Standard Penetration Test (SPT)

Introduction
"SPT" is an abbreviation for the Standard Penetration Test, which is the most widely used in-situ
soil characterization test in the world. Colonel Charles Gow of the Raymond Pile Company 02
first introduced this testing procedure in 1902.
The purpose of this test is to obtain an indication of the relative density of sands and gravels.
However it can also be used to obtain an indication of the character of silts, clays and weak rock.
Thetesting procedure was later modified to include the estimation of soil strength parameters and
soil compressibility parameters. The popularity of the Standard Penetration Test can be attributed
to both the ease of the test as well as the inexpensive cost. The continued popularity of the SPT
is due to the many design correlations associated with the SPT N value.
Standard Penetration Test(SPT) is an in situ dynamic penetration test,designed to find out SPT
number 'N', that can be used to determine the geotechnical properties of the soil using the various
correlations. It is a simple and inexpensive test to find out the relative density and shear strength
parameters of the soil.
Test is generally used for testing the granular soils, like sand and silty sands or stiff clays. The
reason is that it is almost impossible to get the undisturbed samples of the granular soils.
There is a sampler tube(Split Spoon Sampler) applied with the dynamic loading to penetrate into
the in situ undisturbed soil, and the numbers of blows required to penetrate through 18
inches(450 mm), are correlated through some empirical relations to find out the relative density
and shear strength of the soil.
Though the test results are based on empirical values, this test is widely adopted to design the
foundations in the sandy soils.

Scope

This test method describes the procedure, generally known as the Standard Penetration
Test (SPT), for driving a split-barrel sampler to obtain a representative disturbed soil
sample for identification purposes, and measure the resistance of the soil to penetration of
the sampler. Another method (Test Method D 3550) to drive a split-barrel sampler to
obtain a representative soil sample is available but the hammer energy is not
standardized.

Practice D 6066 gives a guide to determining the normalized penetration resistance of

sands for energy adjustments of N-value to a constant energy level for evaluating
liquefaction potential.

Test results and identification information are used to estimate subsurface conditions for
foundation design.

Penetration resistance testing is typically performed at 5-foot depth intervals or when a

significant change of materials is observed during drilling, unless otherwise specified.

This test method is limited to use in nonlithified soils and soils whose maximum particle
size is approximately less than one-half of the sampler diameter.

This test method involves use of rotary drilling equipment (Guide D 5783, Practice D
6151). Other drilling and sampling procedures (Guide D 6286, Guide D 6169) are
available and may be more appropriate. Considerations for hand driving or shallow
sampling without boreholes are not addressed. Subsurface investigations should be
recorded in accordance with Practice D 5434. Samples should be preserved and
transported in accordance with Practice D 4220 using Group B. Soil samples should be
identified by group name and symbol in accordance with Practice D 2488.

All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits
and rounding established in Practice D 6026, unless superseded by this test method.

The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard, except as noted
below. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units, which
are provided for information only and are not considered standard. The gravitational
system of inch-pound units is used when dealing with inch-pound units. In this system,
the pound (lbf) represents a unit of force (weight), while the unit for mass is slugs.

Penetration resistance measurements often will involve safety planning, administration,

and documentation. This test method does not purport to address all aspects of
exploration and site safety. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety
concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard
to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use. Performance of the test usually involves use of a drill
rig; therefore, safety requirements as outlined in applicable safety standards (for example,
OSHA regulations, NDA Drilling Safety Guide, drilling safety manuals, and other
applicable state and local regulations) must be observed.

Significance and Use

This test method provides a disturbed soil sample for moisture content determination, for
identification and classification (Practices D 2487 and D 2488) purposes, and for laboratory tests
appropriate for soil obtained from a sampler that will produce large shear strain disturbance in
the sample such as Test Methods D 854, D 2216, and D 6913. Soil deposits containing gravels,
cobbles, or boulders typically result in penetration refusal and damage to the equipment.

