USERS MANUAL

NOVA Acoustic

CPT SOUNDING

(Cone Penetration Testing)

Ingenjrsfirman Geotech AB E-mail: support@geotech.se

Datavgen 53 Web site: http://www.geotech.se
S-436 32 ASKIM (Gteborg)
Sweden
Ph: +46 - 31 28 99 20
Fax:+46 -31 68 16 39

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TABLE OF CONTENT PAGE

1.1 Probes and Equipment available -4-

1.2 Detailed part list -5-
Description -5-
Description -5-
1.3 The Geotech cordless CPT System -6-
1.4 Technical data -7-

2 EQUIPMENT NEEDED -8-

2.1 Checklist -8-
2.2 CPT Probe -9-
2.2.1 Geotech Probes -9-
Description 9
2.3 Sound Transmitter 9
2.3.1 Sound Transmitter for 10 cm2 probes 9
3.1 Step by step 10
3.2 Explanations 11
3.2.1 Deairing 11
3.2.2 Pre-augering 11
3.3.4 Depth Synchronisation Unit (DSU) 12
3.3.5 Microphone 12
3.3.6 Batteries 13
3.3.7 Saturating the pore pressure chamber and mounting point and filter ring 13
3.3.8 Use of slot type filters 14
3.3.9 Pre-stressing the friction sleeve (10 cm2 probes) 15
3.3.10 Other Channels: Tilt, Temperature and Electric Conductivity 16
3.3.11 Zero Readings 16
3.3.12 CPT SOUNDING 16

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4 USE OF CONES WITH A BACK-UP MEMORY 17

4.1 CPT soundings with cones with a back-up memory 17
Data retrieval 18

5 AFTER THE CPT SOUNDING 18

5.1 Cleaning the probe 18

6 INSTALLATION DESCRIPTION 19
6.1 Depth Synchronisation Unit 19
6.2 Cables 19
6.3 Overload control card 20
6.3.1 Mounting Instructions 20
6.3.2 Use of the overload control card with the CPT logging software 20
7.1 Calibration codes 21
7.2 Sensors and sealing 22
7.3 Zero readings 23

8 SPECIAL APPLICATIONS 23
8.1 CPT Soundings with cable mode data transmission 23
8.2 Mud lubrication to reduce skin friction along the extension rods 24
8.3 CPT Tests in very soft grounds 24
8.4 Offshore CPT 25

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1 THE GEOTECH CPT EQUIPMENT

1.1 Probes and Equipment available

The Geotech CPT equipment consists of the following main items:

Rigs or penetrometers: Multipurpose Penetrometer with 20 ton push force, model 220
Continuous Penetrometer, 20 ton
Multipurpose Site Investigation Rigs with 4 to 7 ton push force,
models 504D, 604D, 605D, 607D, 707D
Geotech Probes: 10 sq.cm, with 20, 50 or 100 MPa Point resistance (Qc) range
- Most probes come with three (Qc, fs, u) or four channels (tilt in
addition) -
Available channels: Point resistance (Qc), 20, 50 or 100 MPa range. Overload
capacity: 25%
Local friction (fs), 0.5 or 1 MPa range. Overload capacity: 50%
Pore pressure (u), 2 MPa range. Overload capacity: 25%
Tilt
Temperature
Seismic
Electric conductivity
Area factors (see 10 cm2 probes: Cone factor, a = 0.82, Sleeve factor, b = 0.0
calibration report):

Data Transmission: Digital. From probe to surface: RW (17), Acoustic (17 bit) or by
cable (17 bit resolution)

Power supply: with RW and acoustic data transmission:

-10 cm2 probes: 4 alkaline, type C batteries (8 hours)
with cable data transmission: via the cable
Extra features: Back-up memory of CPT data in cone (18 bit resolution)
Alarm and emergency stop of push triggered by a preset
maximum point resistance or tilt increment
Mud lubrication of rods to reduce mantle friction
Data Logging: CPT: CPT-LOG (Windows) software running on PC notebook
SCPT: SCPT-DAA (Windows XP, Vista) software on PC
notebook
Data Interpretation: CPT: CPT-PRO by Geosoft, Geotech agent in Poland. Demo
version at the Geotech site
CPT: CONRAD by the Swedish Geotechnical Institute
SCPT: SCPT-DAA as for the acquisition

