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Standard Pénétration Test and Compressibility of Soils
L ’essai de pénétration standard et la compressibilité des sols
by Edgar S c h u l t z e , Professor Dr.-Ing.
and
E. M e n z e n b a c h , Dr.-Ing, Technische Hochschule Aachen., Germany D.I.C.
Summary
Considerable information has already been published relating
the number of blows of a standard penetrometer with several
soil properties, particularly relative density, based on laboratory
tests. So far there has been no systematic investigation on the
link between the number of blows and the compressibility of soils
tested. The results of a many confined compression tests with
undisturbed samples were used to establish by statistical methods
a correlation between the modulus of compressibility and the
results of standard penetration tests, carried out in the field above
and below the site where the sample had been extracted. Alto­
gether, twelve groups of soils with 225 pairs of values have been
investigated. Although the results scatter more than with laborat­
ory tests, good correlations in the form of straight line relation­
ships were found for sand, gravel and dry silty soils. For cohesive
soils the relationship becomes less reliable the finer the soil.
This is due to the influence of pore water pressure. For clays, no
relationship could be established.
For cohesionless soils, the number of blows decreases under the
water table for the same modulus of compressibility. Particularly
clear differences are observed in fine sands and sands which are
oosely compacted.
Further more a new statistical formula was derived between
the relative density and the number of blows for sandy soils
including the influence of the overburden pressure.
1. Introduction
Reports on experience with penetrom eters were presented
in the “ Proceedings of the F ou rth International Conference
on Soil M echanics and F oundation Engineering” , London
1957, Volume I, page 249. Invesfigations on the evaluation
o f penetration tests — in particular of the standard penetra­
tion test — have since been continued.
The following evaluations of standard penetration test
results have so far been published :
I. (a) by H vors lev (1949), page 120.
(b) by Peck- H anson- Thornb u rn (1953), page 109.
(c) by M eyerh of (1956), page 17.
A n approxim ate estim ate has been given of the relationship
between the num ber of blows and the relative density of
strata in non-cohesive soils, where the relative density of
strata was n o t expressed in numbers.
(d) System atic Investigations o f the “B u reau o f R ecla ­
mation (1953)” s.a. G ibbs and H o lz (1957), page 35.
2/17
Sommaire
En se basant sur des recherches de laboratoire quelques publi­
cations ont déjà indiqué les relations existant entre le nombre de
coups du pénétromètre standard ou d’instruments similaires et
quelques constantes du sol, parmi lesquelles surtout la compacité
relative. Mais jusqu'à présent on n’a pas entrepris de recherches
systématiques sur le rapport existant entre le nombre de coups
de la sonde et la compressibilité du sol. C’est pourquoi les résul­
tats d’un assez grand nombre d’essais de compression sur des
échantillons non remaniés, effectués séparément pour chaque sol,
ont été comparés au point de vue statistique, avec le nombre
de coups de mouton standard sur le chantier, et effectués aux
abords immédiats des lieux où l’on a prélevé les échantillons.
12 groupes de sols avec au total 225 couples de valeurs : nombre
de coups-coefficient de compressibilité, ont été ainsi examinés.
Malgré une dispersion des résultats plus grande que dans les
recherches de laboratoire, on a observé que l’on suivait d’assez
près une relation linéaire entre le nombre de coups et le coefficient
de compressibilité dans des sols sableux, graveleux, et dans des
sols limoneux non saturés d’eau.
Plus le sol est à grains fins, plus le rapport est faible pour les
sols cohérents. Ce phénomène est dû à l’influence de la pression
de l’eau intersticielle. Pour l’argile il n’a pas été possible de trou­
ver de relation.
Pour les sols submergés le nombre de coups diminue dans les
sols non cohérents, le coefficient de compressibilité restant le
même. On observe des différences particulièrement sensibles dans
le sable fin et dans le sable meuble.
En outre on a pu déduire une relation statistique entre le
nombre de coups et la densité des sols sableux, en fonction de
la profondeur du sondage.
These authors give the relationships between the num ber
of blows of the standard penetration test and the relative
density o f strata in the case of fine and coarse sand respectively.
(e) Kolb u szew ski (1957), page 126.
The distribution of grain size in sands influences the rela­
tionships between the num ber of blows and the relative dens­
ity of strata, ap art from degree of saturation, surcharge and
the size of sand grains.
(f) Investigations by S chu b ert (1955/56), page 49. These
are com parable with the above-m entioned investigations which
apply to the standard penetration test.
II. (a) Terza gh i and Peck (1948), page 423.
(b) Peck- H anson- Thornb u rn (1953), page 223.
These authors give the relationships between the num ber
o f blows and the permissible soil pressure for a settlem ent of
one inch. Since these are based on a permissible settlem ent
the soil pressures depend n ot only on the num ber o f blows
b u t also on the width of the foundation.
527
 (c) S o w er s (1 9 5 4 ), page 11.
Sowers quoted the permissible soil pressure for different
types of soil, apart from the w idth of the foundation, but
with the reservation that they are only valid for buildings of
light weight.
III. ( a ) P e c k - H a n s o n - T h o r n b u r n (1 9 5 3 ), p a g e 2 2 2 .
(b ) M e y e r h o f (1 9 5 6 ), pa ge 17.
Here the relationships between the num ber of blows and the
angle of friction bas been developed, and the factors affecting
load bearing capacity have been considered.
N one of these investigations deal with the direct relationship
between the num ber of blows of the standard penetration
test and the m odulus of com pressibility E s = l/w r , as calcu­
lated during com pression tests with undisturbed soil samples.
The latter is however of special im portance for the exam ination
of foundations. A n attem pt was therefore m ade to clarify
these relationships in the course of a research program m e
carried out at the Technische H ochschule in A achen ( M e n -
z en ba c h , 1 9 5 9 ).
o f blows and other soil p ro p ertie s; this was also observed
during these investigations. F or this reason, the following
soil groups were introduced, because they can be recognized
by merely feeling them in the hand, so that laboratory exam ­
ination is n ot necessary. A subdivision according to whether
the soil was above or below water level was only possible in
the case of fine sand, so far as non-cohesive soils were concer­
ned. F o r the rest of sandy and gravelly soils usually no suitable
undisturbed samples were available. F o r this reason, the
investigations of the non-cohesive soils are valid essentially
for soils above the ground water table. F o r cohesive soils
samples have been taken under and above the w ater table.
Samples having a degree of saturation less than 85 per cent
have all been extracted from above the w ater table.
4. Correlation between the number of blows and the modulus
of compressibility
The plotting of the values N and S s produced a straight
line which with the aid of statistical m ethods could be calcu­
lated as follow (Figs. 1-4) :

