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A. W. SKEMPTON*
Granted that good site control is exercised in carrying corriger le nombre de coups observe N pour obtenir la
out the standard penetration test the energy delivered valeur qui aurait it& mesuree si une energie de tige
to the sampler, and therefore the blow count obtained specifique avait ttt employee. Une valeur recommandee,
in any given sand deposit at a particular effective over- qui devrait dtre accept&e sur le plan international, est
burden pressure, can still vary to a significant extent 60% de I’energie de chute libre du poids normal du
depending on the method of releasing the hammer, on marteau. On appelle alors le nombre de coups corrigt
the type of anvil and on the length of rods (if less than N,, et on peut considtrer la valeur normalisie (N,),, a
10 m). For consistency it is essential to correct the la pression effective specifique (1 kg/cm2 ou 100 kPa)
observed blow count N to the value which would have comme une caracteristique fondamentale du sable.
been measured using a specified rod energy. A recom- L’article examine de facon detaillee les facteurs qui con-
mended value, which should be recognized internation- trblent le rapport de I’tnergie de la tige et p&ante des
ally, is 60% of the free-fall energy of the standard mtthodes pour calculer des valeurs N,,. Des don&es
hammer weight and drop. The corrected blow count is selection&es obtenues in situ et en laboratoire indi-
then designated as N,, and the normalized value (N,),,, quent que le rapport entre le nombre de coups, la press-
at unit effective pressure (1 kg/cm’ or 100 kPa) may be ion effective du terrain de couverture 0,’ (kg/cm’) et la
regarded as a basic characteristic of the sand. Factors densitt relative D, est don& a peu pris par une bqua-
controlling the rod energy ratio are examined in detail tion de la forme proposee par Meyerhof: N,, =
and methods of deriving A’,, values are developed. An (a + ba,‘)D,’ ou bien (N,),, = (a + b)D,* oti a et b sont
examination of selected field and laboratory data shows des constantes pour un sable spdcifique dans I’intervalle
that the relation between blow count, effective overbur- 0.35 < D, -c 0.85 et 0.5 kg/cm* < 0,’ < 2.5 kg/cm2. Les
den pressure 6,’ (kg/cm’) and relative density D, is given paramttres a et b, dont les valeurs sont don&es pour
to a close approximation by an equation of the form tous les cas etudib, tendent a s’accroitre au fur et a
proposed by Meyerhof: N,, = (a + bu,‘)D,’ or (N&9 = mesure que le diamttre des grains, I’lge du depot et le
(a + @Dr’ where a and b are constants for a particular rapport de surconsolidation augmentent. Le d&accord
sand within the range 0.35 < D, < 0.85 and 0.5 apparent trouve depuis longtemps entre les essais in situ
kg/cm’ < (T,’ < 2.5 kg/cm’. JThe parameters a and b, et en laboratoire disparait lorsqu’on tient compte des
values for which are given for all the cases studied, tend effets des rapports differents de I’energie de la tige et du
to increase with increasing grain size, with increasing ‘vieillissement’. On demontre aussi que les limites du
age of the deposit and with increasing over- nombre de coups donnees par Terzaghi et Peck pour
consolidation ratio. The long-standing apparent dis- ditferentes fourchettes de densitts relatives, comme men-
crepancy between field and laboratory tests is resolved tionnies par Gibbs et Holtz, representent de bonnes
when the effects of differing rod energy ratios and of valeurs moyennes pour des depots naturels de sable
‘ageing’ are taken into account. Also, the Terzaghi-Peck normalement consolides, a condition que les nombres
limits of blow count for various grades of relative de coups soient corriges pour obtenir les valeurs (N,),,.
density, as enumerated by Gibbs and Holtz, are shown
to be good average values for normally consolidated
natural sand deposits, provided that the blow counts KEYWORDS: field tests; liquefaction; relative density;
are corrected to (N,),, values. sands.
