Soil Bearing Capacity Test
Soil Bearing Capacity Test
(OP)
Could someone tell me more about the pocket pentrometer? Is it reliable for estimating approximate soil bearing capacities?
I've also been reading about ASTM D 1194-94 Standard Test Method for Bearing Capacity of Soil for Static Load adn Spread Footings. Has anyone out there ever performed this test? Is it difficult and time consuming to perform?
We are constructing a gravity sewer main in peat to clayey to silty to gravelly material (it's a mess!) We are constructing the main on piles. If there is a method suitable, we would like to perform a bearing capacity test during the construction of the main. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! :)
I've also been reading about ASTM D 1194-94 Standard Test Method for Bearing Capacity of Soil for Static Load adn Spread Footings. Has anyone out there ever performed this test? Is it difficult and time consuming to perform?
We are constructing a gravity sewer main in peat to clayey to silty to gravelly material (it's a mess!) We are constructing the main on piles. If there is a method suitable, we would like to perform a bearing capacity test during the construction of the main. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! :)





RE: Soil Bearing Capacity Test
Based on the soil conditions you described, I would be concerned about settlement of the line at least as much as I would be concerned about the bearing capacity. Please note that the bearing capacity is not a predictor of long term settlement and I would suggest you get a geot. eng. involved to do appropriate soil test borings and consolidation tests in the poorer soils you expect to encounter.
RE: Soil Bearing Capacity Test
FYI, a pocket penetrometer is a tool for estimating the unconfined copressive strength of a clayey soil. It does not measure bearing capacity. Bearing capacity isn't a measurable soil property, it will vary with footing width, soil unit weight, and soil strength with depth.
We use pocket penetrometers in the lab to help evaluate undrained shear strength (0.5 * unconfined compressive strength) of soil samples from split spoon samplers. With this value, the blow counts, our experience withlocal soils and with specific foundation info (width, depth, etc)we can estimate an allowable bearing capacity.
In the field we use hand penetrometers to verify that the soil strength in the footing excavations is similar to what we anticipated from the soil borings. Without soil borings however, the tool is more or less useless in the field because bearing capacity is effected by soil strength with depth below a sturcture and the hand penetrometer only measures soil strength at the surface.
A lot a people don't like or trust the values from hand penetrometers. We've found that they are pretty good estimates for the unconfined compressive strength of our local clayey soils, but we don't rely solely on them when recommending soil bearing capacities.
RE: Soil Bearing Capacity Test
I think that this is a case of "horses for courses" and it is a great tool for quick checking of your borehole data, or indeed proving your borehole data to be innacurate but no way should this be your primary form of SI.
As for your particular problem, if you are carrying your pipeline on a piled raft then why are you worried about the strength of your formation? For bearing capacities we rely either on plate bearing tests or SPT results which e can match against the design charts for foundations.
Regards
Andy Machon
Andy@machona.freeserve.co.uk
RE: Soil Bearing Capacity Test
Thanks
Guzmán
RE: Soil Bearing Capacity Test
RE: Soil Bearing Capacity Test