Interpretation of Cone Penetration Test Data of an Embankment for Coupled Numerical Modeling

The Nerang Broadbeach Roadway (NBR) embankment in Australia is founded on soft clay deposits. The embankment sections were preloaded and surcharged-preloaded to limit the post-construction deformation and to avoid stability failure. In this paper, we discuss the NBR embankment’s geology, geotechnical properties of the subsurface, and long-term field monitoring data from settlement plates and piezometers. We demonstrate a comparison of cone penetration test (CPT) and piezo cone dissipation test (CPT-u) interpreted geotechnical properties and the NBR embankment’s foundation stratification with laboratory and field measured data. We also developed two elasto-viscoplastic (EVP) models for long-term performance prediction of the NBR embankment. In this regard, we considered both the associated and the non-associated flow rule in the EVP model formulation to assess the flow rule effect of soft clay. We also compared EVP model predictions with the Modified Cam Clay (MCC) model to evaluate the effect of viscous behavior of natural Estuarine clay. Both EVP models require six parameters, and five of them are similar to the MCC model. We used the secondary compression index of clay in the EVP model formulations to include the viscous response of clay. We obtained numerical models’ parameters from laboratory tests and interpretation of CPT and CPTu data. We observed that the EVP models predicted well compared with the MCC model because of the inclusion of soft clay’s viscosity in the EVP models. Moreover, the flow rule effect in the embankment’s performance predictions was noticeable. The non-associated flow rule EVP model predicted the field monitoring settlement and pore pressure better compared to the MCC model and the associated flow EVP model.

POTENSI LIKUIFAKSI DI PESISIR BARAT SUMATERA MENGGUNAKAN SONDIR

Peristiwa gempa umumnya diikuti oleh serangkaian guncangan dan sesar tanah di permukaan. Gempa rawan terjadi pada lokasi yang dilalui jalur patahan dan tumbukan lempeng tektonik aktif. Pantai barat Sumatera berada di jalur patahan Semangko dan perbatasan lempeng tektonik aktif Eurasia dan Australia-Hindia. Gempa di atas skala 5,5 SR memicu likuifaksi pada tanah granuler dan muka air tanah dangkal. Kabupaten Agam dan Kabupaten Pasaman Barat di pesisir barat Provinsi Sumatera Barat merupakan lokasi yang rawan likuifaksi. Gempa Padang pada tahun 2009 (7,9 SR) berdampak memicu likuifaksi di kedua kabupaten tersebut. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa potensi likuifaksi di Kabupaten Agam dan Kabupaten Pasaman Barat. Penelitian dilakukan pada Oktober 2019 berdasarkan metode faktor aman menggunakan sondir (Cone Penetration Test/CPT) di 3 (tiga) desa yaitu Desa Tiku (Kabupaten Agam), Desa Air Bangis dan Desa Sasak (Kabupaten Pasaman Barat). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan Gempa 7 SR sudah mampu memicu likuifaksi (SF<1,0) di Desa Air Bangis dan Desa Sasak sedangkan simulasi Gempa Padang tahun 2009 (7,9 SR) menunjukkan potensi likuifaksi di Desa Tiku adalah SF = 0,53 – 0,95; Desa Air Bangis SF = 0,51 – 0,97 dan Desa Sasak SF = 0,45 – 0,95.

Estimating an empirical equation connecting subgrade reaction modulus with cone penetration test for sandy soils

In geotechnical engineering, the coefficient of subgrade reaction is regarded as one of the most important parameters used for describing the interaction of soil and structure as well as describing some soil characteristics, subgrade reaction coefficient can be calculated theoretically using many different formulas, laboratory via specific well-known tests, and in site through field plate loading test. On the other hand, the cone penetration test is one of the most frequently used field tests to investigate the soil. The lately carried out researches showed a good relation between the subgrade coefficient and the tip resistance collected from the CPT, but the results obtained from the proposed method are still doubtable. In this paper, fifteen plate load tests and thirty CPTs, already collected for private site investigation project, have been used for finding the best fit equation connecting the subgrade reaction coefficient Ks with the tip resistance qc. The finds of the established equation have been compared extensively with those of other well-known related equations. The results show the ability of the concluded equation to get Ks results in the acceptable range of sandy soils. However, the depth and shape effect on the suggested formula need further investigations since all the plate load tests in this project have been carried out on the soil surface with a 45 cm diameter circular plate.

A multiple model machine learning approach for soil classification from cone penetration test data

The most popular methods for soil classification from cone penetration test (CPT) data are based on examining two-dimensional charts. In the last years, several authors have dedicated efforts on replicating and discussing these methods using machine learning techniques. Nonetheless, most of them apply few techniques, include only one dataset and do not explore more than three input features. This work circumvents these issues by: (i) comparing five different machine learning techniques, which are also combined in an ensemble; (ii) using three distinct CPT datasets, one composed of 111 soundings from different countries, one composed of 38 soundings with information of soil age and the third composed of 64 soundings taken from the city of São Paulo, Brazil; and (iii) testing combinations of five input features. Results show that, in most cases, the ensemble of multiple models achieves better predictive performance than any technique isolated. Accuracies close to the maximum were obtained in some cases without the need of pore pressure information, which is costly to measure in geotechnical practice.

Comparison of California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Value Based on Cone Penetration Test (CPT) and Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP)

In civil engineering, land is important because as a place for building infrastructure to be built, so that the building infrastructure on it is stable, adequate carrying capacity is needed. The amount of soil bearing capacity can be determined in several ways, including the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Field Test, Cone Penetration Test (CPT) and Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP). The CBR and DCP tests are often used to determine the level of surface soil density on road structures, while CPT is usually used to determine the hard soil layer on the building structure. However, in certain situations Sondir and DCP data are often used to predict the CBR value, because the test is quite practical and efficient compared to the CBR test. CBR testing requires heavy equipment which in most small-scale projects is not available. In this study, we compared the CBR value based on the data obtained from the Sondir and DCP tests. Data collection was carried out in Surakarta and its surroundings. Based on the test results, the CBR value generated from the DCP test tends to be smaller than that from the CPT test with a ratio of 0.62: 1. This study resulted in the relationship between CBR values from the results of the CPT and DCP tests shown in the following equation: CBR (DCP) % = 0.2552 CBR(CPT) + 2.6306 and CBR (DCP) % = 0.617 CBR(CPT).

Evaluation of potential liquefaction based on Cone Penetration Test (CPT) data

An earthquake can inflict a liquefaction hazards which can damage buildings and infrastructure. Furthermore, earthquakes are difficult to predict when and where earthquakes will occur and happen suddenly without being preceded by signs. Therefore, we must do a geological investigation before building a construction to evaluate the potential liquefaction in that area. Evaluation of the potential liquefaction using Cone Penetration Test (CPT) is one method can be used because repeatable, provided a continuous profile, and economic. This method needs peak ground acceleration (amax) value at an interval of 0.1 g to 0.6 g and earthquake magnitude of 6.2 scale richter. Based on the results of the research was obtained in this research area, there were potential liquefactions when the peak ground acceleration (amax) value was above 0.3 g.