STATIC CONE

PENETRATION
TEST

Introduction
Also know as Dutch Cone test.
Standardised by ISI and given in
IS: 4968 (Part-III) -1976
Method for subsurface sounding for
soils Part III Static Cone Penetration
Test.
Penetration resistance of soils are
recorded.

 To determine,
o Bearing Capacity of soils at various
levels.
o Skin friction values for determination of
required length of piles.

Used in
o Loose soils like silty sands, loose sands,
layered deposits of sand, silts, clays and
clayey deposits.

Up to depths of about 15m to 20m

can be completed with in a day. (less
expensive and fast method)

 Equipment consists of
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Steel cone
Friction jacket
Sounding rod
Mantle tube
A driving measurement and
A measuring instrument

 Steel Cone

Steel with hardened tip.

Apex angle 60 degree.
Base diameter- 35.7mm
Cross sectional area 10 sq.cm.

Friction Jacket
Made of high carbon steel.

Sounding rod
Steel rod of 15mm diameter and can be extended
with additional rods of 1m each length

Driving Mechanism
Should have capacity of 20 to30 kN for manually
operated equipment and 100 kN for mechanically
operated equipment.
10mm to 15mm per second penetration is normal for
machine driven.

 Procedure:
Pushing the cone through the soil strata to
be tested, then the cone and friction jacket,
and finally the entire assembly in sequence.
Resistance are noted.
Process is repeated at regular intervals.
After reaching the required depth entire
assembly extracted out of soil.

Results:
Represented graphically ( 2 graphs)
1. Cone resistance in kN/sq.m with depth in
metres.
2. Friction resistance in kN/sq.m with depth in
metres along with bore hole log.