10/7/2013

Gregg Drilling & Testing, Inc.

Site Investigation Experts

Cone Penetration Test (CPT)

Quality control (QC)

Dr. Peter K. Robertson

Webinar #10
2013

Robertson, 2013

CPT Guide
5th Edition

Download FREE copy from:

www.greggdrilling.com
www.cpt-robertson.com
www.geologismiki.gr
Robertson 5th Edition
& Cabal (Robertson) 2012
Robertson, 2013

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CPT Quality Control

Two basic components:
• How to get good CPT (CPTu) data?
– Consultants - Specifications (Standards)
– Contractors - Equipment & procedures
• How to evaluate the data you have?
– What to do with what you have?
– Evaluate, correct and process data

Robertson, 2013

Basic Cone Parameters

Friction ratio = (fs/qc)100 %

Sleeve Friction
fs = load/2rh

Pore Pressure
u2

Tip Resistance
qc = load/ r 2

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CPT Quality Control

How to get good CPT (CPTu) data?

• In general, CPT is very reliable, since it’s essentially operator
independent. However, there are some things to ensure
excellent data
– Consultants - Specifications (Standards)
– Contractors - Equipment & procedures

Robertson, 2013

Standards
There are many Standards for CPT (& CPTu):
– ISSMGE - (IRTP) 1999/2001
– USA - ASTM D: 5778-12
– European - CEN TC341 – CPT and CPTu
(CEN/ISO 22476-1:2012)
– Other National standards and codes
– Offshore

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Standards - key elements

• Equipment
– cone design, dimensional tolerances
• Calibration
– accuracy (capacity – FSO)
• Procedures
– zero load readings, saturation, push rate,
temperature
• Corrections
– unequal area effects - qc to qt
• Checks

Robertson, 2013

Equipment
• Cone apex angle : 60 deg.
• Diameter : 35.7 mm for 10 cm2
(up to 43.7mm for 15 cm2)
– CEN: from 5 to 20 cm2
• Friction sleeve area: 150 cm2 for
10 cm2 (225 cm2 for 15 cm2)
• Prefered filter location for CPTu:
behind cone (u2)
• Limits on dimensional tolerances

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Range in measurements
Challenge to measure accurate
Dimensionless SBT Chart values in soft soils but
penetrate dense soils that are
fs/pa = 1.0
>10x stronger!
SAND
In most soft fine-grained soils:
Dimensionless

fs/pa = 0.1
qc < 1 MPa (10 tsf)

fs/pa = 0.01 1 kPa < fs < 50 kPa

CLAY
Soft fine-grained soils
Modified from Robertson, 2010
pa = atmospheric pressure = 0.1 MPa ~ 1 tsf

Robertson, 2013

Example CPT in mixed soils

Large
range in
values!
qc > 60 MPa
fs > 800 kPa
3 orders of
u2 ~ -100 kPa
magnitude
for qc & fs

qc < 1 MPa fs < 5 kPa

6 -7 orders
of
magnitude
for u2
u2 > 2,000 kPa

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Example CPT in soft sediments

In upper 5m:

qc < 200 kPa

fs < 5 kPa

qc < 0.5 MPa fs < 10 kPa In very soft

< 500 kPa soils cones
often work at
the very low
end of the
measurement
range

Robertson, 2013

Unequal end area effects on qc

qt = qc + u2(1-a)

a = 0.60 to 0.85

a = tip net area ratio

~ An/Ac

In sands: qt = qc

In very soft clays:

correction to qt is important

Cones should have high net area ratio

a > 0.8
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Unequal end area effects on fs

ft = fs – (u2Asb – u3Ast)/As

10 cm2 cones As = 150 cm2

15 cm2 cones As = 225 cm2

Equal end area cone, Asb = Ast (ideally small)

Pore pressure ratio, a = u3/u2

Typically: 0.50 < a < 0.80

In very soft clays:
Important to have equal end areas
Robertson, 2013

Error in fs due to end areas

Company cone size Asb Ast Asb/Ast Dfs Error
(cm2) (mm2) (mm2) (kPa) (fs = 10 kPa)
u2 = 300 kPa (fs/s’v= 0.1)
(Lunne, 2006) u3 = 210 kPa Soft soil
(Du2/s’v =3)
Fugro 10 326 259 1.26 3.02 30%
Fugro 15 388 343 1.13 1.97 20%
AP Berg 10 263 263 1.00 1.58 16%
Pagani 10 437 214 2.04 5.74 57%
Envi 10 305 170 1.79 3.72 37%
Gregg 15 150 150 1.00 0.60 6%

In very soft fine-grained soils important to have equal end area

sleeve with small area
*ASTM requires equal end area sleeves
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Robertson, 2013

Calibration
Most modern cones have
strain gauge load cells that
are temperature
compensated, with
excellent repeatability and
little non linearity and
hysteresis.

Cones come in different

capacities (FSO):

Common high capacity cones -

Zero load drift critical in very soft soils Tip FSO ~ 100 MPa
(i.e 1,000 tsf)
10 cm2 – 10 ton
15 cm2 – 15 ton

Robertson, 2013

Load cell design

Q+F
F

Q
Q

Separate load cells Subtraction

(better accuracy for fs) (slightly more robust)

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Robertson, 2013

Application Classes
Some Standards specify Application Class

IRTP 2001

Very soft soils

Mixed soils

Dense-stiff soils

Robertson, 2013

Application Classes

ISO 22476-1
CPTu
CEN TC341
Very soft soils

CPTu
CPT
Mixed soils

CPTu
CPT

Dense-stiff soils

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Application Classes
• Application class 1: soft to very soft soil. Not for mixed soil
profiles with soft to dense layers. Tests can only be performed with CPTu.