2. Relationship between the number of blows and compress­ Es = Cj + C2 • N ± se ( 1)

ibility

M ost of the above investigations are concerned with rela­

tionship between the num ber o f blows and the relative density
o f soil strata. Since the relative density of various types of
soil is related to com pressibility ( M o u s s a , 1 9 6 0 ) there is a
direct relationship between com pressibility and the num ber
of blows, because, the soil displaced by the cone of the penetro­
meter as it penetrates the ground m ust be taken up by adjacent
areas which are compressed.
In contrast to form er experim ents carried out in experim en­
tal containers using carefully placed soil at Aachen the results
of penetration tests were evaluated from a large num ber of
tests carried out on building sites. These were com pared, using
statistical m ethods, with the results o f laboratory experim ents
on undisturbed soil samples which had been taken from the
imm ediate neighbourhood of the penetration test. They are thus
based on natural and undisturbed layers of various soils from Fig. 1 Relationship between the modulus of compressibility
different depths. Samples from great depths are particularly
im portant because m ost devices for penetration tests in the E . = — and the number of blows N in fine sand
mv
laboratory apply only to limited depths. On the other hand, below water.
relative density in the field is not nearly as regular as it is in Soil group : SW
test cylinders, so that results will show considerable deviation. 1
In order to obtain com parable pairs of value, the num ber E, = — = C, + C * N = 71 + 4,9 JV
of blows N was interpolated from two penetration tests-which
had always be;n m ade at distances of one metre — for a C , + C 2- N 71+4,9 N d E
depth where undisturbed samples to determine com pressibi­ c‘=¿r¿ =tga
lity had been taken. As m odulus of com pressibility Es, which Standard deviation of observation s e = 36,9.
corresponds to the reciprocal value of the coefficient of com ­ Coefficient of correlation r = 0,900.
pressibility m v, the slope of the tangents at the load/settlem ent Number of tests : 17.
curve for the effective pressure p' was taken which correspon­ Units : E „ Clt sE and p ' in kg/cm2.
ded to the natural surcharge at the time when the samples C2 in kg/cm2 ■1 blow per ft.
were extracted. The com pression tests were carried out only
Rapport entre le nombre de coups N et le module de
with carefully extracted undisturbed samples, but they compression pour le sable fin noyé.
produced the usual unfavourable values as far as sand and Groupe du sol : SW.
gravel were concerned.
From a large num ber of tests there remained ultim ately Es = — = Cj + C2 • N = 71 + 4,9 N.
mv
2 2 5 pairs of values, between the num ber of blow N and Es
which were suitable for further investigation. They represented Cj + C2 N 71 + 4,9 N d Es
twelve soil groups. C* = JÑ = tB 1
Ecart moyen s e = 36,9.
Coefficient de la corrélation r = 0,900.
3. Soil groups Nombre d’essais : 17.

