Cone Penetration Testing (CPT)
- Used for site characterisation and soil sampling
- Digital CPT piezocones to measure cone tip resistance (qc), sleeve friction (fs), pore water pressure (u) & inclination (Ix/y)
- Range of rigs from portable lightweight skids to crawler and truck mounted
- Click on modules for down hole shear vane, seismic, conductivity and magneto
Insitutek have partnered with renowned Dutch Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) equipment manufacturer, A.P. van den Berg, and we represent them in the Pacific Region including in Australia and New Zealand. For more than 50 years, A.P. van den Berg has designed and manufactured advanced CPT equipment and is well-known for their innovations and robust high quality equipment. A.P. van den Berg supplies complete or partial systems including the pushing equipment, tools and data acquisition systems. Our Cone Penetration Testing rigs use hydraulic rams to push 36 mm diameter rods into the soil from either a ballasted truck, ballasted track-truck, ballasted or anchored crawler, anchored trailer or anchored portable skids.
What is Cone Penetration Testing?
Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) uses a cylindrical instrumented cone pushed vertically into the ground at a constant rate of penetration of 2 cm/sec to identify subsurface conditions down to 40m or more, depending on the pushing equipment and soil conditions. The collected data allows reliable interpretation of soil strength and stiffness parameters, and the soil type.
Cone Penetration Testing uses hydraulic rams to push 36 mm diameter rods into the soil from a ballasted truck, ballasted track-truck, ballasted or anchored crawler, anchored trailer or anchored portable skids.
A CPT conducted to a depth of 25 m will take about 2 hours. This is much quicker, and therefore cheaper, than drilling, which may take a day or more and would not provide the same level of detailed useful subsurface information.
Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) is a sophisticated Dutch soil investigation technique. For more than 50 years, A.P. van den Berg has designed and manufactured advanced CPT equipment and is well-known for its innovative strength and robust high quality equipment. A.P. van den Berg supplies complete or partial systems including the pushing equipment, tools and data acquisition systems.
In situations where the CPT is unsuitable (e.g. course gravels up to 150mm), the GRIZZLY® Dynamic Probing Super Heavy (DPSH) is a suitable alternative, benefitting from dynamic energy to penetrate stiff and very stiff materials.
Applications
CPT is a rapidly developing site investigation technique with a wide range of applications, including:
- Geotechnical: CPT provides information on the soil profile, which can be used to design foundations, provide quality control for ground improvement work or to check the condition of a levee or a dike, for example.
- Hydrogeological: to analyse the level and flow of groundwater or the interaction between groundwater and the surrounding soil.
- Geo-environmental: to check the length of unknown foundations or the presence of buried steel objects, but also to determine the presence of contaminants in the soil.
To obtain detailed and accurate geotechnical properties of soils, A.P. van den Berg developed the Icone, a digital CPT piezocone, and Icontrol, a digital data logger. The Icone measures the four standard CPT parameters:
- cone tip resistance (qc)
- sleeve friction (fs)
- pore water pressure (u)
- inclination (Ix/y)
Cone tip areas range from 5cm2 – 15cm2.
Cone Penetration Test (CPT) Sales, Calibration, Service and Spare Parts
Insitutek are proud to represent A.P. van den Berg Cone Penetration Test (CPT) equipment in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. We provide a high level of client support, from technical pre-sale consultations and supply of equipment to commissioning, user training, after-sale technical support, servicing, repairs, and calibrations. Our service centre is also well stocked with spare parts and consumables.
To find out more, Contact Us.