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1.2 Detailed part list

P.N. Description P.N. Description

I - Cordless CPT System: Minimum Kit III - 10 sq.cm Probe Spares

Equipment
12425 Point, hardened steel
13595 CPT Probe and depth synchronisation 12428 Friction sleeve, hardened steel
Probe 3 channels (qc, fs, u) 10 sq.cm, 41310 Filter ring brass
50 MPa, temperature compensated, tilt 12429 Support ring to X-ring

10755 Depth synchronisation (wire) 41380 X-ring

10757 Cable depth synchr. to interface box 10702 O-ring, friction sleeve, set of 10
13579 O-ring, battery pack
Acoustic data transmission from probe
12451 Sound transmitter for 36 mm tapered IV- Back-up Memory
thread rod, price per probe 08969 Extra back-up memory module, for probe, 8
hours capacity
08875 Microphone, top mounted, 20 ton 10661 Memory read out unit NOVA
10662 Cable microphone to interface box
V Sound transmission
Data acquisition and software 00000 Mud adapter for microphone
10660 CPT interface box for PC logging with 00000 First extension rod w mud outlets
CPT-LOG software
VIII - Data Acquisition and
06975 Cable serial interface box to PC Software
41540 Cable power interface 12V 08871 CPT-LOG (Win 95 min, Pentium min),
Acquisition and Display Software for PC English version
( Windows 95 or better)
08871 CPT-LOG
Interpretation program CPT-PRO by Geosoft
08527 Logging software for PC 08882 CPT-pro, Interpr Mod, ver 5.31
08876 CPT-pro: Formula Editor
08883 CPT-pro: Cross-section module
10785 Transportation case for CPT probe 10779 CPT-PRO Data editor
Minimum set of spares 10604 Map LT
12425 Point, hardened steel
12428 Friction sleeve, hardened steel
10513 Filter ring brass
41380 X-ring
10702 O-ring, friction sleeve, set of 10
Extension rods
07629 Tapered thread rods, 36 x 1.000 mm

09485 Transport case for extension rods

(115 x 23 x 17 cm)
II - CPT Probes
13595 Probe 3 channels (qc, fs, u) 10 sq.cm,
50 MPa, temp. comp., tilt
13596 Probe 3 channels (qc, fs, u) 10 sq.cm,
50 MPa, temp. comp., tilt, memory
13598 Probe 3 channels (qc, fs, u) 10 sq.cm,
100 MPa, temp. comp., tilt
13599 Probe 3 channels (qc, fs, u) 10 sq.cm,
100 MPa, temp. comp., tilt, memory
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The Geotech CPT probes are equipped in their standard version with the following channels:
10 cm2 probes: point resistance, local friction, pore pressure channels and tilt sensor.

Seismic adapter and electric conductivity adapter are options that can be mounted on Geotech
CPT probes.

The above channels are described in the separate manuals for each adapter. Please refer to the
given manual.

All items are described in the Geotech catalogue or on the Geotech web site
http://www.geotech.se.

1.3 The Geotech cordless CPT System

Unless for special applications such as offshore or SCPT, most of Geotech clients choose to
run CPT using the unique Geotech cordless data transmission system. This cordless system
applies to all channels except seismic, i.e.: point resistance, local friction, pore pressure, tilt,
temperature and electric conductivity.

GEOTECH started the development of cordless CPT system in the late seventies and the
equipment was made operational in extensive offshore CPT surveys in the Canadian Arctic in
the early eighties (Jefferies M.G. and Funegard, E. (1983): Cone penetration testing in the
Beaufort Sea. Proc. ASCE Conf. Geotechnical Practice in Offshore Eng., Austin, Tx). The
present equipment is a fourth generation and is still today unique on the market.

The system does not require a cable to transmit measured data, from probe to soil surface.
This is done acoustically, i.e. the digitised coded data string is converted into a high frequency
acoustic signal by a piezoelectric element in the probe. The signal is then transmitted up
through the steel of the rods to a microphone on the rig or penetrometer. No cable is therefore
used for transmitting the data from probe to the recorder at the surface. The absence of a cable
makes the system very easy and time efficient to use.

From the microphone, the signals are transmitted to a computer interface box, which also
receives depth information, from a depth encoder. The data is then sent to a PC notebook. The
data are presented simultaneously on the PC screen as curves and digits.