Previous investigations have revealed that the type of soil Unités : E , , Clt se et p ' en kg/cm2.
has a great influence on the relationship between the num ber C, en kg/cm2 • 1 coup par pied.
528
where
1
E s = modulus of compressibility of the soil = [k g / cm 2
N number of blows of the standard penetration test for
one foot penetration,
sB = Standard deviation of the modulus of compressibility
[kg/cm2]
Ci, C2 = parameter for different soil groups (Table 2).
Fig. 2 Relationship between the modulus of compressibility
E s = \ (m v and the number of blows N in nearly
saturated slightly plastic silts and silty fine sands.
Soil group : C L. — Platicity index P i < 15 per cent. —
Degree of saturation : j > 85 per cent. — Standard
deviation of observation s e = 35,4. — Coefficient
of correlation r = 0,642. Number of tests : 18.
Rapport entre le nombre de coups et le module de
compression dans des limons presque saturés et fai­
blement plastiques et dans des sables fins et limoneux.
Groupe du sol : C L. — Indice de plasticité P/ < 15 pour
cent. — Degré de saturation s > 85 pour cent. Ecart
moyen sE = 35,4. — Coefficient de la corrélation
r = 0.642. — Nombre d’essais : 18.
Fig. 3 Relationship between the modulus of compressibility
E . = — and the number of blows N i n nearly saturated
mv
silts and clayey silts.
Soil group : C L. — Plasticity index P i > 15 per cent. —
Degree of saturation i > 85 per cent. — Standard
deviation of observation sE = 42,4. — Coefficient of
correlation r = 0,335. — Number of tests : 29.
Rapport entre le nombre de coups et le module de
compression dans des limons presque saturés et des
limons argileux.
Groupe du sol : C L. — Indice de plasticité P i > 15 pour
cent. — Degré de saturation s > 85 pour cent. —
Ecart moyen sB = 42,4. — Coefficient de la corréla­
tion r = 0,335. — Nombre d’essai : 29.
Fig. 4 Relatiosnhip between the modulus of compressibility
E s = — and the number of lows N in clayey silts. —
Soil group : C L — Plasticity index P/ = 20 pour cent.
— Degree of saturation j = 100 pour cent. — Standard
déviation of observation sE = 44,4. — Coefficient
of correlation r = 0,016. — Number of tests : 19.
Rapport entre le nombre de coups et le module de
compression dans des limons argileux.
Groupe du sol : C I. — Indice de plasticité Pi > 20 pour
cent. Ecart moyen sE = 44,4. — Coefficient de la corré­
lation r = 0,016. — Nombre d'essai : 19. — Degré de
saturation î = 100 pour cent.
5. Interpretation of the results
The parameter C x varies in groups one to eight (Table 2)
between 4 and 71 kg/cm2. This means that soils are not infini­
tely compressible, even if the penetrometer sinks into them
under its own w eight; in other words, the number o f blows
is zero and this gives the minimum value for the modulus of
compressibility of very loose soil. The parameter C2 is cons­
iderably influenced by the type of soil, and the latter also
determines with what degree of accuracy it is possible to cal­
culate the modulus of compressibility from the number
o f blows. Coefficients of correlation above 0,8 were found
for fine sand under water, sand, gravelly sand and silt, all
with a saturation degree of below 85 per cent (Groups Num­
ber 2-4, 7 and 8). A representative result is shown in Fig. 1.
The coefficients o f correlations above 0,8 indicate a very
strong relationship. The coefficients of correlation with values
between 0,7 and 0,8 for fine sand above water, sand and
gravel, and silty sand (Groups 1,5,6 and 9) were less satisfac­
tory on account o f the limited quantity of material available
for observation. All other types of soil (Group 10-12) have
coefficients of correlation below 0,4 and in consequence do
