Probabilistic Assessment of Stress Normalization for CPT Data
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 133, Issue 7
Abstract
Currently available cone penetration test (CPT) stress normalization schemes exhibit no consensus on the estimation of the stress normalization component. Depending on which power law stress normalization exponent is used, very different interpretations may result in the analyses where normalized CPT data are used (e.g., CPT-based soil classification and seismic soil liquefaction initiation assessment). Within the confines of this paper, it is intended to clarify and resolve some of these differences, and to propose improved recommendations for CPT stress normalization. For this purpose, available stress normalization databases from theoretical, numerical, and field data analyses approaches were compiled. For the soil types, and stress conditions where compiled database is not conclusive, additional finite element simulations have been performed. The resulting relationship not only eliminates several sources of bias intrinsic to previous, similar correlations, and provides greatly reduced overall uncertainty and variance, it also helps to establish a consensus to the stress normalization issue that have long been difficult and controversial. Key elements in the development of these new correlations are: (1) accumulation of a significantly expanded database of analytical/numerical CPT simulation results, as well as field and chamber test data from homogeneous soil layers; (2) use of improved knowledge and understanding of factors affecting CPT and stress normalization; and (3) use of high-order probabilistic tools (Bayesian updating).
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
In-kind support was provided by Zemar Corporation through the field CPT and drilling efforts. It is gratefully acknowledged. Thanks are also extended to Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, Administration of Water and Sewage Lines for sharing their CPT data. We would also like to extend our thanks to our anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments, which definitely improved our manuscript.
References
Abu-Farsakh, M.,Tumay, M., and Voyiadjis, G. (2003). “Numerical parametric study of piezocone penetration test in clays.” Int. J. Geomech., 3(2), 170–181.
Benoit, J. (2000). “The United States geotechnical experimentation sites program: The first decade.” ASCE geotechnical special publication, GSP 93, National Geotechnical Experimentation Sites (NGES), 1–25.
Boulanger, R. W., and Idriss, I. M. (2004). “State normalization of penetration resistance and the effect of overburden stress on liquefaction resistance.” Proc., 11th SDEE and 3rd ICEGE Conf., Berkeley, Calif., 484–491.
Box, G. E. P., and Tiao, G. C. (1973). Bayesian inference in statistical analysis, Addison-Wesley.
Cao, L. F., Teh, C. I., and Chang, M. F. (2001). “Undrained cavity expansion in modified cam clay. I: Theoretical analysis.” Geotechnique, 51(4), 323–334.
Cetin, K. O., et al. (2002b). “Liquefaction-induced ground deformations at Hotel Sapanca during Izmit-Turkey earthquake.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng., 22(9–12), 1083–1092.
Cetin, K. O., Erol, O., Yilmaz, M. T., and Cakan, G. (2002a). “Liquefaction-induced hazard assessment of Buski Eastern Waste Water Treatment Plant.” Tech. Rep. Prepared for Bursa Municipality.
Cetin, K. O., Isik, N., and Unutmaz, B. (2004). “Seismically-induced landslide at Degirmendere Nose, Izmir Bay after 1999 Kocaeli (Izmit)—Turkey earthquake.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng., 24(3), 189–197.
Chang, M. F., Teh, C. I., and Cao, L. F. (2001). “Undrained cavity expansion in modified cam clay. II: Application to the interpretation of the piezocone test.” Geotechnique, 51(4), 335–350.
Der Kiureghian, A. (1999). “A Bayesian framework for fragility assessment.” Proc., ICASP8 Conf., Sydney, Australia, 1003–1010.
Duncan, J. M., and Buchignani, A. L. (1976). An engineering manual for settlement studies, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of California, Berkeley, Calif.
Duncan, J. M., Byrne, P., Wong, K. S., and Mabry, P. (1980). “Strength, stress-strain and bulk modulus parameters for finite element analyses of stresses and movements in soil masses.” Rep. No. UCB/GT/80-01, Univ. of California, Berkeley, Calif.
Duncan, J. M., and Chang, C. Y. (1970). “Nonlinear analysis of stress and strain in soils.” J. Soil Mech. and Found. Div., 96(5), 1629–1653.
Durgunoglu, H. T., and Mitchell, J. K. (1975a). “Static penetration resistance of soils. I: Analysis.” Proc., Conf. on In Situ Measurement of Soil Properties, ASCE, N.Y., 1, 151–171.
Durgunoglu, H. T., and Mitchell, J. K. (1975b). “Static penetration resistance of soils. II: Evaluation of theory and implications for practice.” Proc., Conf. on In Situ Measurement of Soil Properties, ASCE, N.Y., 1, 172–189.
FLAC-2D. (2002). Fast Lagrangian analysis of continua users’ guide, Itasca Consulting Group Inc., Minn.
Geyskens, P., Der Kiureghian, A., and Monteiro, P. (1993). “Bayesian updating of model parameters.” Rep. No. UCB/SEMM-93/06, Dept. Of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of California, Berkeley, Calif.
Gillespie, D. G. (1990). “Evaluating velocity and pore pressure data from the cone penetration test.” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver.
Houlsby, G. T. (1988). “Piezecone penetration test.” Proc., Geotechnology Conf. Penetration Testing in the UK, Thomas Telford, London, 141–146.
Idriss, I. M., and Boulanger, R. W. (2006). “Semiempirical procedures for evaluating liquefaction potential during earthquakes.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng., 26(2–4), 115–130.
