Standard Penetration Test - SPT

ASTM D 1586

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

Institute of Engineering of the National Autonomous University of Mexico
Faculty of Higher Studies UNAM, FES ARAGÓN
National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico ESIA-SEPI-ZACATENCO

[email protected]
[email protected]

Oruro, November 2020

 Standard Penetration Test
Characteristics of the test
This dynamic penetration test is carried out inside boreholes during the
drilling.

It allows obtaining a standard penetration resistance value.

correlate with geotechnical parameters such as relative density, the angle of
friction, the allowable load and the settlements in granular soils.

The essay also obtains a modified sample, to conduct tests of

laboratory identification.

The SPT test can be performed on practically all types of soils, including very hard rock.
altered, although it is preferably carried out in granular soils; the difficulty
obtaining unaltered samples in this type of soil adds relevance to the SPT.
M.Sc. Ing. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS
 Standard Penetration Test
Characteristics of the test

The procedure to follow consists of carefully cleaning the drilling at

reach the desired level for the test, both the walls and the bottom.
The drilling pipe is removed and a sampler is installed in its place.
standard dimensions (penetrometer).
The penetrometer consists of three elements: shoe, split tube, and head.
coupling with the rod assembly.
This should be driven into the ground 60 cm, counting the number of hits.
necessary for driving sections of 15 cm. The striking for the driving is carried out

with a 63.5 kg sledgehammer falling freely from a height of 76 cm

about a striking head or anvil.

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Characteristics of the test
The reading of the striking of the first and last section should not be taken into account.

due to soil disturbance or wall collapses of the survey in

the first case, and for possible over-compaction in the second.

The sum of the strike values of the two central sections of 15 cm is the
value N, also referred to as standard penetration resistance.

Sometimes, due to the high resistance of the terrain, progress is not achieved.
of the penetrometer. In these cases, the test is suspended when exceeded
100 blows to advance a distance of 15 cm, and it is considered a rejection.

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Characteristics of the test

685.8

Head
Zapata 457.2 152.4
76.2
1.5

19.0 Broken tube

Dimensions, in mm
Ø 50.8

Notes:
The broken pipe can have an inner diameter of 38.1 mm
to introduce a 1.5 mm thick lining
The use of step traps (baskets) is allowed.
The edges on 'A' should be slightly rounded.
Standard Penetration Test
Characteristics of the test

Ø 3.9
BW Rope

5.85 Ø 1.0
Ø 1.3
Spherical valve
4.9
Ø 1.0
1.3

20.0

61.0

1.5
Rod valve

Trap
by the way
Ø 3.81
Ø 5.10
Ø 4.65
4.5 5.95 Artists
3.4 slightly
1.95 rounded
Ø 3.49
Acotaciones, en mm
 Standard Penetration Test
Characteristics of the test (López Menardi, 2003)

Poleas

Soga

Winch

Night Heron
Guidebar

Headof
strike

Bar
drilling

Drilling
 Standard Penetration Test
Hammers for blows

a) Original b) From the rod c) Of security

M.Sc. Ing. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

Standard Penetration Test
Automatic striking device

63.5 kg

AMS Hammer Inc.

Standard Penetration Test
Test characteristics
 Standard Penetration Test
Paradoxical sounding 2 PCA and SPT soundings at several meters from
a vertical cut in tobas
 Standard Penetration Test
Test procedure

The results of the SPT tests can be affected by factors such as:

Preparation and quality of the survey: cleanliness and stability of the walls of the
drilling.

Length of the rod and diameter of the borehole: condition the weight of the
element to drive in and the friction with the walls of the drilling.

•Striking device: it can be manual or automatic, existing

notable differences between the results of both. They must be employed
automatic devices, as they ensure the application of the same energy
of impact in all cases.

M.Sc. Ing. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

Standard Penetration Test
Correlations

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

Standard Penetration Test
Correlations

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Relative density of sands

Number of Hits N Relative Density

0-4 Very Loose
4-10 Let go
10-30 Media
30-50 Dense
More than 50 Very Dense

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Relationship of clay consistency

Consistency→Very Soft Smooth Media Firm Very Firm Tough

N <2 2-4 4-8 8 - 15 15 - 30 >30
qu <0.24 0.24 - 0.48 0.48-0.97 0.97-1.95 1.95-3.91 >3.91

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
N correlation to estimate the cohesion and friction of soils

Soil type N(Number Cohesion Angleof

degolpes (kg/cm 2) friction
Verysoft <2 < 0.12 0
Soft 2–4 0.12-0.25 0
Cohesivesoils Firm 4–8 0.25-0.50 0
Hard 8–15 0.50-1.00 0
Veryhard 15–30 1.00-2.00 0
Very hard 30 2 0
Notsoils Loose <10 0 28
cohesive Medium 10-30 0 28–30
Denso 30 0 32
Soils Loose <10 0.05 8
intermediates Middle 10-30 0.05-0.50 8–12
Denso >30 0.50 12

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test

CORRELATION OF THE NUMBER OF BLOWS N OF THE SPT TEST WITH

Φ
THE PARAMETERS C AND (K.Terzaghi in 1948)

RECOMMENDED CORRECTIONS:

Kovacs Correction. For the number of turns of the cable in the winch.