not provide reliable results (Figs. 2-4). The relationship in
the case o f saturated silty clay (Group 11) was particularly
poor, being below 0,1.
This proves that the standard penetration test may be
applied only to assess compressibility when pore water pres­
sure does not occur in the soil under the cone. These conditions
exist constantly in the case o f coarser non-cohesive soils, and
in the case of lightly cohesive soils, when the degree of satu­
ration is below 85 per cent.
According to Table 2 the standard deviation of the modulus
o f compressibility, computed by equation (1) varies for sands
and silts which are not influenced by pore water pressure
(Group 1-4, 6-8) between 7 and 15 per cent.
In the deviation is included not only the scattering o f the
measurement of the penetrometer and the soils of a group,
but also all sample disturbances. If the results do not seem to
be extremely accurate, they do enable the compressibility
529
of soils to be calculated particularity in soil types from which
the extraction of undisturbed samples is often difficult and
sometimes quite im practicable. However, since they are
minimum values, they are on the safe side.
6. Influence of the water table
^ T h e influence o f the w ater table can only be determined
decisively for fine sand, which has been investigated separa­
tely for samples taken above and below the w ater table. Fine
sand below the w ater table showed a higher coefficient of
correlation than that above the water table. F rom this it
can be concluded that the apparent cohesion existing above
the w ater table and the looser state o f com paction produce a
heavier scattering o f results. F o r other sands and gravels,
the influence of the w ater table on the num ber o f blows can
only be confirm ed by com parison o f the average num ber of
blows 1 m above and 1 m below the w ater table for a large
num ber o f test results (Fig. 5). According to this, when the
water table is reached, the num ber of blows for a given pene­
tration shows in an average a reduction of 15 per cent. A closer
Fig._5 Influence of the ground-water level on the number of
blows.
Influence du niveau phréatique au nombre de coups.
investigation of the ratio o f the num ber o f blows shows that
the decrease under the w ater table is particularly pronounced
for loose soils, whereas it is only slight for soil of high density.
7. Relationship between the number of blows and the relative
density
If the relative density R d (per cent) o f the soil groups 1-4
(Table 2) is plotted against the num ber of blows N (Fig. 6)
and allowance m ade for the effective surcharge under which
the penetration test was perform ed, the following relationship
can be derived by means of the m ultiple correlation.
loge R d = 0,478-loge N - 0,262-log, p + 2,84
total coefficient of correlation : R = 0,869+0,022
num ber of tests : 57
standard deviation : 4,10 per cent.
The result shows a high coefficient of correlation and is
similar to that of the U.S. Bureau of Reclam ation which has
530
Fig. 6 Relationship between the number of blows N and the
relative density R d in sand.
---------lo g ^ c = 0,478 log, N - 0,262 logep + 2,84.
Total coefficient of correlation R = 0,869 ± 0,022.
Standard deviation of R d : s = 4,10 per cent.
Number of tests : 57 (saturated and non saturated).
Soil group. No. 1-4.
Test results of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 1953.
---------- for fine sand, air dry,
.............for coarse sand, air dry.
Rapport entre le nombre de coups et la compacité rela­
tive dans le sable.
---------logc R d = 0,478 loge N — 0,262 logep + 2,84.
Coefficient total de la corrélation R = 0,869 ± 0,022.
Divergence moyenne de Rn : s = 4,10 pour cent.
