Skip to main content

Abstract

This chapter covers one of the most popular insitu tests, the cone penetrometer test (CPT). A brief description of different types of tests has been provided. The piezocone test, an advanced CPT, is described including the test procedure and the parameters obtained in the field. Pore pressure transducer placement locations and the corrections to measured pore pressures are presented. A detailed discussion of soil classification using cone test results is provided. Correlations for design parameters related to sands and clays are discussed separately. For sands, correlations include relative density, friction angle, modulus and small strain modulus. For clays, correlations include the undrained shear strength, over consolidation ratio, constrained modulus, small strain shear modulus, compressibility, friction angle, unit weight and permeability. As the CPT test competes with SPT test for popularity, correlations between the two tests are also discussed. Correlations to use CPT derived parameters directly to calculate the ultimate bearing capacity of shallw and deep foundations are presented. The chapter concludes with a section on liquefaction assessment using CPT as well as SPT results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aas G, Lacasse S, Lunne T, Hoeg K (1986) Use of in situ tests for foundation design on clay. In: Proceedings of in situ ‘86: use of in situ tests in geotechnical engineering, Virginia, pp 1–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Anagnostopoulos A, Koukis G, Sabatakakis N, Tsiambaos G (2003) Empirical correlation of soil parameters based on cone penetration tests (CPT) for Greek soils. Geotechn Geol Eng 21(4):373–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrus RD, Mohanan NP, Piratheepan P, Ellis BS, Holzer TL (2007) Predicting shear-wave velocity from cone penetration resistance. In: Proceedings, 4th international conference on earthquake geotechnical engineering, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM D4253-14 Standard test methods for maximum index density and unit weight of soils using a vibratory table

    Google Scholar 

  • ASTM D4254-14 Standard test methods for minimum index density and unit weight of soils and calculation of relative density

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldi, G, Bellotti R, Ghionna V, Jamiolkowski M, Pasqualini E (1986) Interpretation of CPT’s and CPTU’s. 2nd Part: Drained penetration. In: Proceedings 4th international geotechnical seminar, Singapore, pp 143–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Baldi G, Bellotti R, Ghionna VN, Jamiolkowski M, Lo Presti, DFC (1989) Modulus of sands from CPTs and DMTs. In: Proceedings of the 12th international conference on soil mechanics and foundation engineering. Rio de Janeiro. Balkema Pub., Rotterdam, vol 1, pp 165–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Battaglio M, Bruzzi D, Jamiolkowski M, Lancelotta R (1973) Interpretation of CPT and CPTU. In: Proceedings, Field Instrumentation on In-Situ Measurements, Singapore, pp 129-143

    Google Scholar 

  • Battaglio M, Bruzzi D, Jamiolkowski M, Lancellotta, R (1986) Interpretation of CPT and CPTU. In: Interpretation of CPT and CPTU. In: Proceedings, field instrumentation on in-situ measurements, Singapore, pp 129–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellotti R, Ghionna VN, Jamiolkowski M, Robertson PK (1989) Shear strength of sand from CPT. In: Proccedings, 12th international conference on soil mechanics and foundation engineering. Rio de Janeiro. Balkema Pub., Rotterdam, vol 1, pp 179–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergdahl U, Ottosson E, Malmborg BS (1993) Plattgrundlӓggning. AB Svensk Byggtjӓnst, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulanger RW (2003) State normalization of penetration resistance and the effect of overburden stress on liquefaction resistance. In: Proceedings 11th international conference on soil dynamics and earthquake engineering and 3rd international conference on earthquake geotechnical engineering, University of California, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Burland JB, Burbidge MC (1985) Settlement of foundations on sand and gravel. In: Proceedings institute of civil engineers, Part I7, pp 1325–1381

    Google Scholar 

  • Campanella RG, Robertson PK (1988) Current status of the piezocone test. In: Penetration testing 1988, vol 1 (Proc. ISOPT-1), Orlando, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 93–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Campanella RG, Gillespie D, Robertson PK (1982) Pore pressures during cone penetration testing. In: Proceedings of the 2nd european symposium on penetration testing, ESPOT II. Amsterdam. A.A. Balkema, pp 507–512

    Google Scholar 

  • Canadian Geotechnical Society (1992) Canadian foundation engineering manual, 3rd edn. Bi-Tech Publishers, Ltd., Richmond

    Google Scholar 

  • CUR (1996) Building on soft soils, Centre for Civil Engineering Research and Codes (CUR), CUR Report 162. A. A. Balkema, Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Das BM, Sivakugan N (2011) Maximum and minimum void ratios and median grain size of granular soils: their importance and correlations with material properties. In: Proceedings of the international conference on advances in geotechnical engineering, ICAGE 2011, Perth, WA, Australia, pp 59–73