The ‘dynamic efficiency of the hammer-anvil There is a further loss of energy on impact.
system is introduced as a new parameter. Some of This can be expressed by the dynamic efficiency
the confusion surrounding comparisons between qd where
laboratory and field tests is dispelled, and the
effects of particle size, ‘ageing’ and over- E, = ‘I&, (6)
consolidation are quantified. Thus finally
(4 the use of the wash boring technique or rotary Velocity energy ratio
drilling with a tricone drill bit and mud flush, In general practice four methods of releasing
water or mud in the borehole to be main- the hammer are used
tained up to groundwater level
tests to be made from the bottom of boreholes
(4 a trigger mechanism, such as the Japanese
(4 ‘Tomb?
not less than 65 mm (24 in) or greater than
150 mm (6 in) and preferably not more than
(4 a trip hammer, such as the Pilcon or Dando
hammers
100 mm (4 in) diameter, with the casing (if
(4 manual (lifting) and release of the rope
used) not advanced below the bottom of the passing over the crown sheave of the drilling
borehole
rig
(4 the blow count (N value) to be determined
(4 the ‘slip-rope’ method of rapidly slackening
between 6 in and 18 in penetration, the first
the rope on the winch cathead: it is usual to
6 in being regarded as a possible zone of dis- have two turns of rope on the cathead for
turbance from drilling operations. lifting the hammer, sometimes three turns and
Even with good site control there are still two rarely one turn, and it is these turns of rope
major variables, depending on the method of re- which have to be cast off to release the
leasing the hammer and the type of anvil. These hammer.
together control the energy E, delivered into the
Measurements of the impact velocity of a
rod stem which can be expressed as a ratio of the
Borros trip hammer, similar in type to the Dando
theoretical free-fall energy of the hammer, E”.
hammer, show (Kovacs, 1979) that ER, = 0.99.
Thus Trigger release mechanisms also impart very
E, = ER, E” (1) nearly a free fall.
In method (c) and still more in method (d) there
where ER, is the ‘rod energy ratio’ and is some retardation even though the rope may
seem to have been completely freed. Frydman
- : .6
g
z
0 Frydman (1970) 2
po Douglas (1982)
- 2.5
%. Yoshlml & Toklmatsu (1983)
o Kovacs & Salamone (1982)
0 Kovacs et al. (1977)
Table 1. Blow count N and rod commonly used American hammers, donut and
energy ratio ER, in two series of field safety, is presented in Table 2, in all cases with
tests the two-turn slip-rope release. The lower effi-
ciency of the donut hammer, Fig. 4(b), is to be
attributed to the heavy anvil associated with this
type of hammer in America, compared with the
small anvil of the safety hammer.
Similar data from Japan for donut hammers
operated by the Tombi and slip-rope methods are
given in Table 3. The higher rod energy ratios,
inversely proportional to ER,. For example, five compared with the relevant values in Table 2, are
or six tests in adjacent borings, at depths between due partly to the more efficient Japanese slip-rope
10 ft and 30 ft, gave the average results for two technique (i.e. a higher ER,) and also to the light-
different hammers and drill rods given in Table 1 weight anvils used in Japan.
and to a close approximation Trip hammers, Fig. 4(c), despite having vir-
14.2 x 0.31 = 8.8 x 0.52 tually a free fall, impart a rod energy ratio of only
about 0.6 (Table 4) because of a low dynamic
In another example (Robertson, Campanella & efficiency which is due to their heavy anvils (see
Wightman, 1983) alternate tests with two different next section). Comparative tests by Serota &
hammers were carried out in the same borehole, Lowther (1973) show no significant difference
using the same rig and a two-turn slip-rope between N values obtained in tests with a Pilcon
release. The results, Fig. 3(a), show considerable hammer and the basically similar Dando trip
differences both in N values and rod energy hammer.