• Application class 2: For mixed soil profiles with soft to dense

layers, in terms of profiling, material identification and engineering
properties, with limitations/restrictions in the soft layers. Penetrometer type
(CPT or CPTu) depends on project requirements.

• Application class 3: For stiff and dense soils, in terms of profiling,

material identification and engineering properties. Penetrometer type (CPT
or CPTu) depends on project requirements.

Robertson, 2013

Accuracy
• Most strain gauge load cells have an accuracy
of about 0.1% to 0.5% FSO
• 100 MPa (1,000 tsf) FSO capacity on tip (qc) ~
accuracy of 0.1 to 0.5 MPa (i.e. 1 to 5 tsf)
– Dense sand/stiff clay (with qc > 10 MPa) – excellent accuracy
(> 1 to 5%)
– Soft clay (qc < 1 MPa) – need lower capacity (FSO)

• Key factor is zero load drift

• Zero load drift must not exceed expected
accuracy (i.e. very small for soft soils)

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Accuracy - Repeatability
• In general:
– Tip (qt) is more accurate & repeatable than sleeve
(fs)
• Prefer separate load cells to improve accuracy of fs
• Equal end area sleeves to minimize water effects on fs
• Check dimensional tolerance on sleeve
– Tip (qt) is more accurate & repeatable than u2
• Except in very soft fine-grained soils (where qc can be
very small and u2 can be very large)
• Potential loss of saturation in stiff dilative soils
(negative values for u2)
Robertson, 2013

Repeatability - example

Loss of saturation can produce ‘sluggish’ pore pressure response

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Repeatability of pore pressures data?

Why is pore pressure data so complex and often
lacks repeatability?
– complex stress and strain field around cone
– strongly dilative soils can produce negative pore pressures
at u2 location
Pore pressure data can be very good in soft fine-
grained soils with high GWL
– high positive pore pressures throughout
– short depth to saturated soils

Complex distribution of pore pressures

Modified from Campanella et al. 1985

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Repeatability of fs?

Sleeve friction measurements often considered

unreliable?
• use separate load cell design
• use equal end area sleeves (with small areas)
• check dimensional tolerance (avoid over sized
sleeve)

Robertson, 2013

Robertson, 2013

Repeatability

qt within fs within u2 within

20 kPa 2 kPa 20 kPa

Very soft, NC
Clay

Excellent accuracy & repeatability is possible with good equipment & procedures

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Robertson, 2013

Influence of oversized sleeve

Excellent 5 kPa Excellent

repeatability repeatability
in qt in u2

New
Oversized sleeve
Very soft, NC
Clay

Oversized sleeve can produce more variable fs measurements due to variable wear

Check List (Contractors)

equipment & procedures

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Zero load readings

• Ideally 3 zero load readings (with cone vertical):
1. immediately before test (clean cone)
2. immediately after test
3. after test with cone cleaned
• Zero load drift immediately before and after test, i.e.
readings 1 & 2):
– used for interpretation of test results (captures impact of test
on data – zero load correction)
• Zero load stability from before and after cleaning of
cone (i.e. readings 1 and 3):
– measure of correct functioning of equipment
Robertson, 2013

Causes of zero load drift?

• Most common cause:
– Although most cones are temperature
compensated, large temperature changes can cause
small zero load drift
• hot day (~250C) to cool groundwater (~50C)
• dense sand over soft clay
– Ensure cone is powered for > 15 mins before test
– Take zero load reading before test at ground temp
• e.g. bucket of water to keep cone cool

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Consultants/clients
• Specify required standard (e.g. ASTM)
– check for compliance
• Specify Application Class, if possible
• Supervise and ask for field check list
– educate field supervisors
• Evaluate results in the field, if possible
• Check zero load drift and stability, if testing
soft soils
Robertson, 2013

Client/consultant – Check List

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CPT Quality Control

How to evaluate the data you have?

– Evaluate, correct and process data
• CPeT-IT very useful software
• http://www.geologismiki.gr/
– What to do with what you have?
• what to do if data is not ideal?
• examples

Robertson, 2013

Evaluate data
• Check for:
– Data spikes (e.g. rod breaks, etc.) – that should be
removed
– Zero or negative readings (very soft soil with
larger zero load drift)
– Overlay comparison to check consistency at site
– Loss of saturation in pore pressure
– Dissipation test(s) to estimate piezometric level
(GWL)

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Example data spikes

Data spike in qc Data spike removed

Occasional (single data) spike in one channel

– can be due to electrical noise or depth triggering system
Robertson, 2013

Example data spikes

Raw data Corrected data

Add ‘hand auger’

Data spikes in qc Data spikes removed

Missing data in fs

No missing data

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Example negative values

Raw data Corrected data

Negative fs values
in very soft soils Small values added to fs
(1 or 2 kPa)

Data spikes in qc
Data spikes removed

Zero drift can cause some fs values to go negative in very soft soil
Robertson, 2013

Impact on interpretation
Negative values makes SBT
identification (soil type)
difficult, resulting in gaps in
interpretation.

Gaps in interpretation

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Impact on interpretation

Adjust fs values to get

correct SBT to fill
missing gaps -
Missing gaps completed often + 1 or 2 kPa

Check interpretation
values

Robertson, 2013

Worked
Examples

CPeT-IT
(see – petit)
http://www.geologismiki.gr/
John Th. Ioannides

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Summary
• In most cases CPT data is reliable and
representative of ground conditions
– e.g. much more reliable than SPT!
• Reduce chances of poor data by:
– sound specification of standards
– evaluate data in the field (train field staff)
– use good data processing software (e.g. CPeT-IT)

Robertson, 2013

Questions?

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