    Google Scholar 

  • De Court L (1995) Prediction of load settlement relationships for foundations on the basis of the SPT-T. In: Ccico de Conferencias Intern. “Leonardo Zeevaert”, UNAM, Mexico, pp 85–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Demers D, Leroueil S (2002) Evaluation of preconsolidation pressure and the overconsolidation ratio from piezocone tests of clay deposits in quebec. Can Geotech J 39(1):174–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Douglas BJ, Olsen RS (1981) Soil classification using electric cone penetrometer. In: Symposium on cone penetrometer testing and experience, Proceedings ASCE National convention, St Louis, pp 209–27, ASCE

    Google Scholar 

  • Durgunoglu HT, Mitchell JK (1975) Static penetration resistance of soils, I-Analysis, II-Evaluation of theory and implications for practice. In: Proceedings of the conference on in situ measurement of soil properties, ASCE, Raleigh, North Carolina, vol I, pp. 151–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Dysli M, Steiner W (2011) Correlations in soil mechanics. PPUR, EPFL Rolex Learning Centre, Lausanne

    Google Scholar 

  • Eslaamizaad S, Robertson PK (1997) Evaluation of settlement of footings on sand from seismic in-situ tests. In: Proceedings of the 50th Canadian geotechnical conference, Ottawa, Ontario, vol 2, pp 755–764

    Google Scholar 

  • Eslami A, Fellenius BH (1997) Pile capacity by direct CPT and CPTU data. In: Year 2000 Geotechnics, Geotechnical Engineering Conference, AIT Bangkok, 18 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank R, Magnan JP (1995) Cone penetration testing in France: national report. In: Proceedings CPT ’95, Linkoping, Swedish Geotechnical Society, vol 3, pp 147–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Hegazy YA, Mayne PW (1995) Statistical correlations between VS and cone penetration data for different soil types. In: Proceedings international symposium on cone penetration testing, CPT ’95, Linkoping, Sweden, vol 2, pp 173–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Holtz RD (1991) Chapter 5: Stress distribution and settlement of shallow foundations. In: Fang H-Y (ed) Foundation engineering handbook, 2nd edn. van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, pp 166–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong SJ, Lee MJ Kim JJ, Lee WJ (2010) Evaluation of undrained shear strength of Busan clay using CPT. In: 2nd international symposium on cone penetration testing CPT’10, pp 2–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Idriss IM (1999) An update to the Seed-Idriss simplified procedure for evaluating liquefaction potential. In: Proceedings TRB workshop on new approaches to liquefaction, Publication No FHWA-RD-99-165, Federal Highway Administration

    Google Scholar 

  • Idriss IM, Boulanger RW (2004) Semi-empirical procedures for evaluating liquefaction potential during earthquakes. In: Proceddings 11th international conference on soil dynamics and earthquake engineering, Berkeley, pp 32–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Idriss IM, Boulanger RW (2006) Semi-empirical procedures for evaluating liquefaction potential during earthquakes. J Soil Dyn Earthquake Eng 26:115–130, Elsevier

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Idriss IM, Boulanger RW (2008) Soil liquefaction during earthquakes. Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Oakland

    Google Scholar 

  • ISSMGE TC16 (1989) International reference test procedure for the CPT and CPTU. In: Proceedings 12th international conference on soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamiolkowski M, Ladd CC, Germaine J, Lancellotta R (1985) New developments in field and lab testing of soils. In: Proceedings 11th international conference on soil mechanics and foundations engineering, vol 1, San Francisco, pp 57–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Jamiolkowski M, LoPresti DCF, Manassero M (2001) Evaluation of relative density and shear strength of sands from cone penetration test and flat dilatometer test, Soil behaviour and soft ground construction (GSP 119). ASCE, Reston, pp 201–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Janbu N (1963) Soil compressibility as determined by oedometer and triaxial tests. In: Proceedings European conference on soil mechanics and foundation engineering, Wiesbaden, 1, pp 19–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Janbu N, Senneset K (1974) Effective stress interpretation of in situ static penetration tests. In: Proceedings European symposium on penetration testing, ISOPT, Stockholm, 2.2, pp 181–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Jefferies MG, Davies MP (1991) Soil classification by the cone penetration test. Discussion. Can Geotech J 28:173–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jefferies MG, Davies MP (1993) Use of CPTU to estimate equivalent SPT N60. Geotech Test J ASTM 16(4):458–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones GA, Rust E (1982) Piezometer penetration testing. In: Proceedings 2nd European symposium on penetration testing, ESOPT-2, Amsterdam, 2, pp 697–614

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim D, Shin Y, Siddiki N (2010) Geotechnical design based on CPT and PMT, Joint Transportation Research Program, FHWA/IN/JTRP-2010/07, Final Report

