Q1 Interpretation of CPTu Tests

a. Factors affecting measurements and corrections

The pore water pressures around a penetrating cone influence the measured
cone resistance and sleeve friction. The measured pore water pressure is
also influenced by the location of the filter and sometimes by the axial load
and cone
Other factors such as the temperature changes inclination calibration errors
and wear of the cone can also influence the measurements. !ore
analytically"
Pore water pressure effects qc and fs:
The pore water pressure acts on the shoulder area behind the cone and on
the ends of the friction sleeve. #s it is illustrated in the figure.
This effect is often referred to as $ the unequal area effect$ and influences
the total stress determined from the cone and friction sleeve. %or the cone
resistance the une&ual area is represented by the cone area ratio which is
approximately e&ual to the ratio of the cross'sectional area of the load cell or
shaft An divided by the pro(ected area of the cone Ac and it can be
specified by producer. The corrected total cone resistance qt is given by
e&uation"
)ere"
*+ ' is the pressure behind the cone
a , cone area ratio - may vary from ./ to .001
The cone area ratio can be determined by applying air or water pressure
and then measure the cone resistance and friction sleeve
2ince the friction sleeve has $end area$ that will be exposed to
pore water pressure the measured sleeve friction will also be
influenced by the pore water pressure effects. 3hen excess
pore pressures are generated the pore pressure are normally
different at the upper -u41 and lower -u+1 ends of the sleeve. 2o
the sleeve friction ft can be given by"
The magnitude of the correction can be reduced by having
#sb5#st and ma6ing these end areas as small as possible
In practice correction is difficult
and u4 is rarely measured.
b) Presentation of data
The information that should be presented for the final presentations of the CPTu data in the field report are"
Measured parameters" qc fs and u should be plotted on one sheet an appropriate scale should be chosen and the used scale should
be applied to all CPT results. In this way the results can be compared. #n example is illustrated in the following figure"
Derived parameters: The following parameters should be derived and plotted
when it is possible" &t ft 7f-friction ration 89:1 which is the friction ratio and is
e&ual to "
7f5fs;&c5ft;&t5fs;&t<
Pore pressure ratio" =&5>*;&t'?v.
3here"
>u5excess pore pressure -u'u.1
u.5in situ e&uilibrium pore water pressure
5in situ total vertical stress
Additional information:
@ach diagram with CPTu results should include"
2ite name
Test no.
Aate of performing
Position of porous elements
Bround water level -depth in which water appears1


The field report should include" description of e&uipment used< cone geometry and dimensions< calibration
factors< Cero reading of all sensors before and after testing< type of li&uid used in pore pressure measurement<
area of cone a and the friction sleeve areas<
c) eneral factors affecting interpretation
!quipment design are most significant for penetration in soft normally consolidated fine'grained soils and not so much in sand. The three ma(or
areas of cone design that influence interpretation are"
") #nequal area effects
$) Pie%ometer location& si%e and saturation
')Accurac( of measurements
)n situ stresses: in situ horiContal effective stress ?Dh. has a dominant effect on the cone resistance and the friction sleeve stress. =ut the
techni&ues for measuring in situ horiContal stresses are not very reliable especially for sands.
* +ompressibilit(& cementation and particle si%e:
)ighly compressible sand tend to have low cone resistance and in some cases high friction rate. The cementation between particles reduces
compressibility and thereby increases the cone resistance. 3hen the particle siCe of a soil penetrated becomes a significant fraction of the cone
diameter then the cone resistance can increase abruptly because of the decreased compressibility of the soil due to the need for the cone to
displace these particles as rigid units.
E ,hin sand la(ers "
2oft layers thinner than 1.. mm can be fully deleted.
2tiff layers may need to be as thic6 as F0. mm or more to reach its full value
2trength of stiff layers could be underestimated
Thin sand layers located within a soft clay deposit" In order to get accurate results corrected cone resistance is calculated by" #nd it is illustrated in
%ig. 1.
&cs5GcH&c+ "
3here"
Gc , correction factor<
&c+ , cone resistance in the layer<
Correction factor Gc can be found form the diagram %ig. + or by e&"
3here"
) , layer thicness 8mm:

1
+
d) -oil classification
In order to determine the soil stratigraphy the CPTu
measurements can be used. The friction sleeve fs is often
less accurate and less reliable than the cone resistance.
# soil classification chart based on qt and .f was presented
by the Aouglas and Olsen in 1/I1 as illustrated in the figure
1"
-/)0- +orrected cone
resistance& qt
Friction ratio&
.f
-and( soils )igh Jow
-oft cla( soils Jow )igh
/rganic soils Kery low Kery high
-ensitive soils Jow Jow
-oils with high
overconsolidation
ratio
)igh )igh
%ig. 1
The soil classification charts used the *nified 2oil Classification 2ystem.
.obertson "123 uses the u$ measurement to get 4q -Pore pressure ratio1
=&5>u;&t'?vo < #lso these graphs allows to estimate soil unit weights depending on
soil type. This chart is based on CPT data obtained from depth less than 4. m.
3roth-1/IL1/II1 suggested that CPT data should be normalised using these parameters"
7obertson-1//.1 uses &t fs and u+<
The two charts shown in figure 0.I represents a
three dimensional classification system that
incorporates all three pieces of CPTu data. %or
basic CPT data where only &c and fs available the
left chart is used.
Benerally soils that fall in Cones M and F represents
approximately drained penetration whereas soils
in Cones 1+4 and L represents undrained
penetrations. Nones 0I/ , partially drained
penetration.
7obertson -1//.1 suggests that charts should be
used as a guide to define soil behaviour type
depending on CPTu data.
*se of the classification charts re&uire the use of
iteration.
Aissipation tests can also be used to guide the
interpretation.