Static – Dynamic Penetration Tests
The CPTs (Cone Penetration Tests) are carried out with a GEOCONSULT Ltd. owned, self-propelled, self-anchoring, tracked, heavy duty penetrometer rig (20 ton capacity), manufactured in Italy by FONDECO SRL. The CPTs are executed with a Begemann type cone, with a tip area of 10 cm2, pushed into the ground at a constant penetration rate, capable of measuring cone resistance qc and sleeve friction fs. The measurement of the applied load is carried out with a load cell and a digital readout unit, with a precision of 1 kg (10 N). During the CPTs the penetrometer is anchored to the ground with a specialized anchoring system. The DPSH (Dynamic Penetration Super Heavy) tests are carried out with a solid cone, with a tip area of 20 cm2, which is wider than the rods in order to reduce the skin friction along them. During the DPSH test the number of blows required to drive the cone into the soil by 10 cm is measured (N10). The driving of the DPSH cone is carried out by a 63.5 kg weight falling freely from a height of 0.75 m, through an automatic release mechanism.