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Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publications
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Geological Society, London, Engineering Geology Special Publications; 1990; v. 6; p. 181-191;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.ENG.1990.006.01.20
© 1990 Geological Society of London

Session 5: Penetration Testing: Static Methods

In situ and laboratory testing of Anglian stage Pleistocene sands and gravels

J. A. Little1 & D. R. Carder2

1 Department of Civil Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
2 Ground Engineering Division, Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG11 6AU, UK

An accurate knowledge of ground properties is essential in the design of civil engineering structures and this information is usually obtained by a combination of in situ and laboratory testing. The interpretation of in situ testing depends in the main on empirical correlations with published data, whilst the usefulness of laboratory soil testing depends on how realistically the field conditions can be reproduced. This paper provides a comparative study of ground properties determined using a number of different techniques in a sequence of Pleistocene sands and gravels overlying till in the Vale of St Albans. In situ testing techniques included both static and dynamic cone penetration tests and also a limited number of self-boring pressuremeter tests in the sands. Recovery of bulk disturbed samples from the site enabled laboratory shear tests to be carried out on large samples of the soil compacted to their maximum density conditions. Values for modulus, angles of shearing resistance and relative density from the in situ and laboratory tests on the soil are compared, and these in turn are correlated with data published by others for similar soil types.