil strength and shear strength of soil.
The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer test goes into cell-tower site preparation.
The DCP test is used on-site for soil density tests; no samples need to be taken
to a laboratory
The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer is for geotechnical investigations to obtain
information on the physical properties of soil and rock around a site.
The DCP test is used in preparation for the design of earthworks
and foundations
The DCP test is used to measure the resistivity of soils or backfill materials
required for underground transmission lines, oil and gas pipelines.
The DCP test is carried out on site ( in-situ ) to determine CBR of soil
Cell Tower Site Preparation and Construction - DCP is used for soil compaction testing.
Trenching, Laying & Installation of Fiber Optical Cables - DCP is used for in situ density tests.
Cable Trenching, Pipe-Laying - DCP is used in Quality Control of soil compaction.
Trench Reinstatement - Use of DCP to control compaction of granular fill.

Procedures:
The DCP works by using a 8 kg steel mass dropping 575 mm which hits the anvil. Each stroke causes
penetration of a 20mm diameter cone (60 vertex angle) which sits at the base of assembly into the soil
(underlying surface) (Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP), 2014)



The ST6 technique for using the Dynamic Cone Penetrometer describes the rate of penetration of the
DCP into a natural or compacted material (soil) with the help of the dropping weight (hammer). The
penetration rate of the cone of the DCP is inversely proportional to the resistance level of the terrain.
The DCP test is an in-situ CBR or density testing of the soil.
Uses of DCP:
The DCP is useful in assessing the density of a fairly uniform material by relating density to
penetration rate (DN).
Using this method under-compacted or "soft spots" of the Subgrade can be identified. The test
is designed to evaluate the situ sturdiness substance.
Compaction degrees of pavement subgrade are determined by means of in-place density
testing. - The DCP can efficiently be applied in quality control of granular base layer compaction
as well as during backfill compaction of pavement drain trenches.

It is possible to obtain an approximate CBR figure from the results of using this equipment by
applying a simple formula. It is a guideline not a benchmark figure, but still useful to know that
you are 90% correct.


References
Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP). (2014). Retrieved from LabEquip Testing Euipment: http://www.lab-
quip.co.uk/dynamic-cone-penetrometer-dcp
Gostomski, R. (2014). ground penetrating radar (gpr). Retrieved from Sandberg:
http://www.sandberg.co.uk/investigation-inspection/ground-penetrating-radar/ground-
penetrating-radar-gpr.html
Narain, S. (2014). Shalvi Engineering Corporation. Retrieved from Standard Penetration Test (SPT):
http://www.shalviengineering.com/geotechnical-machine.html

Clayton, C.R.I. 1995. The Standard Penetration Test (SPT): Methods and Use. CIRIA Report 143, London