ratios, but if the N values are normalized to a In other tests Serota and Lowther found
single energy ratio (chosen here as ER, = 0.55) almost identical N values with a Pilcon hammer
the results, Fig. 3(b), fall into a consistent pattern. and the original British type of SPT hammer,
A collection of rod energy ratios for the two Fig. 4(a), released by one turn of rope on a small
N NSS
0 40 80 0 20 40 60
t
_1 o Donut hammer
A Safety hammer
N 55 = N ERJ55
Slip-rope, 2 turns
lo-
5-
ZO-
30-
o-
40-
51. 50-
80
(a) (b)
Fig. 3. Alternate tests in a borebole with varying N values and rod
energy ratios ER, measured with the donut and safety hammers (after
Robertson et al., 1983) (Fraser River delta)
STANDARD PENETRATION TEST PROCEDURES 429
Table 2. American average rod energy ratios for two types of hammer and anvil, with the two-turn
slip-rope release method
Table 3. Japan: rod energy ratios for the donut-type hammer and small anvil with the Tombi and two-torn
sliprope release methods
Tombi Slip-rope
Illustrative examples
LABORATORY TESTS ON NORMALLY
Consider six tests each with a measured N
CONSOLIDATED SANDS
value of 20 and the same rod length of more than
Full-scale laboratory tests have been made on
10 m
two sands (GHC and GHF) at the US Bureau of
(a) in the USA with the original standard Reclamation (Gibbs & Holtz, 1957) and on three
sampler, a 4 in borehole, donut hammer and sands (PR, SCS and RBM) at the Waterways
432 SKEMPTON
100
80-
60.
ZO-
0 Coarse I -
F1lle
FlWSS tiraw
Sand
I 1
0074 0.42 20
Particle size: mm
60-
GHF CT”,‘= 288
40-
20-
0 20 40 60 80 100
Dr
2-5-
Experiment Station (WES) (Bieganousky & Mar- parameter N,/D,’ where, as in equation (9) D, is
cuson, 1976; Bieganousky & Marcuson, 1977). expressed as a ratio, not a percentage. In the tests
Grading curves are plotted in Fig. 6, the division N, is found simply by interpolation (see Fig. 7).
between ‘fine’ and ‘coarse’ sands being taken at Values of N, and N,/D,’ are listed in Table 8 for
D,, = 0.4 mm as in Japanese practice (Japanese each sand at relative densities of 40%, 60% and
Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation 80%.
Engineering, 1979). At the WES the maximum void ratio emax was
The tests, as illustrated in Fig. 7, show in any determined by pouring air-dry sand through a
particular sand for effective overburden pressures 1 in dia. spout with a free fall of 1 in, and the
less than 2 ton/ft’ and for relative densities in the minimum void ratio emin was found by vibrating
range 40-80% : dry sand on a shaking table for eight minutes.
The relative density is then calculated from the
(a) the blow count N increases almost linearly
usual expression
with overburden pressure CT”’at a constant
relative density D,
D, = emax -b
(b) at a constant overburden pressure, N (10)
e max- emin
increases roughly as 0,‘: thus to a first
approximation, as pointed out by Meyerhof where t? is the void ratio of the sand under test.
(1957) An American sampler was used without liners,
and a short rod typically about 8 ft long, employ-
N
ing a hydraulically operated Vicksburg trip
D,z= a+bov’ hammer falling directly on the head of the rod
stem. Measurements of the rod energy ratio of
but when the whole set of tests is considered it
this system for the WES by Schmertmann in 1979
is seen that
gave ER, = 0.83, but factors of about 0.65 and
(c) at a given relative density and overburden
1.20 respectively have to be applied to allow for
pressure, N is higher for sands with a larger
8 ft rods and the larger than standard internal
mean grain size @so).
diameter of the sampler. The appropriate conver-
Average values of the parameters a and b, sion factor to obtain N,, values is therefore 1.1.
within the limited range of crv’ and D, mentioned, The normalized values (N,),, and (N&,/Dr2
are given in Table 8. are given in Table 8 together with the corre-
It is convenient to characterize a sand by the sponding corrected parameters a and b.
blow count N, normalized to an overburden Insufftcient information is available to allow an
pressure of 1 ton/f? (which can be taken also as estimate to be made of the rod energy ratio
1 kg/cm2 or 100 kPa) or, more generally, by the applicable to the US Bureau of Reclamation tests.
* Uniformity coefficient.
t Includes a correction for no liners.
434 SKEMPTON
120
t
.
l Srzewell OC
Nllgata NC
!
0 Kawaglshl
III1
0 Oglshlma I
x Laboratory tests
80 VIES
Coarse sands
.. (Peck & Bazaraa, 1969)
_--____----
0
0.1 o-2 I
0.5 1 ,o 2.0 5.0
DsO: mm
However, the results of these tests are broadly The effect of overconsolidation is considered
compatible with those at the WES. later.
