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 IS 6

A simple guide to in-situ ground testing

Part 6: Large-diameter plate
The main advantages of in-situ testing over the more
traditional ways of sampling and laboratory testing are
speed, quantity and quality. These are explained in detail
in Part 1.
A table in Cone penetration testing in geotechnical
practice lists some of the major in-situ tests and their
perceived applicability for use in different ground
conditions. (The table is also given in Part 1 of these
guides and is discussed in more detail there.) The table
gives the applicability for plate loading tests irrespective of
plate size.
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loading tests
shear strength and stiffness in soils and soft rock. The
large-diameter plate loading test is the largest in-situ test
(excluding pilot scale tests) and so offers the opportunity
to assess the strength and deformation behaviour of much
larger volumes of the ground than any other in-situ test.
This is particularly important in ground that has a large
scale structure that controls its behaviour, such as fissured
clays and soft rocks. The large-diameter plate loading test
can be particularly useful in ground that is difficult to
sample, such as granular soils or soils with complex
layering. However, it only tests ground within two plate
diameters of the centre of the plate, it generally can only
test above the water table (including artificially lowered

This guide considers tests with plate diameters greater water table), it needs reaction to applied load, and it can
than 500 mm. Such tests of this size are applicable for be expensive.

Plate loading test: How to specify and procure a test

what is it?
The general specification for plate loading tests given in
This is a vertical test that replicates a scaled down pad BS 1377:1990 Part 9 clause 4.1 will suffice for most
foundation. It can be carried out at the ground surface, in applications but does not include the installation of sub-
an excavation or, where the test depth below the ground plate instrumentation for measuring ground strains and
level is deeper than about 4 m, in shafts. The plate pore pressures.
consists of a circular or square rigid steel or reinforced
concrete pad or plate. The load is applied by a reaction
system to the plate and is measured by a load cell; the
plate settlement is measured by mechanical or electrical
devices.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of plate testing

equipment for testing in deep shafts and Figure 2 shows
testing in the base of a pit. It is essential to appreciate the
size and weight of the equipment required to carry out a
large-diameter plate loading test and its impact on the
logistics of getting the tests completed satisfactorily.

Role of the plate loading test

The test determines large-scale strength and deformation
properties of the ground. It is used to accurately assess,
for example, the end bearing capacity of piles, properties
of ground that are difficult to sample, ground where scaling
of behaviour is not possible owing to other characteristics
of the deposit, or to assess accurately the effect of ground
treatment. Additional instrumentation, to measure
movements and pore water pressures beneath the plate,
can give valuable data on the small strain behaviour and
pore pressure response to vertical loading that is
unobtainable by any other in-situ test. Figure 1 Plate loading arrangements for tests in deep
shafts

1
 In-situ ground testing: a simple guide
Load cell
Reference beam
Loading
column
Loading plate
Figure 2 Plate loading arrangements for tests in the base of a pit
It is essential that a method statement
Licensed copy from CIS: arup50004, Arup, 25/11/2016, Uncontrolled Copy.
is provided by the contractor to allow
checking of procedures. An example
method statement for installing a plate
is given at the end of this guide. In
particular, the measurement of plate
settlement and the reference system
to ensure that plate settlements are
not influenced by the loading and
reaction system should be clearly
identified. An important part of the
plate test is the preparation of the test
area and installation of the
instrumentation; this must be
completed using operations within the
safety recommendations of
BS 8008:1996 when working in pits
and deep shafts.
Figure 3 Typical data: plate pressure against settlement graph
2
Settlement gauge
Tension pile
Equipment
Plates are usually circular, to be
loaded at the centre and are
constructed so that the loading
surface in contact with the ground is
very stiff compared to the ground.
The load must be measured by a
calibrated load cell with appropriate
resolution for the increments to be
applied.
Plate settlement can be measured
by mechanical or electric transducers
that are referenced to a stable datum
outside the influence of the plate and
the reaction system.
Sub plate instrumentation can be
installed through pre-drilled holes in
the loading plate. Small diameter bore
holes are made through the predrilled
holes to the locations for the sub plate
instrumentation. Deformations can be
measured by specialist
instrumentation consisting of a
concentric tube plate and the
extensometer points in the ground
beneath the plate. Pore pressures
generated by the loading of the plate
can be measured by specialist pore
pressure transducers incorporated
with packers to maintain the porous
stone contact with the ground.
Vertical reaction can be achieved
using either kentledge or tension piles.
Typical data
Typical plate pressure versus
settlement data is shown in Figure 3
for a 1.4 m-diameter plate test in the
base of an excavation. The maintained
load periods can be easily identified
and the average plate settlement in
this case is the mean of four readings
from settlement transducers set in
two pairs, each pair set diametrically
opposite and close to the plate outer
edge.
Figures 4 and 5 show examples of
sub-plate movements and pore
pressures respectively. The effects of
the load increments are clear, with a
more compressible layer shown
between 0.3 and 0.8 m below the
plate.
The pore pressure responses in
Figure 5 show clearly the effects of
each load increment, the response
being greater at 0.7 m below the
plate. The significant dissipation of
pore pressures is evident before the
addition of the next load increment.
 Large-diameter plate loading tests
50 kNload
onplate 200 kN load
50 onplate
150 kNload
0 100 kN load on plate
onplate
40 100 kN load
on plate
1 150 kN load