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Figure 1: Description of the Geotech cordless CPT system

1.CPT probe 2. Microphone 3.Depth synchroniser or depth encoder 4.Computer interface box 5. PC Notebook 6.
Printer 7. Results

1.4 Technical data

CPT probe Computer Interface Software requirement

See special documentation Dimension 170x210x55 mm CPT-LOG (Win): PC
Weight 1,2 kg notebook with minimum
Sound Transmitter or Power 9-36 Vdc 486 processor, 8 MB RAM,
Cable Connection RS 232C 600- Windows XP, Vista
See special documentation 2400 Baud

Microphone
Weight 3,5 kg
Mud adapter 0,5 kg

Depth Synchronising Unit

Electrical-optical
Dimension 160x160 mm

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2 EQUIPMENT NEEDED

2.1 Checklist

A. PC Notebook, IBM or IBM compatible, Pentium minimum for CPT-LOG, 286

processor for CPTGL. Notebook excluded in sale.

B. Geotech CPT Interface box for PC logging.

Cable power interface 12 Vdc.
Cable serial interface box to PC.

C. Depth synchronisation unit (also called Depth encoder).

Cable depth synchronisation to interface box.

D. Microphone with mounting plate.

Cable microphone to interface box.

E. CPT(U) Probe (10 sq.cm) with Sound Transmitter.

F. Batteries, 4 pcs alkaline "C".

G. Calibration certificate for the probe and user manual.

H. Can with deaired points and deaired filter rings. Bring at least as many filter rings as
the planned number of sounding during the day.

I. Container and funnel with glycerine. If a funnel with a 10 sq.cm bottom opening is not
available, cut bottom and top (at approx. 10 sq.cm or 36 mm diameter) of a large soft
drink plastic bottle

J. Drill rods, generally 36 x 1000 mm, tapered thread.

K. Pushing unit: penetrometer or geotechnical site investigation rig.

L. If required, anchoring equipment.

M. Logging software CPT-LOG.

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2.2 CPT Probe

2.2.1 Geotech Probes

Figure 2: CPT Probe, 10 cm2

Item Description P.N. Item Description P.N.

1. Point, 10 cm 12425 7. O-ring 13573
2. O-ring 13578 8. O-ring 13573
3. Filter ring 41310 9. Friction sleeve 12428
4. X-ring 41380 10. Cone body 12427
5. Support ring 12429 11. O-ring 13579
6. O-ring 13576

2.3 Transmitter

2.3.1 Transmitter for 10 cm2 probes

Figure 5: Sound Transmitter, P.N. 12451 for 10cm2 probes

11. Serial number of the sound transmitter

12. Batteries 4 pcs "C" alkaline

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3 PREPARATION FOR CPT SOUNDINGS

3.1 Step by step

1. Deair points, filter rings and grease with vaseline O-rings and X-rings at the office before
CPT tests.

2. Keep the probe stored at a temperature as close to the ground temperature (+5oC). The
probes are equipped with a temperature sensor and a microprocessor to compensate for
temperature variations. Nonetheless, the temperature drift is of <0.05%FS/ in the range of
0-40C for Qc, fs and u. For a 100 MPa probe (Qc range), this implies in summer (say
+45oC) a temperature difference of 40oC and a drift 200 kPa.

3. Make certain that the motor, the hydraulic system and contacts between rod and kelly are
not generating undue noise at a sound frequency similar to the sound transmission of the
probe. This can have detrimental effect on the data transmission during the CPT test.

4. At the test site, prior to anchoring, auger a hole if the top soil consists of a dry crust or if
CPTU will be carried out (CPT with pore pressure measurement).

5. If required, anchor the pushing unit and make certain that the pushing will be vertical.

6. Mount the depth synchronisation and microphone on the pushing unit. Connect power
cable, microphone cable, serial cable and depth synchronisation cable to CPT interface
box and notebook.

7. Introduce the probe in the funnel and water tight with tape. Deair the pore pressure
chamber and mount X-ring, X-ring support, filter ring and point (10 cm2 probes).

8. 10 cm2 probes: Pre-stress the friction sleeve by tightening the cone tip by hand.
Pull a condom on the probe, in particular if water is used in the pore pressure chamber.

9. Put fresh "C" alkaline batteries in the the transmitter. Observe that the batteries are
installed in the right way, with the positive pole facing the probe. Mount the probe on the
sound transmitter. Tighten by hand and not too hard.

10. Fill the hole with water.

11. Mount the first drill rod on the sound transmitter and start the software.

12. Follow the instructions from users manual of the software and start the CPT test after
having punched the probe characteristics, calibration or scaling factors (in *.cpt files,
abbreviated: KQ for point resistance, KF, for local friction, KU for pore pressure, O for
temperature, A for electric conductivity and B for inversion factor for the electric
conductivity) and checked the zero readings.

