Site Investigation with Static Cone Penetrometer

A geotechnical investigation of a 100-acre (404,700 m²) site adjacent to the Savannah River in Augusta, Ga., is described. Extensive and economical usee was made of the static cone penetrometer with friction jacket in establishing subsurface conditions and estimating geotechnical engineering properties of micaceous sands and organic clays for design purposes. The results of eight full-scale lateral pile load tests are compared to predictions based on the design engineering properties. The study indicated that the relationship between E (Young's modulus) and q_c (the static cone penetration resistance) for an overconsolidated sand is significantly different than for a normally consolidated sand. Also, the shear strengths determined by laboratory tests were significantly different than those determined by the static cone penetrometer. Calibration of the static cone resistance to individual site conditions is considered a necessity.