Standard Penetration Test

Geotechdata.info - Updated 2.7.2016

CONCEPT
The Standard Penetration test (SPT) is a common in situ testing method used
to determine the geotechnical engineering properties of subsurface soils. It is a
simple and inexpensive test to estimate the relative density of soils and
approximate shear strength parameters.
DESCRIPTION AND PROCEDURE
Standard Penetration Test, SPT, involves driving a standard thick-walled
sample tube into the ground at the bottom of a borehole by blows from a slide
hammer with standard weight and falling distance. 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 reported as SPT blowcount value, commonly termed "standard
penetration resistance" or the "N-value".

The N-value 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.

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 Relative Density Friction angle
Soi packing
[Blows/0.3 m - 1 ft] [%] [°]
<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

STANDARDS

 BS 1377-7:1990
 ASTM D3441 - ASTM D1586 - 08a Standard Test Method for
Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils Link
 REQUEST A QUOTE
Free quote for buying Standard Penetration Test equipment: Request a Quote
REFERENCES - EXTERNAL LINKS
1. Meyerhof, G. (1956). Penetration tests and bearing capacity of
cohesionless soils. J Soils Mechanics and Foundation Division ASCE,
82(SM1).

1. Presentation of Standard Penetration Test, equipment layout,

correlation between SPT and soil properties Ch. Baxter, UNiversity of Rhode
Island
2. Detailed description of Standard Penetration Test and parameters
with figures J David Rogers, Lecture notes, Advanced Engineering Geology &
Geotechnics, Missouri University of Science and Technology
3. Standard Penetration Test on Wikipedia
4. Standard Test Procedure Manual for SPT Saskatchewan
Highways & Transportation, Canada
5. SPT-CPT Correlations Peter K. Robertson, Richard G.
Campanella, A. Wightman. 1983. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, Vol.
109, No.11. ASCE. Available by Prof. P. Robertson's website.
6. Subsurface Exploration using the Standard Penetration Test and
the Cone Penetrometer Test J.D. Rogers. 2006. The Geological Society of
America. Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, Vol. XIII, No.2, pp. 161-
179.
7. Engineering and Design: Standard Penetration Test1988.
Technical Letter No. ETL 1110-1-138, (1988). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Washington, D.C.