CPTs should not be carried out in isolation except where extensive experience of

the site or similar materials is available. A number of exploratory holes should

be put down adjacent to CPTs to ensure that correlations being used are valid
for the particular strata being investigated; the number of these would be
dependent on the variability of the ground, size of site and layout of
investigation
NOTE 2 In use, the probe is advanced at a uniform rate of penetration by thrust on
the sounding rods and the electric signals from the various measuring devices are
normally carried by a cable threaded through the penetrometer rods to the surface.
Other systems are available, which either transmit the data to the surface using
acoustics, or store the test data in the probe so that it can be downloaded when the
probe is recovered at the end of each test. Data from the test is displayed for
immediate assessment, recorded automatically at selected intervals by computer or
data logger for later processing. Sole dependence on data that is recorded
electrically, which cannot be assessed during or immediately after test completion, is
not recommended.
NOTE 3 Penetrometer tests can be deflected off line by some ground conditions,
leading to significant errors in the reporting of vertical depths. BS EN ISO 22476-1
specifies the use of inclinometers when undertaking testing in certain ground
conditions and always if the results are to be used to determine geotechnical
parameters. BS EN ISO 22476-1 sets classes of equipment related to the purpose of
the test.
NOTE 4 The electrical cone penetration test is relatively quick to carry out and the
results can be made available immediately following the completion of the test; it is
also usually cheaper by comparison with boring, sampling and laboratory testing.
However, no direct inspection of the ground is carried out, and all information
regarding material type and properties is derived from essentially empirical
correlations with the behaviour of the cone during penetration. The descriptions of
soil types are reported from CPT/CPTU tests. The soil descriptions presented on CPT
logs traditionally follow the format of those on exploratory holes (see Section 6),
these are, however, not based on actual particle size distribution or plasticity
assessment but on correlation of soil type with cone behaviour. The soil types in
commonly used correlations use поп-UK descriptive terminology. Consistency and
relative density terms are used in accordance with different definitions to those for
soils in Section 6.
NOTE 5 The results of a test are presented as plots versus depth of cone resistance,
local friction and friction ratio (local friction divided by cone resistance), together
with pore water pressure if a piezocone has been used in accordance with
BS EN ISO 22476-1. The frequency of data recording can be varied to suit the needs
of the investigation. An assessment of these data can give a useful indication of the
ground profile, together with many parameters such as strength, relative density
and modulus of elasticity. Many correlations are now available for a wide range of
soils (see Lunne et al., 1997 [74] and Meigh, 1987 [80]) and others are constantly
under development. For any site, however, it is important to ensure that the
correlations being used are valid for the particular strata being investigated.
Electrical cone penetration test data can also be used directly for design purposes
e.g. pile capacity or driveability.
NOTE 6 The electrical cone and piezocone penetration test is commonly used as a
rapid and economical means of interpolating the ground profile between boreholes.
It can accurately detect the presence of thin soil layers of less than 100 mm
thickness, which can easily be undetected by conventional boring and sampling. The
test can reliably identify variations in strength across a site and with depth. The
results can then be used to plan a programme of selective boring sampling and
laboratory testing in zones of special interest. When the piezocone is used,
dissipation tests, which monitor the decay of the porewater pressure measured by
the cone during a pause in driving, can facilitate the assessment of the coefficient of
consolidation and its variation across the site and with depth.