InsituTesting

 Insitu tests are used to obtain

density or the shear strength of
soils and valuable since can be
carried out without disturbing the
soils
 Insitu Tests
 Standard Peniteration Test
 Vane Test
 Plate Bearing Test
 California Bearing Ration (CBR)
 Permeability tests, ground water
level and ground water pressure test
 Geophysical Tests
Standard Penetration Test (BS 1377)

This test is particularly useful for testing the resistance of

sands and gravels under static or dynamic loading. This is
made by driving a 35 mm dia split-barrel sampler into the
soil by falling a standard weight (65 KG from 760 mm).
The test is used to establish relative density of soil.

Sands Clays
No of Relative Notes No of Relative Compressive
Blows Density Blows Density Strength(KN/m2)
0-4 Very 0-4 Very Soft 0-24
4-10 loose 2-4 Soft 24-49
10-30 Loose 4-8 Medium 49-98
30-50 Medium 8-15 Stiff 98-196
Over 50 Very 15-30 Very Stiff 196-392
Dense Over 50 Hard Over 392
 Vane Test (BS1377)
This test measure the shear strength of
soft cohesive soils insitu. The vane is
pushes into the soft clay and rotated by
hand at a constant rate. The amount of
torque necessary for rotation is measured
and shear strength of soil is calculated.
The test can also be used to measure the
remoulded strength of soil. Test is usually
carried out in uniform cohesive saturated
clay and advantages is that test can be
performed with disturbing the soil.
Plate Bearing Test (BS 1377)
This test is means of providing insitu data on the
behaviour of soils at foundation level. The test
consists of excavating pit to proposed foundation
level and then loading a steel plate, ranging from
300 to 1000mm in dia. The loads can be applied
in increments by hydraulics jacks or by placing
concrete blocks. Settlement after each increment
is recorded and plotted on time graph. Load is
noted which gives penetration of 15 % of plate
width, called ultimate load.