(SPT) Standard Penetration Test
The Standard Penetration Test, commonly known as ‘SPT’, was developed to provide geotechnical engineering properties for foundation design purposes. The test is carried out within a borehole. The results can be used to determine the relative density, bearing capacity, and settlement of granular soil. The results can also be used to correlate the approximate strength of cohesive soil.
In cohesive soil the test involves driving a 50mm diameter split-barrel (spoon) sample tube into the ground to recover a disturbed sample. In granular soil the split-barrel is replaced by a solid 60 degree cone. The split-barrel or solid cone is driven using a sliding hammer with a mass of 63.5kg falling through a distance of 760mm. The test is advanced in six 75mm increments and the number of blows required to drive the last 300mm of penetration is termed the “standard penetration resistance” or “N-value”. The penetration resistance during the first 150mm of penetration is ignored, because the soil is considered to have been disturbed by the action of boring the hole. In cases where 50 blows are insufficient to advance the sample tube through a 300mm interval the penetration after 50 blows is recorded.In cohesive soil the sample remaining inside the split-barrel is recovered after the test. The sample is only suitable for visual examination and identification. If engineering properties like strength or compressibility parameters are required undisturbed samples of the cohesive soil will be recovered. If very silty clay, very sandy clay or hard clay, is encountered the undisturbed sampling should be alternated with standard penetration tests to correlate the soil strength.In granular soils if the test is carried out below the groundwater level, the N-values may indicate the relative density is loose. In these circumstances, it may be appropriate to continue driving the sampler beyond the specified distance. This additional drive is not a standard test, but it does provide an indication as to whether the deposit is as loose as the initial N-value has indicated.
