Exp#5: Standard Penetration Test

Objective:
To determine the resistance and soil against penetration.

Apparatus:
 Tripod
 Rope
 Hammer of weight 63.5kg
 Anvil
 Split spoon samples
 Diving rod

Assignment# 1

Area ratio:

1
A(%)=D22 - D12 / D12
A= area ratio
D2= outside diameter of the sampling tube
D1= inside diameter of the sampling tube
When the area ratio is 10% or less the sample is generally considered to be undisturbed. For a
standard split spoon sampler the ratio should be within 0.5 to 3%. For sand, silt and clay, the
ratio should be 0.5% and for stiff and hard clays (below water table) it should be 1.5%. for stiff
expensive type of clay it should be 3%.

Formula:
 One method utilizes the following equation to evaluate CN, a correction factor N' for the
N-value at field.

 Another method to correct the N-values based on the influence of overburden pressure is
as given below.

Disturbed soil sample:

When the natural conditions of a sample such as its structure, texture, density, natural water
contents or the stress conditions are disturbed then the sample is called as disturbed soil sample.

Undisturbed soil sample:

The undisturbed soil sample is taken out for testing the properties in laboratory, without
disturbing its structure, texture, density, natural water content and stress condition. It is said to be
an undisturbed soil sample.

Theory:
Standard penetration test is most commonly used in-situ test, especially for cohesion less soil
which cannot be easily sampled. This test is extremely useful for determining the relative density
and angle of shear resistance of cohesion less soil. It can also be used determining the UCS of
cohesive soil. The standard penetration Number (N) is corrected for dilatancy corrections.

Dilatancy corrections:
Silty fine sand is fine sand below water table develop pore water pressure which is not easily
dissipated. The pore pressure increases the resistance of soil and hence the penetration # Terzagi
and Peak (1967) recommended the following:
Correction in case of silty fine sand when the observed value N exceeds

2
 NC=15+1/2(NR-15)
Where NC is corrected
NR is recorded
If NR is less or equal to 15, NC= NR
Based upon ‘N’ value we can decide what the state of soil as per following table is:

N State of soil
0-4 Very loose
4-10 Loose
10-30 Medium
30-50 Dense
>50 Very dense
N Denseness
0-2 Very soft
2-4 Soft
4-8 Medium
8-15 Stiff
15-30 Very stiff
Hard

Assignment # 2:
Gibbs and Holtz’ correction

Peck, Hansen and Thornburn correction

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Peck and Bazaraa’s correction

Procedure:
The test uses a thick-walled sample tube, with an outside diameter of 50.8 mm and an inside
diameter of 35 mm, and a length of around 650 mm. This is driven into the ground at the bottom
of a borehole by blows from a slide hammer with a mass of 63.5 kg (140 lb) falling through a
distance of 760 mm (30 in). The sample tube is driven 150 mm into the ground and then the
number of blows needed for the tube to penetrate each 150 mm (6 in) up to a depth of 450 mm
(18 in) is recorded. The sum of the number of blows required for the second and third 6 in. of
penetration is termed the “standard penetration resistance” or the “N-value”. In cases where 50
blows are insufficient to advance it through a 150 mm (6 in) interval the penetration after 50
blows is recorded. The blow count provides an indication of the density of the ground, and it is
used in many empirical geotechnical engineering formulae.

SPT ‘N’:
SPT ‘N’ is the number of blows for 12 in penetration of split spoon sampler, under the effect of a
hammer of 63.5 kg, falling through a height of 30 in.

Assignment# 4:
The limitations are:
 If the number of blows for 6in/150mm increases more than 50 then stop the test.

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  If the number of blows for 12in/30mm is 100 then vice versa.

Geotechnical Investigation Report:

A sub soil investigation report should contain the data obtained from bore holes, sites
observations and laboratory results. It should also give recommendations about the suitable type
of foundation, allowable pressure and expected settlement. A sub soil investigation report should
have the following information in it.
1. Introduction which gives the scope of investigation.
2. Description of proposed structure. The location and geological condition of the site.
3. Details of field exploration Programme, indicating the number of borings, their location
and depth.
4. Details of method of exploration. (Method)
5. General condition of sub soil condition as obtained from SPT and CPT.
6. Details of the laboratory test conducted on soil samples obtained and results obtained.
7. Depth of ground water table and changes in water level.
8. Discussion of results.
9. Recommendations about the allowable bearing pressure, type of foundation.
10. Conclusions of main findings of investigations should be clearly stated. It should be brief
but mention salient features.
11. Limitation of the investigation should be there.

Comments:
The standard penetration test (SPT) is an in-situ dynamic penetration test designed to provide
information on the geotechnical engineering properties of soil. This test is the most frequently
used subsurface exploration drilling test performed worldwide.