Prediction of Wet Density and Undrained Shear Strength of Clays by Electronic Cone Penetration Testing

Abstract

Evaluation of soil properties from laboratory test results usually faces serious problems due to limited data available and often large scatter caused by sample disturbance. So, the in-situ testing methods are desired to establish the method to predict directly soil properties. The electronic cone penetration tests are the most widely used in-situ test for foundation design, liquefaction analysis and determining stratification with excellent potential.
This paper discusses the electronic cone penetration test results, which were carried out at six sites of Ariake clay to predict the wet density ρ_t as a physical property and undrained shear strength s_u as a mechanical property. A semiempirical equation was derived to predict the wet density of clay. Electronic cone factor N_kt was derived as a function of roughness of cone surface and sensitivity ratio s_t. N_kt value of 11 was proposed to predict the values of S_u for highly sensitive clays.