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3.2 Explanations

3.2.1 Deairing

Glycerine is recommended rather than water. If water is used nonetheless, in winter time when
temperatures are below zero centigrade, it could be necessary to add e.g. glycol to avoid the
water from freezing.

Control that the filter ring and point are easily mounted on the cone before deairing. This will
make the mounting easier.

Boiling

The glycerine should be deairated by boiling at least 15 minutes. This can be done together
with the points and filter rings. Take at least as many points and filters that will be used during
one day. Keep the filters and points in the liquid until they will be used.

Vacuum treatment

Put the points and filter rings in the tank of the vacuum pump. Fill the tank with glycerine so
that the content is covered. Connect the pump and deair for about one hour. Be observant so
no glycerine is sucked into the pump. This could damage the pump. If too little glycerine is
used it could boil away. Keep the filters and tips in the liquid until they will be used.

Deairing on the site

If you have forgotten to deair the tips and filters, or if you want to use already used tips it can
be done in the field. This is not a recommendable method. but it works tolerably.
Put a deairing funnel over the cone and fill it with water. Mount and dismount the tip at least
20 times. Refill with water all the time. Have washing-up liquid added.

3.2.2 Pre-augering

In order to obtain good quality pore pressure measurements, pre-drilling must be carried out
all the way down to the ground water table.

If the first meters consist of dry crust with clay or silt, pre-augering down to 0,5 - 1,0 m could
be enough.

If the first meters consist of fillings, pre-augering is recommendable through the whole filling.
If the soil seems to collapse into the hole it must be stabilised with a casing or e.g. bentonite.
If a casing is installed it must than be filled up with water.

During winter time when ground frost is present, pre-augering must always be carried out. If
the probe is pressed through soil frost, there will be an under pressure which can suck the
water out of the filter. This will cause a generated pore pressure curve that is very inaccurate.

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3.3.3 Anchoring

The pushing unit, e.g. penetrometer or site investigation rig, has to anchored to the ground if
its weight is lower than the available feeding force and lower than the expected reaction force,
it could be advisable to anchor the unit.

Different augers are used for different types of soils. If the soil surface consists of clay or
mainly clay, anchoring augers with large diameters are preferable. Suitable diameters are
between 100 mm and 200 mm. If the soil surface consists of non-cohesive soils augers with a
smaller diameter are sufficient but may have be driven down to a layer with sufficient reaction
force.

If the torque needed to drive the augers is very high, it could help to lubricate the augers e.g.
with bentonite.

3.3.4 Depth Synchronisation Unit (DSU)

The Depth Synchronisation Unit comes as a spring loaded string pot or as a wheel rolling on
the rods.

For the spring loaded string pot, weld or screw the mounting-plate in a suitable position on
your pushing unit and arrange for a hook e.g. screw. The Depth Synchronisation Unit and the
hook should be mounted n a moving respectively fixed item, or inversely. Make however sure
that the wire runs in a straight and vertical line all the way to ensure correct depth registration.
It is preferable to protect the wire from grease, dirt and water.

The rolling wheel model has a wheel rotating against the extension rods. The unit is mounted
so that a firm and constant contact between rods and wheel is ensured.

3.3.5 Microphone

The contact surface at the end of the rod string where the pushing action is transmitted is the
microphone. The microphone should therefore be mounted under the pushing. It is essential
that good mechanical contact is achieved in order to guarantee the sound transmission.

Geotech can provide a device for those who wish to use a rotary unit and chuck to tighten and
loosen rods.

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3.3.6 Batteries

The 10sq.cm probe is powered by 4 pieces of alkaline "C" batteries. The lifetime of this power
pack is normally around 12 hours. The lifetime is shorter if the probe is operating at lower
temperatures than the normal soil temperature e.g. if the probe is operating for long time in the
air when it is freezing. The voltage should always be checked and for is for fresh batteries 6
Vdc. Check prior to all soundings the voltage, as the probe stops functioning at a voltage
lower than 4.5 Vdc.

Use only hand power to tighten the cone to the sound transmitter. In spite of this it could be
necessary to use tools to dismantle the probe after the sounding. High point resistance could
tighten the probe quite hard.

3.3.7 Saturating the pore pressure chamber and mounting point and filter ring

Introduce the probe in the funnel (or a cut plastic soft drink bottle) and water tight with tape.
Fill with glycerine and place a deaired a point, an X-ring, an X-ring suppor and a filter ring.

