Pressure distribution around screw point in Screw weight sounding test

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to grasp the magnitude and range of pressure transmitted to the surrounding ground during the rotary penetration of the Screw weight sounding test (Hereinafter referred to as the SWS test) . By clarifying the stress state during the SWS test, the SWS test evolve from a qualitative index showing the hardness of the ground to a quantitative index with a physical basis. The results are the followings: (1) Calculation formulas to evaluate the pressure on the surface of the screw point during the SWS test from the geometric shape of the screw point was proposed. (2) In the SWS test using the model ground, the pressure transmission range transmitted to the surrounding ground was 15 to 20 cm. (3) The pressure measured with a thin film pressure sensor attached to the screw point surface showed the validity of the proposed pressure calculation formulas.