This test method provides a disturbed soil sample for moisture content determination and
laboratory identification. Sample quality is generally not suitable for advanced laboratory testing
for engineering properties. The process of driving the sampler will cause disturbance of the soil
and change the engineering properties. Use of the thin wall tube sampler (Practice D 1587) may
result in less disturbance in soft soils. Coring techniques may result in less disturbance than SPT
sampling for harder soils, but it is not always the case, that is, some cemented soils may become
loosened by water action during coring; see Practice D 6151, and Guide D 6169.
This test method is used extensively in a great variety of geotechnical exploration projects. Many
local correlations and widely published correlations which relate blow count, or N-value, and the
engineering behavior of earthworks and foundations are available. For evaluating the
liquefaction potential of sands during an earthquake event, the N-value should be normalized to a
standard overburden stress level. Practice D 6066 provides methods to obtain a record of
normalized resistance of sands to the penetration of a standard sampler driven by a standard
energy. The penetration resistance is adjusted to drill rod energy ratio of 60 % by using a hammer
system with either an estimated energy delivery or directly measuring drill rod stress wave
energy using Test Method D 4633.

Apparatus
Standard Penetration Test Apparatus. The necessary parts of the whole arrangement are a split
sampler tube with 50 mm outside diameter and 35 mm inner diameter with a length of 650 mm, a
slide hammer with a mass of 63.5 kg with a free fall of 762 mm and the pulley.

Standard Penetration Test(SPT)

Procedure
The test uses a thick-walled sample tube, with an outside diameter of 50.8 mm and an inside
diameter of 35 mm, and a length of around 650 mm. This is driven into the ground at the bottom
of a borehole by blows from a slide hammer with a mass of 63.5 kg (140 lb) falling through a
distance of 760 mm (30 in). The sample tube is driven 150 mm into the ground and then the
number of blows needed for the tube to penetrate each 150 mm (6 in) up to a depth of 450 mm
(18 in) is recorded. The sum of the number of blows required for the second and third 6 in. of
penetration is termed the "standard penetration resistance" or the "N-value". In cases where 50
blows are insufficient to advance it through a 150 mm (6 in) interval the penetration after 50
blows is recorded.
The N-value or the blow count provides an indication of the relative density of the subsurface
soil, and it is used in empirical geotechnical correlation to estimate the approximate shear
strength properties of the soils.

Interpretations and Calculations

Correlation between SPT-N value, friction angle, and relative density

Correlation between SPT-N value and friction angle and Relative density (Meyerhoff 1956)
SPT N3
[Blows/0.3 m - 1 ft]

Soil packing

Relative Density
[%]

Friction angle
[]

<4

Very loose

< 20

< 30

4 -10

Loose

20 - 40

30 - 35

10 - 30

Compact

40 - 60

35 - 40

30 - 50

Dense

60 - 80

40 - 45

> 50

Very Dense

> 80

> 45

Relation between SPT Value and different soil properties in case of Cohesionless soils
SPT Values(N)
0-4

Compactness
Very Loose

Angle of Friction

Unit Weight in T/m^3

< 28

1.1 - 1.8
1.4 - 2.0

4-10

Loose

28-30

10- 30

Medium

30-36

1.7 - 2.2

30 -50

Dense

36- 41

1.7 - 2.3

> 50

Very Dense

>41

2.0 - 2.3

Relation between SPT Value and different soil properties in case of Cohesive soils
SPT Values(N)

Compactness

UCS (Unconfined Compression Strength) in kPa

0-4

Very Soft to soft

25

4-8

Soft to Medium

50

8-16

Medium to Stiff

100

16- 32

Stiff to Very Stiff

200

> 32

Very Stiff to Hard

400

Correction for Overburden Pressure and Dilatancy:

1. Correction for Overburden Pressure: The N value which we get from the SPT depends upon
the overburden pressure too, more the overburden pressure, soil will perform better. As we go
into the depth, the overburden pressure goes on increasing.
Bazarra(1967, p99) proposed the following corrections to the actual count N, based on the
overburden pressure:
For P<= 75 kPa
N' = 4.N/(1+0.04.P)

For P> 75 kPa

N' = 4.N/(3.25+0.01.P)
Where, N' = Corrected value for N
N = Observed value for N
P = Overburden pressure (kPa), = Density*D
D = Depth of testing(m)

2. Correction for Dilatancy in saturated fine sands and silts: In the saturated soils, the presence of
the pore water pressure plays a role in the 'N' value. Pore water pressure opposes the penetration
of the sample tube into the soil, therefore, the N value will be higher.
This higher value of N may lead to the unsafe interpretation of the soil properties. Therefore
whenever SPT is performed on the saturated silts and fine sands, if the observed 'N' value is
higher than 15, a correction has to be applied to the observed value.
N" = 15 + 1/2(N'-15)
This correction is applied after correcting the N value for the overburden pressure. Therefore the
correction will be applied on the value of N'.