2. Correction for the winch A specification is missing.

diameter.

3. Peck Correction

4. Correction for depth.

5. Skempton Correction.

6. Gibbs and Holts correction.

7. Correction of Liao and Whitman.

8. Other corrections

CAN YOU TRUST THE VALUE OF N LIKE THIS?

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Evaluation of the energy hammer in the SPT test (Kovacs, et al, 1982)

425
400
100
375
350 80 a - Theoretical free fall
b - 1 round of rope
325 routporn2efs
60 d - 3 turns of rope
300
275 50 100% = 4800 kgcm
250
20
225
68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84
Fall height, cm

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Peck Correction
When the test is conducted below the groundwater level, the following is used
correction (Terzaghi and Peck, 1948), applicable to low permeable soils (silts and
fine sands):

N' = 15 + 0.5(N - 15)

N' = Corrected number of hits

Valid for N > 15, with N being the corrected value and N the measured value.

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Correction for depth

CN0.77 20
p’

Where:

CNCorrection factor of N.
peffective vertical pressure.
N = Number of blows measured in the field.

M.Sc. Ing. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Skempton Correction

N60=
0.60

Where:

N60Corrected value of N.
EmHammer efficiency.
CBCorrection of the drilling diameter.
CR= Corrección de longitud de la columna de barras.
CSSample barrel correction.
N = Number of strokes recorded in the field.

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Gibbs and Holts correction

N’ = CNNF

Where:

N' = Corrected value.

NFN obtained in the field is referred to as unsatisfactory value.

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Correction of Liao and Whitman

(N1)60= 2000psf/σZ′

Where:

(N1)60Corrected value.
N60Correction according to Skempton.

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Correction by Fernando Schnaid

170
CN= 70+σ'

N1= NSPTCN

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Standard Penetration Test (SPT) Analyzer (Pile Dynamics Inc.)

M.Sc. Ing. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

Standard Penetration Test
Liquid Arena

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Detail of liquefaction fracturing

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

Standard Penetration Test
Crack in Clay

M.Sc. Ing. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

Standard Penetration Test
Hydraulic fracturing
R

Usualdimensions
from 1 to 2 cm
e Rfrom3to5m
from1to3m

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Criteria for drill bit selection

SoftSoils HardSoils GranularSoils Soft Rock Layers

Fins

Type Fishtail
of
broca Drag

Triconic

Shear resistance

Alet's Broca

Broca's Drag

c) Broca Fish Tail Tricorne Broca Types of Drills

M.Sc. Ing. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Standard Penetration Test
Shark spike

Exit
Exit ofwater
Aleta
ofwater

Plant

Aleta
Aleta
Front Side view

M.Sc. Ing. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

Standard Penetration Test
Helical blade

Diameter10.16 cm

6.35

7.62
0.63
Adapter

Helicoid

5.08

Bar

2.54

13.97

Annotations,inc.

Stopper

Broca

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

 Other essays by
dynamic penetration

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS

These simple and inexpensive tests allow for estimating the resistance to penetration of the
soils based on depth. When geological information is available (boreholes or
excavations in nearby areas) the different soil layers can be correlated. They are very
used in geotechnical studies for the foundation of structures, in linear works and in
building.

The method consists of driving a metal spike into the ground, connected to a rod.
by striking. The striking team consists of a hammer, an anvil, and some guides. The
the anvil transmits the received energy to the tip through some rods that are coupled
subsequently as the test progresses. The hammer falls freely, and the speed at the moment
At the start of the fall, it must be equal to zero.

The yoke is rigidly connected to the rod and its diameter is equal to or greater than 100 mm and less than or

just like half the diameter of the hub. There are several types of tests depending on the
impact energy, justifying the use of each equipment depending on the consistency of the
land.
M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS
M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS
M.Sc. Ing. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS
DPL (DYNAMIC PROBING LIGHT) TEST
Very light test applicable to depths of up to 8 m, a 10 kg hammer is used.
kg with a drop height of 0.50 m. The area of the tip is 10 cm2It must
count the number of strikes needed to advance the punch 10 cm (N)10) . It
obtains a record of the striking throughout the entire depth of the test in
intervals of 10 cm.

DPM TESTS (DYNAMIC PROBING MEDIUM)

They allow studying depths of up to 20 m. The mace has a mass of 30 kg.
free falling from 0.50 m (N10).

DPH (DYNAMIC PROBING HEAVY) TESTS

For depths of up to 20-25 m. The hammer weighs 50 kg, and the drop height is 0.50 m.
The striking record is taken every 10 cm (N10).

M.Sc. Eng. Richard Raúl JOSEPHIA-SANTOS