Nombre d’essais : 57 (saturés et non saturés).
Groupe de sol : 1-4.
Essais du Bureau of Reclamation (1953).
-----------sable fin, sec à l’air,
.............sable gros, sec à l’air.
also been plotted for com parison. M oreover, according to
M ou ssa (1960) a non-cohesive soil can be described m ore
closely in the correlation form ula by the introduction o f the
voids ratio in the loosest s0 and densest state s d.
8. Conclusion
By correlation calculation it has been possible to show
for 12 different cohesive an d non-cohesive soil groups com pri­
sing 225 pairs o f values a satisfactory relationship between
the num ber of blows of a penetrom eter and the m odulus of
com pressibility. It was found th a t a satisfactory correlation
exists if no pore w ater pressure influences the result o f the
penetration test. Test num bers for the different soil group vary
between 13 and 27. As this is fairly lim ited, it is possible that
for a larger body o f d ata the derived relationship m ay change
slightly. However, the form ulae given enable the m odulus
of com pressibility to be calculated from the num ber of blows
o f the standard penetration test, with a standard deviation of
approxim ately i 25 per cent in relation to the m ean values
of the m oduli of com pressibility. T he relationship between
the relative density, the num ber of blows and the surcharge
hitherto m ore frequently investigated, can be expressed for
sandy soils by an equation which has a high coefficient of
correlation.
9. Acknowledgements
The authors are indebted to M r. H. M elsa, cand. ing. for
his collaboration in carrying out the statistical analyses.
10. References
[1] B u re a u o f r e c l a m a t i o n . (1953) Second progress report
of research of the penetration resistance method of
surface exploration. Design and construction devision,
Denver, Colorado, Ear t h Lab o rato ry Rep ort, No. EM-356.
[2] — (1955). The practical aspects of penetration resistance
testing. Ear t h Lab o rato ry Rep ort EM-427.
[3] G i b b s and H o l z (1957). Research on determining the
density of sands by spoon penetration testing. Proc.
4. In t . Conf. So il M ech. Found . En g ., London, vol. 1,
p. 35.
[4] H v o r s l e v (1949). Subsurface exploration and sampling of
soils for civil engineering purposes. Waterw ays Ex p .
St atio n , Vicksburg.
[5] K o l b u s z e w s k i (1957). Discussion of Div. 2. Pro c. 4. In t .
Conf. So il M ech. Fo u n d : En g ., London, vol. Ill, p. 126.
[6] M e n z e n b a c h (1959). Die Anwendbarkeit von Senden zur
Prüfung der Festigkeitseigenschaften des Baugrundes.
D issertation Technische Hochschule Aachen. Westdeutscher
Verlag Opladen.
[7] — (1959) The use of penetrometers in site investigations.
D .I.C. Dissertation Im p er ial College, London University.
[8] M ey erh o f (1956). Penetration tests and bearing capacity
of cohesionless soils. In st. So il M ech. Found. D iv. Am er.
Soc. Civ. En g ., 82, paper 866.
[9] M o u ssa (1960). Die Zusammendrückbarkeit von Sand.
Dissertation Technische Hochschule Aachen, 1960.
[10] P eck, H an so n , T h o rn b u rn (1953). Foundation engineer­
ing. Wiley & Sons. New York, p. 109.
[11] S c h u b e r t (1955). Untersuchung des sandigen Baugrundes
durch Sonden. Wissenschaftl. Zeitsch r. d .T .H . Dresden,
5, H. 1.
[12] S c h u l t z e and K n a u s e n b e r g e r (1957). Experience with
penetrometers. Pro c. 4. In t . Conf. So il M ech. Found . En g .,
vol. I, p. 249.
[13] S o w e r s (1953). Modern procedures for underground inve­
stigations. Proc. Am . Soc. Civ. En g ., vol. 80, No. 435,
p. 11.
[14] T e r z a g h i and P e c k (1948). Soil mechanics in engineering
practice. J. Wiley & Sons, New York, p. 423.

