| Cone Penetration Testing (CPT)
Overview
Fugro West uses cone penetration technology (CPT) as an integral part of our site characterizations for both onshore and near shore marine projects. We have developed methods for interpreting and displaying CPT data using our GIS system.
That technology greatly enhances our ability to characterize subsurface conditions, reliably and efficiently. Our CPT processing routines are continually updated to reflect the most recent developments in cone penetrometer research (both by research institutions and Fugro's internal research).
CPT
In the Cone Penetration Test, a cone is pushed into the ground at a constant rate and continuous measurements are made of the resistance to penetration of the cone and the friction of the outer surface of a sleeve.
One of the most important and widely used applications of the system is "stratigraphical profiling". The continuous penetration record together with the high resolution means that thin layers, which can easily be missed using conventional investigation methods, are identified using the continuous cone data. The CPT as also been adapted to measure pore pressures (piezo-cone) and measure seismic wave velocities (seismic cone).
CPT Systems
For the past 40 years, Fugro has been a pioneer in developing various CPT systems. (For many years the multi-channel electric cone penetrometer was referred to as the Fugro cone.) The full size probes are equipped to continuously measure in real time, a large number of physical and chemical properties of soil and groundwater. At Fugro West, we have used the following systems (that are maintained at our Houston and Santa Fe Springs offices) on our projects:
Selected Projects
CPT was used extensively on the following projects:
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