cone penetration testing and geotechnical design

GE Solutions Consulting Ltd.

CONE PENETRATIONTESTING AND GEOTECHNICAL

DESIGN & RESEARCH SERVICES© 2020 GE Solutions Consulting Ltd.

GE Solutions Consulting Ltd. GE Solutions Consulting Ltd.

32

Cone penetration testing

(CPT) is a form of advanced

ground investigation

composed of advancing

measurement cones under a

constant rate of penetration

into the soil body in order

to make measurements

of resistance which can

be interpreted into a

geotechnical profile. The

testing equipment is housed

within a mobile tracked

laboratory which is fully

self-contained. The cones

provide a continuous trace

of data and, thus, a complete

profile of the soil body at the

probe position. In context,

CPT is a fast, efficient and

versatile form of ground

investigation that produces a

large volume of high-quality

data. In addition, specialist

modules allow us to extract

samples of soil from any

probed depth and we also

offer a bespoke plate load

testing facility which is a

very efficient way to run the

test, avoiding the need for

cumbersome reaction loads,

dial gauges and string lines.

At GES we use innovative

and high-quality cone

penetration testing

equipment in order to

provide customers with

surety of their data and high-

quality results. We offer the

following services:

• Digital piezocone

penetration testing

• Dissipation testing

• Plate load testing

• Soil sampling

• Reporting

• Interpretation & design

CONE PENETRATIONTESTING AND GEOTECHNICALDESIGN & RESEARCH SERVICES


4

Digital piezocone technology

is currently the gold standard

in routine land-based CPT

probing owing to reliability in

data acquisition, continuity of

data and high sensitivity. At

GES, we normally operate with

subtraction cones in which

the sleeve friction load cell

(in compression) records the

total load from both the cone

resistance and sleeve friction.

Thus, the sleeve friction is

recorded as the difference in

thrust between the friction

and cone resistance load cells.

Measuring and recording

procedures are automated

in line with current best

practice. In line with EN ISO

22476-1:2012, Application

Class 1 measurements can

be achieved in certain soil

types. As a matter of course,

all of our data acquisition is in

line with TE2 measurements

because we measure dynamic

pore pressure during the test.

Our testing procedures

are automated and we can

generate reaction thrusts

of up to 200kN at working

load with test depths >60m

within a robust tracked

rig suitable for all terrains

including very soft ground.

Testing is undertaken by

expert operators and data

is maintained, formulated

and reported by specialist

geotechnical engineers with

particular expertise in cone

penetration data processing

and interpretation. At GES, we

strive for an unmatched level

of service in the reporting of

high-quality CPT data for our

customers to properly inform

their projects with relevant

and important information.

5

SBT Legend1. Sensitive fine grained2. Organic material3. Clay to silty clay

4. Clayey silt to silty clay5. Silty sand to sandy silt6. Clean sand to silty sand

7. Gravely sand to sand8. Very stiff sand to clayey sand9. Very stiff fine grained

The particular GES offering

is high-end consulting,

reporting and design off the

back of a CPT investigation

campaign. As well as

providing the factual data,

we can produce high-quality

interpretation & design

thereby offering practical

consulting and a more

rounded service. This also

fits well with our laboratory

offering which can provide

further particular data as

needed with specialist

geotechnical testing from

quality sampling. The best

approach is to engage

us early in the project to

contribute to the design

concept and this will allow us

to tailor a CPT campaign to

establish the data needed

to prepare designs. Having

the in-house ability to

assess bearing capacity,

consolidation & settlement

and compaction aspects

makes our CPT offering very

powerful.

With CPT, laboratory &

design capabilities, we look

to combine our expertise

and creativity to provide

value for our customers. Our

areas of design expertise

include:

• Ground improvement and

earthworks engineering

• Foundation engineering

• Stability analytics

• Substructure temporary

works engineering

• Soil structure interaction &

computational modelling

• Data science & data

analytics

7


6


9


8


CPT is enormously versatile as an investigative and verification tool. Whether on brownfield or green field sites, very soft ground sites or near-shore environments, applications include:

• Geological profiling /

delineation

• Cross-correlation with

other investigative

techniques

• Reducing risk and

increasing reliability in

ground investigations

with a high volume of

high-quality data, ideal for

robust statistical analyses

• Soil behaviour classification

• Soft ground foundation

solutions including direct

design methods for shallow

foundations

• Direct design methods and

verification for piling and

deep foundations

• Settlement assessment

• Design for accelerated

drainage

• Ground improvement

design

• Quality control and

assurance in ground

modification and ground

improvement

• Geotechnical modelling

including accurate

estimation of ground

engineering parameters

• Strength / stiffness

verification of engineered

fill

• Liquefaction susceptibility

assessment

• Reclaimed land verification

• Forensic engineering and

post-failure investigations

1110


GE Solutions Consulting Ltd

(GES) provides integrated

ground investigation,

research and geotechnical

design consulting to ground

engineering contractors.

The company works directly

and exclusively with leading

specialists to facilitate

delivery of imaginative

and effective designs for

treatment of complex

ground. We use a mix of

high-end design, cone

penetration testing and

laboratory work to offer

practical consulting to the

industry.

Our culture is to embrace

new technologies and

new approaches in a

creative environment

with the highest measure

of commitment to

customers. With this ethos,

our capabilities allow our

customers to maximise

their potential by leveraging

our skills & capabilities to

compliment their own in

order to develop value as

measured through cost

savings and risk mitigation.

ABOUT US

Our services are the product

of our differentiated design

approach and focused

analysis of contemporary

industry practice with an

understanding of theoretical

engineering principles and

practical implementation

techniques. As a result of

our different way of thinking

about engineering scenarios

and the efficacy of our unique

design approach, we are

confident in our ability to

successfully deliver designs

and contradict consensus

views where appropriate.

Complimenting this is out

ground investigation and

laboratory work – we offer

cone penetration testing and

specialist geotechnical testing

to inform our designs. This

form of practical consulting is

innovative and powerful.

Our mission is to contribute

meaningfully to civil &

private infrastructure

with the ultimate goal of

fundamentally and positively

changing the construction &

civil engineering economic

sectors by raising standards

of design & technology. We

strive to do this by unlocking

the drive & creativity of our

staff so that they can chart

their own course and leave

their own mark, with their

own style. Our belief is that

through the dynamism of

imaginative engineers and

researchers, through smart &

talented people, our industry

can change for the better

in order to contemplate our

generational challenges.

“GES HAVE DONE A NICE JOB ON SITE FOR US HERE WITH EXTENSIVE CONE PENETRATION TESTING & SAMPLING AND IT’S GREAT TO HAVE THEIR DESIGN CAPABILITIES TO FOLLOW-ON FROM THIS, GETTING US TO AN ENGINEERED SOLUTION FOR A SITE WITH VERY DIFFICULT GROUND CONDITIONS.”JOHN IRVINGCONTRACTS MANAGER FOR THE BANGOUR VILLAGE HOSPITAL PROJECT, ADVANCE CONSTRUCTION (SCOTLAND)


Unit 1, Burnhouse Industrial Estate

Whitburn, EH47 0LQ

United Kingdom

T: +44 (0)7387 265 909

E: [email protected]

W: www.ge-solutions.co.uk

cone penetration testing and geotechnical design

Documents