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Seismic Cone Penetration Testing (SCPT) sounding provides a rapid and cost-effective method for directly measuring shear wave velocity of soils in situ. Shear wave velocity is used as an index of liquefaction resistance since both are influenced by many of the same factors.Alternatives to using SCPT for these geotechnical analysis can require laboratory testing or less reliable, highly empirical assessments.

SCPT shear wave velocity measurements are used in these evaluations:

• Liquefaction Risk
• Earthquake generated ground-surface movements
• Foundations for vibrating equipment
• Behavior of offshore structures due to wave loading

The seismic CPT equipment is used as an add-on to our traditional CPT system. CPT data is taken in the same push that seismic information is generated.

The SCPT probe consists of a seismic adapter threaded to a standard CPT probe. The CPT probe records tip resistance, sleeve friction, pore pressure, and tilt angle, and the seismic adapter is used to measure the shear wave velocities. The amount of data that is measured is too great for cordless transmission so the SCPT probe is run with a data cable through the rods.

SCPT Benefits include:

• Rapid, cost-effective method for measuring shear wave velocities
• CPT coupled with Seismic CPT gives details on soil types, engineering parameters, and shear wave velocity in the same test hole
• Patented Cross Correlation process for interval velocity calculations
• Cross Correlation removes human bias and gives realistic error estimates
• Seismic cone adapter is equipped with an accelerometer so that we achieve the best definition of the frequency spectrum and avoid data smearing
• Available in uniaxial configuration for measuring shear wave velocity and in triaxial configuration for measuring shear and compression wave velocity