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulhawy FH, Mayne PW (1990) Manual on estimating soil properties for foundation design. Report EL- 6800 submitted to Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, California, 306 p

    Google Scholar 

  • La Rochelle P, Zebdi PM, Leroueil S, Tavenas F, Virely D (1988) Piezocone tests in sensitive clays of eastern Canada. In: Proceedings international symposium on penetration testing, ISOPT-1, Orlando, 2, pp 831–41, Balkema Pub., Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Long M (2008) Design parameters from insitu tests in soft ground – recent developments. In: Huang AB, Mayne PW (eds) Geotechnical and geophysical site characterization. Taylor & Francis Group, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Lunne T, Christophersen HP (1983) Interpretation of cone penetrometer data for offshore sands. In: Proceedings of the offshore technology conference, Richardson, Texas, Paper No. 4464

    Google Scholar 

  • Lunne T, Kleven A (1981) Role of CPT in North Sea Foundation Engineering. In: Symposium on cone penetration and testing and experience, ASCE, pp 49–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Lunne T, Robertson PK, Powell JJM (1997) Cone penetration testing in geotechnical practice. Blackie Academic & Professional/Chapman-Hall Publishers, London, 312 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayne PW (2001) Stress-strain-strength-flow parameters from enhanced in-situ tests. In: Proceedings international conference on in-situ measurement of soil properties & case histories (In-Situ 2001), Bali, Indonesia, pp 27–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayne PW (2006) In-situ test calibrations for evaluating soil parameters. In: Phoon KS, Hight DW, Leroueil S, Tan TS (eds) Proceedings of the second international workshop on characterization and engineering properties of natural soils. Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayne PW (2007) Cone penetration testing State-of-Practice, NCHRP Synthesis. Transportation Research Board Report Project 20–05, 118 pages

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayne PW (2014) Interpretation of geotechnical parameters from seismic piezocone tests. In: Robertson PK, Cabal KI (eds) Proceedings 3rd international symposium on cone pentrometer testing, CPT’14, Las Vegas, pp 47–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayne PW, Kemper JB (1988) Profiling OCR in stiff clays by CPT and SPT. Geotech Test J 11(2):139–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayne PW, Rix JG (1993) Gmax-qc relationships for clays. Geotech Test J ASTM 16(1):54–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayne PW, Rix GJ (1995) Correlations between shear wave velocity and cone tip resistance in natural clays. Soils Found 35(2):107–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayne PW, Christopher BR, DeJong JT (2002) Manual on Subsurface Investigations, FHWA Publication No. FHWA NHI-01-031, p 294

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayne PW, Peuchen J, Bouwmeester D (2010) Soil unit weight estimation from CPTS, In: Proceedings 2nd international symposium on cone penetration testing CPT ’10, vol 2, Huntington Beach, California, pp 169–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Meigh AC (1987) Cone penetration testing – methods and interpretation, CIRIA, Butterworths

    Google Scholar 

  • MELT (1993) Régles techniques de conception et de calcul des fondations des ouvrages de génie civil, Fascicule No 62, Titre V No 93–3 TO. Ministére de l′Equpment du Logement et des Transports, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyerhoff GG (1956) Penetration tests and bearing capacity of cohesionless soils. J Soil Mech Found Div ASCE 82(SM1):1–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Molle J (2005) The accuracy of the interpretation of CPT-based soil classification methods in soft soils, MSc thesis, Section for Engineering Geology, Department of Applied Earth Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Report No. 242, Report AES/IG/05-25

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen RS, Mitchell JK (1995) CPT stress normailisation and prediction of soil classification. In: Proceedings international symposium on cone penetration testing, CPT’95, Lingköping, Sweden, Swedish Geotechnical Society, 2, pp 257–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Peck RB, Hanson WE, Thornburn TH (1974) Foundation design. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Piratheepan P (2002) Estimating shear-wave velocity from SPT and CPT Data, Master of Science thesis, Clemson University

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell JJM, Quarterman RST (1988) The interpretation of cone penetration tests in clays, with particular reference to rate effects. In: Proceedings international symposium on penetration testing, ISPT-1, Orlando, 2, pp 903–910, Balkema Pub., Rotterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsey N (2002) A calibrated model for the interpretation of cone penetration tests (CPT’s) in North Sea quaternary soils. In: Proceedings international conference offshore site investigation and geotechnics, SUT 2002, London, Nov, pp 341–356

    Google Scholar 

  • Remai Z (2013) Correlation of undrained shear strength and CPT resistance. Zsolt Rémai Periodica Polytechnica Civil Engineering 57(1):39–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rix GJ, Stokes KH (1992) Correlation of initial tangent modulus and cone resistance, Proceedings international symposium on calibration chamber testing, Postdam, NY, 1991, pp 351–362, Elsevier