Table 1
Soil groups
Classification des sols

Ap p rox im . Average Degree Plast icit y

range o f u n ifo rm ity index
Group of
No. g r ain size coefficient satu ration
So il group Pi
sym bol
(mm) d 60 S
“ d 10 per cent per cent
from to
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 Fine sand SW 0-2 006 2 < 50 —

2 Fine sand SW 0-2 006 2 100 —

3 Sand SW 1-5 0-1 2 < 50 —

4 Gravelly sand SP- G P 12 0-15 4 < 50 —

5 Sand and gravell GP 63 006 60 < 50 —

6 Silty sand SM 20 0-02 8 < 85 —

7 Silt and silty fine sand CL 01 0002 60 < 85 < 15

8 Silt and clayey silt CL 0-1 < 0 001 — < 85 > 15

9 Silt and silty fine sand CL 01 0002 — > 85 < 15

10 Silt and clayey silt CL 0-1 < 0 001 — > 85 > 15

11 Clayey silt Cl 01 < 0 001 — 100 > 20

CH +
12 Clay M H + OH 01 < 0 001 — 100 > 20

531
 T ab le 2
1
Results of researches establishing the relationship between the modulus of compressibility E, = ~zr and the number ot blownsTV
i
Rapport entre le module de compression Es = — et le nombre de coups N

85 %
15 % ;s< 85 %

15 % ;j> 85 %
85 >
Silt of low p last icit y

Silt of low p last icit y

and silty fine sand

silt
water level
water level

and silty fine sand

Silt and clayey silt

and g ravell
under
Fine sand above

sand

sand
.58

Silt and clayey

15 % ;j<

15 % ;i>
San d

Clay
1 s t
Fine sand
Typ e o f so il

gravelly

Silty
-S' A II
ground
ground

° a?

Sand

Pj<

Pj<
Pj>

Pj>
So il group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Group sym bol SW SW SW SP- G P GP SM CL CL CL CL Cl CH +

M H + OH

Number of tests 15 17 14 19 27 18 13 13 18 29 19 23

Q (kg/cm2) 52 71 39 43 38 24 12 4
A statistically reliable relationship
C2 (kg/cm2 • 1 cannot be derived
blow) 3,3 4,9 4,5 11,8 10,5 5,3 5,8 11,5

Coefficient of cor
relation r 0-758 0-900 0-954 0-886 0-783 0.764 0-904 0-924 0-642 0-335 0-016 0-355

Probable error
of r 0-074 0-031 0-016 0-033 0-050 0-066 0-034 0-027 0-094 0111 0-155 0-124

Mean value of
E s, E sm (kg/
cm2) 95 268 144 184 186 70 73 95 78 83 83 132

Standard devia­
tion of Es, iE
(kg/cm2) 19,3 36,9 36,4 42,3 93,2 21,1 9,0 24,4 35,4 42.4 44,4 94,6 .

Standard devia­
tion sg in % of
the mean value
E lm 20 14 25 23 50 30 7 25 45 51 54 72

Figure — 1 — — — — — — 2 3 4 —

532