Jamiolkowski, M., Lo Presti, D. C. F., and Manassero, M. (2001). “Evaluation of relative density and shear strength of sands from CPT and DMT.” Soil behavior and soft ground construction, J. T. Germaine, T. C. Sheahan, and R. V. Whitman, eds., ASCE Geotechnical Special Publication No. 119, 201–238.
Ladd, C. C., and Foott, R. (1974). “New design procedure for stability of soft clays.” J. Geotech. Engrg. Div., 100(7), 763–786.
Lunne, T., Eidsmoen, T., Gillespie, D., and Howland, J. D. (1986). “Laboratory and field evaluation of cone penetrometers.” Proc., Insitu ’86, ASCE Speciality Conf., Blacksburg, Va., 714–729.
Lunne, T., Robertson, P. K., and Powell, J. J. M. (1997). Cone penetration testing in geotechnical practice, Blackie Academic and Professional.
Lutenegger, A. J. (2000). “National geotechnical experimentation site—University of Massachusetts.” ASCE geotechnical special publication, GSP 93, National Geotechnical Experimentation Sites (NGES), 102–129.
Mayne, P. W., Brown, D., Vinson, J., Schneider, A. M., and Finke, K. A. (2000). “Site characterization of piedmont residual soils at the NGES, Opelika, Alabama.” ASCE geotechnical special publication, GSP 93, National Geotechnical Experimentation Sites (NGES), 160–185.
Mayne, P. W., and Kulhawy, F. H. (1982). “ —OCR relationships in soil.” J. Geotech. Engrg. Div., 108(6), 851–872.
Moss, R. E. S. (2003). “CPT-based probabilistic assessment of seismic soil liquefaction initiation.” Ph.D. dissertation, Univ. of California, Berkeley, Calif.
Moss, R. E. S., Seed, R. B., and Olsen, R. S. (2006). “Normalizing the CPT for overburden stress.” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng., 132(3), 378–387.
Nagaraj, T. S., and Miura, N. (2001). Soft clay behaviour, Balkema, The Netherlands.
Nash, D. F. T., Powell, J. J. M., and Lloyd, I. M. (1992). “Initial investigations of the soft clay test site at Bothkennar.” Geotechnique, 42(2), 163–181.
Olsen, R. S. (1994). “Normalization and prediction of geotechnical properties using the cone penetration test (CPT).” Ph.D. dissertation, Univ. of California, Berkeley, Calif.
Olsen, R. S., and Koester, J. P. (1995). “Prediction of liquefaction resistance using the CPT.” Proc., Int. Symp. on Cone Penetration Testing, CPT 95, Linkoping, Sweden, 251–256.
Olsen, R. S., and Malone, P. G. (1988). “Soil classification and site characterization using the cone penetrometer test.” Penetration Testing 1988, Proc., 1st Int. Symp. on Penetration Testing ISOPT-1, J. De Ruiter, ed., Balkema, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 887–893.
Olsen, R. S., and Mitchell, J. K. (1995). “CPT stress normalization and prediction of soil classification.” Proc., Int. Symp. on Cone Penetration Testing, CPT 95, Linkoping, Sweden, Vol. 2, 257–262.
Quiros, G. W., Young, A. G., Pelletier, J. H., and Chan, H. C. (1983). “Shear strength interpretation for Gulf of Mexico clays.” Geotechnical engineering practice in offshore engineering, S. G. Wright, ed., 144–165.
Robertson, P. K. (1990). “Soil classification using the CPT.” Can. Geotech. J., 27(1), 151–158.
Robertson, P. K. (1999). “Estimation of minimum undrained shear strength for flow liquefaction using the CPT.” Earthquake geotechnical engineering, Sêco e Pinto, eds., Balkema, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 1021–1028.
Robertson, P. K., and Campanella, R. G. (1985). “Liquefaction potential of sands using the CPT.” J. Geotech. Engrg., 111(3), 384–403.
Robertson, P. K., and Wride, C. E. (1997). “Cyclic liquefaction and its evaluation based on the SPT and CPT.” Proc., NCEER Workshop on Evaluation of Liquefaction Resistance of Soils, Tech. Rep. No. NCEER-97-0022, T. L. Youd and I. M. Idriss, eds., SUNY, Buffalo, 41–87.
Susila, E., and Hryciw, R. D. (2003). “Large displacement FEM modelling of the cone penetration test (CPT) in normally consolidated sand.” Int. J. Numer. Analyt. Meth. Geomech., 27(7), 585–602.
Suzuki, Y., Tokimatsu, K., Koyamada, K., Taya, Y., and Kubota, Y. (1995). “Field correlation of soil liquefaction based on CPT data.” Proc., Int. Symp. On Cone Penetration Testing, CPT 95, Linkoping, Sweden, Vol. 2, 583–588.
Titi, H. H., and Tumay, M. T. (2000). “Cone penetration tests at the NGES—Texas A&M University: Clay site.” ASCE geotechnical special publication, GSP 93, National Geotechnical Experimentation Sites (NGES), 186–205.
Uzielli, M., Vannucchi, G., and Phoon, K. K. (2004). “Assessment of weak stationarity using normalized cone tip resistance.” 9th ASCE Joint Specialty Conf. on Probabilistic Mechanics and Structural Reliability, Albuquerque, N.M.
Wroth, C. P. (1984). “The interpretation of in situ soil test.” Geotechnique, 34(4), 449–489.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 133 • Issue 7 • July 2007
Pages: 887 - 897
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 29, 2005
Accepted: Jul 12, 2006
Published online: Jul 1, 2007
Published in print: Jul 2007
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.