Discussion

JKR probe was designed as recommended for static and dynamic test of the penetrometer by
European Group Subcommittee (1968). JKR probe is also designed to be locally manufactured. For a
building construction project, JKR probe or Mackintosh probe is usually done first. Although its use is
quite limited, as in terms of its limited energy, it is still able to provide information quickly, easily and
at a cost that is much cheaper than other site tests. In terms of results that will be obtained from this
JKR probe test, the bearing capacity of the soil can be known to design a shallow base only.

During the test, an iron weighing 5.0 kg was allowed to fall freely from a height of 280 mm along the
iron rod, in which the iron rod was used as a guide for the hammer to be dropped. The rod head will
be punctured into the ground. The number of blows needed to penetrate the depth of 300 mm is
recorded and is used as a mark of consistency of cohesive soil and granular packing compactness. If
soil conditions are good, JKR probe can be used up to 1.2 m depth. The JKR probe test is stopped if it
reaches 400 shocks per 300 mm or all 1.2 m steel rods have been used.

Normally, the bearing capacity of a soil should bear a pressure of 100 kN /m2 if the result of the test
shows that more than 400 blows/ 300 mm. The estimated ground bearing capacity can be made
through the results indicated by the test. The errors that will happen in JKR's probe test are the free
fall height is less than 280 mm will result in a large number of impact readings. This error can be
minimizes if we pull the hammer carefully to 280mm height. Then, surveying of the penetration is
not properly marked. It usually when the human eyes do that. Incorrectly counting the number of
blows. We can use the tool to count the number of blows or pull the hammer slowly to get the
correct of number of blows