Cone penetration test (CPT)
Definition
A continuous in-situ test pushing an instrumented cone through the soil and measuring tip resistance and sleeve friction. Provides a nearly continuous soil profile and is more reproducible than SPT.
Related terms
- Bearing capacity
- The maximum stress a soil or rock can sustain beneath a foundation without shear failure. Expressed as ultimate bearing capacity (at failure)...
- Differential settlement
- Non-uniform vertical movement of different parts of a foundation, distorting the structure it supports. More damaging than uniform settlement because it induces...
- Liquefaction
- Loss of shear strength in saturated granular soil when earthquake-induced cyclic loading causes pore water pressure to equal the total stress, reducing...
- Piping
- Internal erosion in an embankment or foundation in which seepage flow progressively removes fine particles along a concentrated flow path until a...
- Standard penetration test (SPT)
- An in-situ test measuring the number of blows to drive a split-spoon sampler 300 mm into the soil at a given depth....
Explained in
- Geotechnical and Foundation FailureA continuous in-situ test pushing an instrumented cone through the soil and measuring tip resistance and sleeve friction. Provides a nearly continuous soil pro...