Por epressur e( kPa)

onplate 50 kN load
on plate
200 kN load 30
2 onplate
Movement towar ds plate (mm)

20
3

10
4

5 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Elapsed time (hrs)
6
Pore pressure at 0.7m below the base of the pl ate
U/P 0 - 1.5m below plate
Pore pressure at 1.4m below the base of the pl ate
U/P 1 - 1.1m below plate
7 U/P 2 - 0.8m below plate
U/P 3 - 0.3m below plate

8
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Elapsed time (Hrs)

Figure 4 Sub-plate movements with Figure 5 Sub-plate pore pressure

time response with time
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Derivation of ground
properties Figure 6 Shear strength from plate
Undrained shear strength Elastic modulus loading tests and triaxial samples
The undrained shear strength (cu ) the The elastic modulus (E) of the ground
ground is calculated from plate is calculated from test data using:
loading test data using : where:
= settlement due to plate
cu = (qu - vo ) / Nc pressure q;
B = plate diameter;
Where:
q
qu = (load on the base of the plate E= B (1 - 2) f (z)
at a settlement equal to 15% of 4
the plate diameter)/(base area of
the plate); = Poissons ratio
vo = total vertical in situ stress; (0.5 for an undrained test);
Nc = bearing capacity factor (= 9 for f (z) = depth factor (settlement at the
most cases in stiff clays) loaded plate depth, Z)/
(settlement of a loaded plate
Figure 6 shows shear strength data at the surface).
from both laboratory and in situ plate Figure 7 shows elastic modulus data
tests for a site on London clay. The from the first loading curves from
plot clearly shows the scatter of data laboratory and in-situ plate loading
from the laboratory tests and the tests on London clay. The plate data
repeatable data from the plate loading have less scatter and give significantly
tests that give a lower average value higher elastic modulus values that are
with increasing depth. In this case, the more representative of the mass
difference is due to the fissure behaviour than the values from the Figure 7 Elastic moduli determined
spacing in the London clay precluding much smaller laboratory samples. from the first loading curves of plate
the laboratory tests from giving loading tests and laboratory triaxial
representative mass properties. tests

3
 In-situ ground testing: a simple guide

Appendix 1: Method of working for plate installation

1. Excavate to within 100 mm of test
level using a machine with toothless
bucket.
2. Inspect plate test area and obtain
approval from engineer to proceed.
3. Hand clean plate test area to level
and remove disturbed material.
4. Set in loading plate (bed on quick-
setting gypsum plaster or as
specified).
5. Install underplate instrumentation 1, 2. Excavate the area of the plate
and begin monitoring. test to about 100 mm above the test
6. Construct plate settlement level, and mark the test location.
reference system and begin
monitoring.
7. Construct reaction frame including
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loading system. 5. Install underplate instrumentation

by drilling through guide holes in the
More information loading plate; using placing tools,
Cone penetration testing in locate the instrumentation at the
geotechnical practice. Lunne T, required depth.
Robertson PK, and Powell JJM.
SponPress, London, 1997.

British Standards Institution 3. Hand-excavate the test area to the

BS 1377-9: 1990 Methods of test for test level to remove loose and
Soils for civil engineering purposes remoulded material; ensure the test
Part 9: In situ tests. surface is level.
BS 8008: 1996 Guide to safety
precautions and procedures for the
6. The instrumentation in the central
construction and descent of machine
well of the plate is for the underplate
bored shafts for piling and other
deformations; piezometers are in the
purposes
outer well.
BS 5930: 1999 Code of practice for
site investigations

Your comments
We would welcome any comments that you
may have on this set of guides;
for example, how useful do you find them?
Please email your comments to:
powellj@bre.co.uk
4. Bed the loading plate on to a layer 7. The underplate instrumentation
of quick-setting plaster to ensure installed, including the deformation
good surface contact between the transducer assembly.
loading plate and the ground.

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