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson PK (1990) Soil classification using the cone penetration test. Can Geotech J 27(1):151–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson PK (2009) Interpretation of cone penetration tests – a unified approach. Can Geotech J 46:1337–1355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson PK (2012) Interpretation of in-situ tests – some insights. In: J.K. Mitchell Lecture, Proceedings of ISC’4, Recife, Brazil

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson PK, Cabal KL (2010) Estimating soil unit weight from CPT. In: 2nd international symposium on cone penetration testing, CPT’10, Hungtington Beach, California

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson PK, Cabal KL (2014) Guide to cone penetration testing for geotechnical engineering, 6th edn. Gregg Drilling & Testing, Inc., Signal Hill, California

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson PK, Campanella RG (1983) Interpretation of cone penetration tests – Part I (sand). Can Geotech J 20(4):718–733

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson PK, Campanella RG (1995) Liquefaction potential of sands using the cone penetration test. J Geotech Eng ASCE 22(3):298–307

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson PK, Wride CE (1997) Cyclic liquefaction and its evaluation based on SPT and CPT. In: Proceedings of NCEER workshop on evaluation of liquefaction resistance of soils, National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, State University of New York, Buffalo, Technical Report No. NCEER-97-0022, pp 41–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson PK, Wride CE (1998) Evaluating cyclic liquefaction potential using the cone penetrometer test. Can Geotech J 35(3):442–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson PK, Campanella RG, Wightman A (1983) SPT-CPT correlations. J Geotech Eng ASCE 109(11):1449–1459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson PK, Campanella RG, Gillespie D, Greig J (1986) Use of piezometer cone data. In: Proceedings ASCE specialty conference in-situ’86 use of insitu testing in geotechnical engineering, pp 1263–1280

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandevan R (1990) Strength and deformation properties of fine grained soils obtained from piezocone tests, PhD thesis, NTH Trondheim

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanglerat G (1972) The penetrometer and soil exploration. Elsevier Pub, Amsterdam, 488 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmertmann JH (1970) Static cone to compute static settlement over sand. Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division, ASCE, 96(SM3):1011–1043

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnaid F (2009) In situ testing in goemechanics. Taylor and Francis, London, 329p

    Google Scholar 

  • Seed HB, Idriss IM (1971) Simplified procedure for evaluating soil liquefaction potential. J Soil Mech Found Eng ASCE 97(SM9):1249–1273

    Google Scholar 

  • Senneset K, Sandven R, Janbu N (1989) The evaluation of soil parameters from piezocone tests. In: Proceedings in situ testing of soil properties for transportation facilities, Research Council, Trans. Research Board, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Sivakugan N, Das BM (2010) Geotechnical engineering, a practical problem solving approach. J Ross Publishing, Fort Lauderdale

    Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki Y, Koyamada K, Tokimtsu K (1997) Prediction of liquefaction resistance based on CPT tip resistance and sleeve friction. In: Proceedings 14th international conference on soil mechanics and foundation engineering, Hamburg, Germany, vol 1, pp 603–606

    Google Scholar 

  • Sykora DW, Stokoe KH II (1983) Correlations on in situ measurements in sands of shear wave velocity, soil characteristics, and site conditions, Geotechnical Engineering Report GR83-33. University of Texas at Austin, Austin

    Google Scholar 

  • Villet WCB, Mitchell JK (1981) Cone resistance, relative density and friction angle, Cone Penetration Testing and Experience. Session at the ASCE National Convention, St Louis, pp 178–207, ASCE

    Google Scholar 

  • Wair BR, DeJong JT, Shantz T (2012) Guidelines for estimation of shear wave velocity profiles, PEER report 2012/08. University of California, Pacific Earthquake Research Center, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Youd TL, Idriss IM, Andrus RD, Arango I, Castro G, Christian JT, Dobry R, Finn WDL, Harder LF, Hynes ME, Ishihara K, Koester J, Liao S, Marcuson WF III, Martin GR, Mitchell JK, Moriwaki Y, Power MS, Robertson PK, Seed R, Stokoe KH (2001) Liquefaction resistance of soils: summary report from the 1996 NCEER and 1998 NCEER/NSF workshop on evaluation of liquefaction resistance of soils. ASCE J Geotechnical & Geoenvironmental Engineering 127:817–833

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer India

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ameratunga, J., Sivakugan, N., Das, B.M. (2016). Cone Penetrometer Test. In: Correlations of Soil and Rock Properties in Geotechnical Engineering. Developments in Geotechnical Engineering. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2629-1_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2629-1_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New Delhi

  • Print ISBN: 978-81-322-2627-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-2629-1

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics