4/12/13 Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP)

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Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) For a quotation on any equipment please

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The LabQuip Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) is an instrument designed for the rapid in-situ LabQuip Products
measurement of the structural properties of existing road pavements constructed of unbound materials. The
Aggregates
robust and simple design means that the DCP is quick and easy to use, portable and suitable for use in
Asphalt
locations where access may be difficult.
Balances
Concrete
Correlations have been established between measurements with the DCP and conventional in-situ CBR so
General
that results can be interpreted and compared with CBR specifications for pavement design. A typical test
Ovens
takes only a few minutes and therefore the instrument provides a very efficient method of obtaining
Sieves
information which would normally require the digging of test pits.
Soils
Refurbished
Method of use PakMarker
Soil Assessment Cone Penetrometer (SACP)
The 8 kg free fall hammer is lifted and dropped through a height of 575mm. The distance pf penetration of
Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP)
the cone tip is then recorded and the cycle repeated. Continuous measurements can be made down to a
depth of approx 850mm or when extension shafts are fitted to a maximum recommended depth of 2 metres.
Where sub-pavement layers have different strengths, the boundries can be identified and the thickness
determined.

C ase size approx . 1100x 250x 150m m

W e ight 22k g

W e ll prove n, robust de sign DCP

Portable and e asy to ope rate

Te sts can be carrie d out in m inute s

R e sults corre late we ll with conve ntional C BR re adings

De te cts laye r boundarie s and thick ne sse s

Ide al in locations whe re acce ss is difficult (such as coal hole s)

The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer is a long steel rod with a standard size hardened steel cone at the
penetrating end. Its length is approximately two metres, but it can be extended by extension rods. At upper
end of the steel bar is a captive weight surrounding the rod, this weight is able to fall freely through a given
drop height to achieve a standard amount of penetrative effort at every drop. By measuring the penetration of
the cone against number of drops of the weight it is possible to plot resistance to penetration and indirectly
the strength / compaction of the layer being tested. This equipment is very useful for testing fill compaction,
especially in trench reinstatement, performed with care. It is possible to obtain an approximate CBR figure
from the results of using this equipment by applying a simple formula. It is a guide figure but still useful to
know.

The Basic CBR Test

The California Bearing Ratio, believe it or not, was developed by The California State Highways Department.
It is in essence a simple penetration test developed to evaluate the strength of road subgrades.

This consists of causing a plunger of standard area to penetrate a soil sample, (this can be in the laboratory
or on site). The force (load) required to cause the penetration is plotted against measured penetration, the
readings noted at regular time intervals. This information is plotted on a standard graph, and the plot of the
test data will establish the CBR result of the soil tested. The test is fully covered in :- BS 1377 : Soils for civil
engineering purposes : Part 4,Compaction related tests.
DCP

Reason For CBR Test

It sounds complicated, but the basis behind it is quite simple. We are determining the resistance of the
subgrade, (i.e. the layer of naturally occurring material upon which the road is built), to deformation under the
load from vehicle wheels. Even more simply put, 'How strong is the ground upon which we are going to build

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4/12/13 Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP)
the road'.

THE CBR TEST IS A WAY OF PUTTING A FIGURE ON THIS INHERENT STRENGTH, THE TEST IS DONE IN
A STANDARD MANNER SO WE ARE ABLE TO COMPARE THE STRENGTHS OF DIFFERENT SUBGRADE
MATERIALS, AND WE ARE ABLE TO USE THESE FIGURES AS A MEANS OF DESIGNING THE ROAD
PAVEMENT REQUIRED FOR A PARTICULAR STRENGTH OF SUBGRADE.

The stronger the subgrade (the higher the CBR reading ) the less thick it is necessary to design and
construct the road pavement, this gives a considerable cost saving.

We can also supply spares and repair your DCP.

DCP

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LabQuip Ltd. The Black Barn, White Ox, Scotland Road,Penrith, Cumbria. CA11 9NQ
Tel: 01768 895080

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