Free-Falling Penetrometers: A Laboratory Investigation in Clay
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140, Issue 1
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a series of laboratory model free-falling penetrometer (FFP) tests in kaolin clay. A thin-shafted FFP has been allowed to free fall and has also been pushed at a relatively slow constant rate into clay beds. Different configurations are used to examine the influences of various properties (FFP mass, tip diameter, tip shape, impact velocity, and clay-bed strength) on the rate effects in FFP tests. The rate effects are determined by comparing the dynamic and static penetration resistances measured from the free-fall and constant rate of penetration tests. The rate effects are found to be independent of the FFP mass, tip shape, and tip diameter but are influenced by the clay-bed strength and FFP velocity.
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Acknowledgments
The work described in this paper was supported by the Australian Research Council. The first author was supported by an Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (EIPRS) and an International Postgraduate Award (IPA) scholarship. These supports are gratefully acknowledged.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 140 • Issue 1 • January 2014
Pages: 201 - 214
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 26, 2012
Accepted: May 27, 2013
Published online: May 29, 2013
Published in print: Jan 1, 2014
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