Average values of (N&,/D,’ for the three WES
sands are plotted against D,, in Fig. 8. The ten- FIELD DATA ON NORMALLY CONSOLIDATED
dency to increase with increasing grain size is SANDS
clearly seen; it is probably related to a similar Investigations in Japan during the past few
trend in Q (at a given relative density). years have yielded reliable measurements of rela-
For sands RBM and SCS the relationship tive density and grain size coupled with well-
between (N& and D,, and the increase in defined SPT procedures.
N,,,/D,’ with effective overburden pressure, are
shown in Figs 9 and 10. These curves can be Ogishima Island
taken as typifying laboratory tests on fine and Samples from Ogishima Island, in a fine sand
medium-coarse normally consolidated sands. fill (Saito, 1977), were taken with a compressed air
Fteld data
9 Coarse sands
l oc fine
l NC sands
0 FIII
_z 40.
z Terzaghl & Peck (1948)
20-
I
0 20 40 60 80 100
D,. %
D, %dDr2
O_ 0.4 0.8 / 20 40
Y
60
,5 -
O-
(N,),,lDr2 = 34
.
5- :--z---
.
17+17q
-i\ .
,o -
ERJ60 = -1
5-
..
. .
. .
\
;:$j l\n
0.35
0 52
0 26
035 .
18 + 26~~’
025
E&/60 = 11
mean from three or four specimens from the sand by the in situ freezing method (Yoshimi,
samples. There is a considerable scatter, but Tokimatsu, Kaneko & Makihara, 1984).
average values from both types of sampler, for On specimens cut out from the block and hand
depths between 5 mm and 14 mm, are almost trimmed to size, cyclic triaxial tests and density
identical at 51%. Between these depths no measurements were made, and on the dried sand
obvious trend exists in D, or in the mean particle maximum and minimum density tests were
size. It is therefore reasonable to treat this body carried out in accordance with the new Japanese
of sand as having broadly uniform properties, standard (Japanese Society for Soil Mechanics
and the results correspond approximately to the and Foundation Engineering, 1979). For the
equation minimum density, sand was poured through a
small (12 mm) diameter funnel, with effectively
N zero height of fall, into a mould 60 mm in diam-
6O = 18 + 260, (0,’ in kg/cm2)
Dr2 eter and 40 mm high. For the maximum density
the sand was placed in the same mould in ten
Hence layers, the mould being tapped 100 times with a
(N&o/D,’ = 44 wooden hammer after placing each layer. Compa-
rative tests on a standard (Toyoura) sand showed
(N,),, = Il.5 only minor differences in emax and emin determined
by these procedures and the methods adopted
for D, = 0.51.
before 1979 by Ishihara and co-workers.
These values, plotted in Figs 8-10, are higher
Average results from several specimens at each
than those for the Ogishima sand fill. The differ-
of three depths at the station, between 9.25 m and
ence may be attributed partly to a somewhat
9.8 m, are given in Table 9 together with the rele-
larger grain size at Kawagishi and probably also
vant N values, each of the latter being the mean
to the fact that the fill had been deposited at least
of three tests by Tombi and three by slip-rope
25 years before being tested.
release. The results can be taken as having a high
Niigata station reliability. It may be added that the triaxial tests
At a site near Niigata railway station SPTs show 4’ = 41.4” at the maximum stress ratio.
were made at six equally spaced boreholes on the
circumference of a 4 m dia. circle, three by the Niigata, south bank site
slip-rope method with two turns of 15 mm Large diameter and Osterberg samples were
manila rope on a 130 mm cathead and three by taken in a medium dense fine sand of Pleistocene
the Tombi release method, using in all cases a age near the south bank of Shinano river at the
standard sampler, 66 mm boreholes stabilized Shoma Bridge, about 1.2 km from Niigata station
with drilling mud and a donut hammer with a (Ishihara & Koga, 1981). The techniques of sam-
3 kg anvil (Yoshimi & Tokimatsu, 1983). Below pling and testing were as described for the Kawa-
3 m there is a fine sand, becoming dense at a gishi site. Results are given in Table 10 along
depth around 6 m. At the centre of the test circle with N values derived by interpolation from tests
a large block sample was obtained in the dense in an adjacent borehole.
