The Engineering of Foundations

Lecture 3
SPT borehole log
Cone penetration test
Indirect interpretation of SPT results
a) Sand
b) Clay

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SPT borehole log
A sample of SPT log is shown in the
Fig. below.

Fig 3.1 Borehole log of SPT test

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SPT borehole log

Borehole log of SPT (continued)

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Cone Penetration Test (CPT)
As in the Fig., the cone penetrometer is a cone with a
base area of 10 cm2 and cone angle 600 that is
attached to the rod. An outer sleeve encloses the rod.

Fig. 3.2 Electric cone

The cone is driven at a rate of 2 cm/sec and the cone
resistance and sleeve friction are measured
separately.

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 CPT
Advantages of the cone
Very useful for soil profiling
Data generation during test
Cheap in comparison with boring
Provides data can be used to estimate
shear strength, bearing capacity and
consolidation characteristics of soil
Other attachments can be incorporated
for further data acquisition

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 CPT
A typical CPT log is shown in the Figure.

Fig 3.3 CPT log for clay

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 Interpretation of SPT results
There are two approaches to the SPT
results for foundation design:
1. Direct interpretation in which SPT
results are directly related to
foundation capacity.
2. Indirect interpretation in which SPT
results are related to soil properties
and then with foundation capacity.
Direct interpretation will be discussed
later.

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Indirect interpretation of SPT results
a) Sand
It is assumed that Nspt increases with
increase of relative density, Dr, and
confining stress. The following correlation
rely on blow count N, normalized for the
vertical effective stress. It applies strictly to
NC sand for which K0 range 0.38-0.50.
pA
N 1 N SPT
v

(3.1)
pA = 100 kPa

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Indirect interpretation of SPT results
A general equation is proposed by Salgado et al. (1997) is as
follows:
pA k 0. NC
(3.2)
Dr N 1 N SPT
v
.
N 60
k0

Skempton (1986) proposed the following expression for

100 v
relative density in terms of N60
35% Dr 85%
Dr
(3.3)
100

N 60
A BC
50kPa v 250 kPa

pA
A BC v 27 A 46
Drp A N 60
B 27
100
A BC
v
C = (1+2k0)/(1+2k0.NC) pA
(3.4)

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Indirect interpretation of SPT results
indirect correlation between Nspt and the
friction angle is also proposed as shown in
the Fig. below

Fig 3.4 correlation SPT data and friction angle

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Indirect interpretation of SPT results
Example: refer to the homework 1, the sandy
deposit is located near a stream and is known to
be NC. The average unit weight of the sand both
below and above the water table is 20 kN/m 3.
Obtain the stress normalized blow count value at
the depth of 2 m and 10 m.
Solution: the energy corrected at 2 m depth equal
to 2.7 and 18 at depth of 10 m. Assume WT at
level of
2 m. v = 2*20 = 40 kPa, v= 10*20-8*9.8 = 122
kPa
The stress normalized blow counts is
N1(2m) = 2.7(100/40)^0.5 = 4.3

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Indirect interpretation of SPT results
N1 (10m) = 18*(100/122)^0.5 = 16
b) Clay
The SPT based correlations for clay should be
treated with caution due to many uncertainties in
the SPT
) shear strength of clay depends on blow counts
which depend on loading rate
)Blow count depends on clay sensitivity which is the
ratio of strength of undisturbed to strength of
disturbed.
)In organic or very soft soils the SPT split spoon may
go down without any hammer blow
)There are other factors affect the accuracy of SPT

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Indirect interpretation of SPT results
Clayton (1990) proposed the following correlation
between SPT results and undrained shear
strength.
Su
0.82 f1 N SPT
pa
1
(3.5) mv pa 1.2
f 2 N SPT

(3.6)

PA = 100 kPa, f1, f2 are given in the Figure provided

mv = compressibility

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 Indirect interpretation of SPT results
Example: for clay at 10 m depth, an N60 count
was determined to be equal to 30. this clay has
LL = 53% and PL = 20%. The unit weight of the
clay is 16 kN/m3. Determine the undrained shear
strength at 10 m. what is the value of su/v at 10
m if water table is at surface. Evaluate OCR and
comment on the result.
Solution: Apply Eq. 3.5, PI = 33%, f1 = 0.045
(Fig )
Su = 0.82*0.045*30*100 = 111 kPa
Vertical effective stress v = (16-9.8)*10 = 62
kPa
Su/ v = 111/62 = 1.8
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Indirect interpretation of SPT results
Using the correction exists for Su for NC clays
in terms of the PI
(Su/ v )NC = 0.11*0.0037*PI = 0.11*0.0037*33
= 0.23
The value of Su/ v we calculated at 10 m
depth is higher than 0.23 suggesting that the
clay is over-consolidated we can estimate OCR
from:
(Su/ v)OC /(Su/ v )NC = OCR ^0.8
1.8/0.23 = 7.8
OCR = 13

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