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MACKINTOSH PROBE TEST

The Mackintosh Probe Test is a simple and economic testing method to gather
preliminarydata on sub surface conditions. Such data maybe adequate for the designs of foundations
for lightly loaded structures as this provides a very economic method of determining thethickness of soft
deposits such as peat.
Objectives
Mackintosh Probe test is carried out to determine the bearing capacity of soil.
The resultobtained fromthe test provides a rough estimation of the soil layer at a point.
Background
Soil strength is defined as the ability of the soil to carry the load applied. The strength of soilis often related to
the main characteristic of soil such as cohesion and angle of internalfriction
Objective
Collecting a disturbed soil sample for grain-size analysis and soil classification
Determine sub-surface stratigraphy and identity materials present
Evaluate soil density and in-situ stress conditions
Estimate geotechnical parameters
Theory
The main purpose of the test is to provide an indication of the relative densityof granular deposit, such as
sands and gravels from which it is virtually impossibleto obtain undisturbed samples. The great merit of the
test and the main reason forits widespread use is that it is simple and inexpensive. The soil strength
parameterswhich can be inferred are approximate, but may give a useful guide in groundconditions
where it may not be possible to obtain borehole samples of adequatequality like gravels, sands, silts, clay
containing sand or gravel and weak rock. The usefulness of SPT results depends on the soil type,
with fine-grainedsands giving the most useful results, with coarser sands and silty sands givingreasonably useful
results, and clay and gravelly soils yielding results which may bevery poorly representative of the true
soil conditions. This test method provides a disturbed soil sample for moisture contentdetermination,
for identification and classification purposes, and for laboratory testsappropriate for soil obtained from
a sampler that will produce a large shear straindisturbance in the sample. Soil deposits contained
gravels, cobbles or boulderstypically result in penetration refusal and damage to equipment. This test
method is used extensively in a great variety of geotechnicalexploration projects. Many local
correlations and widely published correlation whichrelate blow count, or N-value, and the engineering
behavior of earthworks andfoundations are available.
Apparatus
Boring Rods
Rod Couplings
Lifting tools
Penetration Cone
Hammer

Wrench
Ruler
Marking tools

Discussion
The use of dynamic probing in conjunction with trial pits and boreholes can produce
information at a low cost. The Mackintosh Probe has a role in site investigations in soft
ground due to the low cost and reasonably repeatable results. Mackintosh Probe testing in
soft soil has been reported for depths of 0 to 10 m (Kong 1983;Fakher et al. 2001).
In addition, M gives an indication of soil parameters. Equations 5 and 7 confirm the
existence of correlations between M and N and which Equations 12 and 14 confirm the
relationships between M and cu. The Mackintosh Probe may be successfully used for soft
clays with undrained shear strength (cu) less than 50 kPa. When the Mackintosh Probe is
used, it is possible that a value of M greater than 50 can be measured. However, the
correlation between cu and M when cu R 50 kPa and M > 30 is not discussed in the paper
and requires further research.The value of M for soft clays is higher than the values obtained
for N suggesting the M value is more sensitive than N to variations in soil properties. This
suggests that Mackintosh Probe testing could be a more appropriate approach than SPT in
very soft soils. If good correlations between soil properties have been established in an area,
Mackintosh testing could be used for additional ground investigations. It can also be used for
the interpolation of soil properties between boreholes to reduce the cost of investigations by
reducing the number of boreholes.

Conclusions

The Mackintosh Probe is a lightweight device, which can be conveniently used for the
investigation of soft soil up to depth of 10 m. It can be carried and used in difficult terrain with
poor access such as swampy ground, as was the case in this research. The results of
Mackintosh Probing can be shown to be both repeatable and indicative of soil strength.
Correlations can be established between M and N and also cu for soft clays and the
Mackintosh Probe can be used rapidly to assess the variability of soil conditions, allowing
different conditions to be identified. This allows effective targeting of any subsequent
boreholes or tests that may be required and also the interpolation of soil properties between
boreholes. Due to the relatively low energy hammer used to drive the probe into the ground
the Mackintosh Probe is not a suitable tool for use in hard clay or soils containing gravel or
cobbles.

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