4
%i” D, D,,:
mm
* ER,/60= 1.3(Tombi) and ER,/60= 1.1(slip-rope); rod length correction, 1.0; at ov’ = 1.08 kg/cm’
C, = 2/(1 + o,‘)= 0.96; N,,/D,*= 57.5; (A',),, = 40; (NJ6,/DrZ = 55.
438 SKEMPTON
4.2 0.43 13
4.45 0.45 18$ 0.80 1.10 0.65 0.67 40 25 55 0.28
4.9 0.50 271 :; 0.72 1.08 064 0.82 40 36 54 0.29
5.2 0.52 33
Niigata, road site at the south bank and station sites strongly indi-
The same techniques were used to investigate cate that they also are in this condition.
an ancient alluvial deposit of the River Shinano Comparisons with the Kawagishi fill, of rather
at a site beside a road situated on an old flood similar grain size and tested by identical pro-
bank of the river, about 1.5 km upstream of the cedures, clearly show the effects of ageing (Figs
Showa Bridge. Under 4 m of fill, dating from the 8-10).
early years of this century, the alluvial sand has a
Ageing of sands
relative density typically around 50% and the
Direct evidence of the increased resistance of
grain size tends to increase with depth.
sands which have long been under consolidation
Two groups of results from depths of about
pressure is provided by cyclic triaxial tests on
8-9 m and 13-14 m are given in Table 11.
samples from the station site (Yoshimi et al.,
The grading and mean grain size of the 8-9 m
1984). The stress ratio required to cause a double-
samples is closely similar to the sand at Niigata
amplitude strain of 5%, at ten cycles, is found to
station and the south bank, although the relative
be at least 60% greater in the undisturbed
densities range from 45% to 85% at the three
samples than in freshly reconstituted samples at
sites. Nevertheless the parameter (N1)6,,/Drz is
the same density. Similar results have been found
constant, equal to 55, and the sands can be taken
for alluvial sand in Niigata with a relative density
as belonging geotechnically to a single group. The
around 52% (Ishihara, 1985) but, significantly, a
results, plotted in Fig. 13, lead to the relationship
smaller difference is measured in the Kawagishi
fill.
N,, = 21 + 280, (uV’ in kg/cm’) There is little doubt that the effect is time con-
Dr2 trolled. Seed (1979) reported a 25% increase in
The alluvium is normally consolidated, and the resistance to the development of initial liquefac-
mutually consistent characteristics of the deposits tion in laboratory samples tested after 100 days
Table 11. Niigata road site
440 SKEMPTON
STANDARD PENETRATION TEST PROCEDURES 441
the section on illustrative examples earlier. Thus, Table 13. Values of K, and C, from equations (15)
in round numbers and (16)
a’ = $ (1 + 2K,) (11)
where
K, = u,,‘/cT,~ (12)
Thus if K,,, is the in situ stress ratio in a nor- u
mally consolidated sand, with an over-
200
consolidation ratio OCR of 1.0, the same sand 1
when overconsolidated (OCR > 1) will have an
increased N value given by the expression I /:
150
OCR = 3
N
D,Z = a + C,,ba,’ (13) /’ 0
NL
$100 :A
where
/ OCR = 1
1 + 2K,
cm= 1 + 2Ko~c
(14) 50 y/’ o
x
34 D, * 0.4
An analysis of tests on many soils has shown LN
(Mayne & Kulhawy, 1982) to a first approx- I
0 2 4 6
imation that cl”‘. ton/ft’
coefficient C,, is about 1.4; thus standard SPT hammer (Fig. 4(a)), released by two
turns of 22 mm rope on a 5 in dia. cathead. From
bC,,= 17 x 1.4=24
tests with this type of hammer and anvil (Serota
which is close to the measured value of 27. & Lowther, 1973) the dynamic efficiency can be
estimated at about 0.7 (Table 5) and the velocity
energy ratio for the method of release would be
Sizewell
around 70% (see Fig. 2). Thus ER, E 50% and
Tests have been reported (Meigh & Nixon,
E&/60 z 0.8, to which a minimum correction of
1961) on a fine uncemented sand of the Norwich
5% has to be added for the 6 in borehole effect.
Crag, at Sizewell in Suffolk. This deposit was
All the tests were made above the water-table.
formed in Lower Pleistocene times and has been
The effective overburden pressure is therefore
heavily overconsolidated by the weight of an ice
sheet of the Anglian glaciation, more than 250000 0”’ = =v - u, (17)
years ago. In situ densities were determined at
three levels in a test pit 34 ft deep, giving an where U, is the capillary tension. In sand with
average relative density of about 50%, and the Dr, = 0.1 mm, as at Sizewell, the capillary rise h,
SPT N values measured in two adjacent borings is of the order of 80 cm (Terzaghi, 1942). Hence
show a fairly uniform increase with depth u, = -y,h, = -0.08 ton/ft’
(Fig. 15).
The tests were carried out in 6 in dia. boreholes The N,, values (corrected where necessary for
using a standard sampler and the original British rod length) and effective overburden pressures
0 5o= 0 2 mm UC = Fines = 4%
N ton/ft’ NdD,
0 20 40 1 50 100 150
, I I
lo-
.
\
\
.
\ .
-20- ----
30-
Relative
density
tests
tR,/60 = 0.8
40-
Fig. 15. Sizewell: Lower Pleistocene sand
STANDARD PENETRATION TEST PROCEDURES 443
(N,),&* = 88
f
and for D, = 0.5
/I N, = C,N
(N,),, = 22.
Since D, is known only approximately these
values must be subject to appreciable variation,
b; 0 Ftll
but when compared with the normally consoli- 2.0 fine
. NC
dated Niigata sand of similar grain size they sands
clearly indicate a much greater penetration resist- t
. .
+ oc
Coarsesands
ance. This is due largely to the higher coefficient
of uV’(50 compared with 28), which can be attrib-
Ii! I 3:12 + U”‘)
-Laboratory tests
uted to overconsolidation,
great age of the Sizewell sand.
EFFECT OF OVERBURDEN
and in part to the
PRESSURE Fig. 16
30 I I+ I
I
D, = 4Ck60%
1.36
1.14
10Zl
0.80
0.69
0.60
0.54
444 SKEMPTON
For overconsolidated fine sands the a/b ratio they could not have been better chosen. Equally
lies between about 0.6 and 0% Thus to a first there is nothing wrong with the laboratory tests;
approximation they apply to cases where the effects of ageing are
minimal.
1.7 Finally it is interesting to note a statistical
CN = ~
0.7 + 6,’ analysis of more than 50 field tests in sands by
Schultze & Menzenbach (1961). Their data,
although presented as a logarithmic relationship,
TERZAGHI AND PECK’S
fit closely to the equation
CLASSIFICATION
Terzaghi & Peck (1948) gave the first classi- N
fication of relative density in terms of the SPT;
see Table 15. Values of D, were assigned to this
0,2= I7+22uv
classification by Gibbs & Holtz (1957) who in the range 0”’ = 0.5-1.5 kg/cm2 and for D, =
pointed out that the resulting N-D, relationship 0.4-0.9. Professor Schultze later questioned the
corresponded, more or less, to their laboratory accuracy of the relative density measurements,
tests at an overburden pressure of 40 lb/in2 or but if the SPT procedure had a moderately high
nearly 3 ton/ft’. Clearly something was amiss, for efficiency (e.g. ER,/60 = 1.1) the results would
the field experience from which Terzaghi and conform quite well with recent tests on normally
Peck formulated the classification had been consolidated sands.
derived from tests at the normal depths for ordi-
nary foundations corresponding to an overbur- SUMMARIZING REMARKS AND
den pressure typically around 0.75 ton/ft2 (Peck CONCLUSIONS
& Bazaraa, 1969). Experience shows that wide variations iii N
Now at (T,’ = 0.75 ton/f? the coefficient C, z values can occur as between different sands, even
1.1 and an appropriate rod energy ratio for the at a given overburden pressure and constant rela-
original American test procedure can be taken as tive density. Part of the variation is arbitrary,
about 0.45. Hence the (NJ,, values in Table 15 being due simply to the use of different test pro-
are determined. A plot of these against the D, cedures. This effect can be eliminated by normal-
values assigned by Gibbs and Holtz, see Fig. 9, izing the results to a standard rod energy ratio.
gives about the best single line that could be The variations which remain are intrinsic to
drawn through the field data, falling midway the nature of the sands being tested and fall into a
between points for normally consolidated fine consistent pattern when the effects of ageing, par-
and coarse sand deposits. For D, > 0.35 the cor- ticle size and overconsolidation are taken into
relation can be expressed to a good approx- account.
imation by the parameter Tables 8 and 16, and Figs S-10 and 16, sum-
marize the results of laboratory and field tests.
(N&,/R2 = 60
The main conclusions are as follows.
which from the data already given in this Paper Measured N values must be normalized to a
can be recognized as highly typical. standard rod energy ratio, and ER, = 60% is a
Thus, despite repeated criticisms, there is suitable standard.
nothing wrong with the N and D, values; indeed The relationship between blow count, relative
4 4.4 3 -
11 8 65
(ii)
30
20
33
15
25
60
59
50 55 42 58
(70) 77 58 58
Site Type* D,,: UC Fines .Z %lax emin D, 6,’ : N 60 N Cti W&o _(NJ,,
60
mm kg/cm2 Dr2 Dr2
Y
Ogishima Island Fill 0.3 4 10 0.80 1.08 0.57 0.54 0.75 9 30 1.14 5
1.00 10 34 17 + 170,’ 1.00 10 34
?
1.75 13.5 47 0.73
T;
Kawagishi-cho Fill 0.35 2.4 t 0.86 1.08 0.63 0.51 0.7 9.5 36 1.22
8
1.0 11.5 44 18+26a,’ 1GO 11.5 44
14 0.82 3
1.4 54 I
;;1
Niigata station NC 0.29 1.8 2 0.83 1.21 0.76 0.85 1.08 42 57 0.96 40 55 5
Niigata, south bank 0.28 2.4 0.80 1.10 0.65 0.67 0.45 18 40 1.39 25
4. 27 + 280,’ :: 55 z
Niigata, south bank 0.29 1.5 : O-72 1.08 0.64 0.82 0.50 27 1.34 36
Niigata, road site 0.30 1.7 0.92 1.16 0.64 0.46 1.04 12 56 I 0.98 12 55 I -I
t
Niigata, road site NC 0.45 1.8 0.80 1.03 0.56 0.49 1.47 20 84 0.85 17 2
t
1 64 46 + 260,’
Niigata, river site 0.46 2.0 0.81 1.02 0.57 0.43 0.69 11.5 1 1.12 13 ;
Niigata, river site NC 0.63 2.8 2 0.82 0.99 0.51 0.36 0.86 10 80 1.05$ 10.5 84 F:
g
Sizewell oc 0.2 2.0 4 0.72 0.94 0.50 0.50 0.60 17 68 1.29
s
1.00 22 68 38 + 500,’ 1.0 22 88
G1
1.50 28 113 0.78
N 1 +2K,
60 = a + bu,’
Dr2 1 + 2Ko,c
where K, and K,,, are respectively the in situ
(g,’ in ton/f? or kg/cm2 or kPa/f 00).
stress ratios for the overconsolidated and nor-
The parameters n and b are nearly constant for
mally consolidated sand.
0.35 < D, < 0.85 and 0.5 kg/cm’ < cv’ < 2.5
kg/cm*.
A sand can conveniently be characterized by ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
the parameters (N,),, and (N,),,/D,’ where It is a pleasure to record the generous help
(N&o is the normalized blow count at 0”’ = 1 given by Professor lshihara and Dr Saito in
kg/cm *. answering detailed questions about the sites and
N, can be evaluated from the equation N, = test methods in Japan. Mr Marcuson and Mr
C, N where, in normally consolidated sands, C, W. G. H. Hodges kindly provided information on
ranges from C, = 2/(1 + gv’) for fine sands of SPT procedures used at the WES and at Sizewell.
medium density to C, = 3/(2 + IJ”‘) for dense The inspiration to prepare this Paper came from
coarse sands. the work of Professor Seed with whom the
For normally consolidated natural sand depos- Author was associated in the Kalabagh Dam
its the best average correlation between blow project.
count and relative density is
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