Carefully remove all air bubbles in the pore pressure chamber with a syringe or a needle. This
will take at least 10 minutes if the probe is new.

Mount the X-ring on the support ring and place them on top of the probe, then the deaired
filter ring and the point.

Figure 6: Deairing the pore pressure chamber and mounting the X-ring, filter ring and point

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3.3.8 Use of slot type filters

In unsaturated soils and soils where negative pore pressures are generated during penetration,
conventional filters may loose their saturation and not respond to pressure changes, see Fig. 7
below. While this loss of saturation is permanent when penetrating unsaturated soils, it returns
to normal in the second case provided the pores of the filter have not been clogged with soil
particles.

For shallow layers, the loss of saturation can be avoided by pre-drilling and filling the hole
with water. The alternatives to porous filters are slot type filters with the pore pressure
chamber filled with grease.

The cause of loss of saturation when negative pore pressures are generated is the formation of
gas, due to the lowering of the evaporation temperature of glycerine and even more of water
when the pressure is reduced under the atmospheric pressure. With a pressure reduction of 70-
80 kPa below atmospheric pressure, water or glycerine starts boiling (Larsson, 1995).

This will not occur when filling the pore pressure chamber with grease, using a slot type filter,
unless air bubbles remain trapped in the grease.

Figure 7: Example of CPTU sounding run with us filter and grease filled slot filter: vacuum is generated
at 4.5 m with a conventional filter whereupon is ceases to function. The slot filter registers overall larger
amplitude variations, including lower negative pore pressures. (Larsson, 1995).

The slot filter is equipped with a support ring for the X-ring and is mounted on the CPT tip.
The pore pressure chamber is filled with grease as follows:

1. Fill the chamber and the inside of the tip with grease.
2. Mount the tip and slot filter with an X-ring on the cone
3. The chamber and filter become automatically saturated, with excess grease squeezed
out in the slot

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4. No protection has to be taken with the cone as the stiffness of the grease will prevent it
from flowing out.

The choice of grease must be made carefully:

With a firm grease, zones and layers of unsaturated soil or where negative pore
pressures are generated, can often be passed without loss of saturation. The
disadvantage is an evening out of pressure variations
With a softer grease, this advantage is lost, and the same problems with saturation as
with normal fluid saturated filter will occur.

The following are a few tested greases (Elmgren, 1995), giving 1 kPa hysteresis between on-
and offloading curves:
Statoil LK 62
BP LT2
Ariens moly No 1

The corrected tip resistance qT and sleeve friction fT are essentially unaffected by the types of
filter and fluid used.

Elmgren, Kjell (1995): Slot-type pore pressure CPT-u filters. Behavious of different filling
media. CPT95 - International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing. Linkping 4-5/10
1995. Vol. 2, p. 9-12

Larsson, Rolf (1995): Use of a thin slot as filter in piezocone tests. CPT95 - International
Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing. Linkping 4-5/10 1995. Vol. 2, p. 35-40

3.3.9 Pre-stressing the friction sleeve (10 cm2 probes)

Remove the funnel and tighten the cone firmly, but only by hand. This will provide a pre-
stress on the friction sleeve with approximately 5 kPa. When, later on, the probe is pushed
into the ground the tip will be tightened harder. The tip will not loosen, unless the probe is
turned anticlockwise in ground.

When the tip is tighten, the filter ring will pressing on the lower X-ring (close to the point)
which will then press on the friction sleeve. The sleeve, in turn, is pressing on both the upper
X-ring (towards the sound transmitter) and the local friction sensor inside the probe. This
initial pressure will remove any slip between sleeve and the local friction sensor and is
paramount in order to measure small frictions and to avoid non-linearity at small loads.

This initial pressure on the local friction and cone resistance sensors is static and will not
change during the penetration of the soil, unless the sealing leaks. Finally, this pressure is
tarred when the zero values of the sensors are read before the start of the test and it will
therefore not affect the readings.

It is important that there is an initial load of approx. 5kPa on the local friction sensor before
the zero reading of the sensor. If not, the friction sleeve may not be in contact with the sensor,
resulting in a gape which will give the friction reading.

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3.3.10 Other Channels: Tilt, Temperature and Electric Conductivity

The tilt channel does not require any special care nor is it recalibrated. It is mounted in the
electronic part of the probe, above the friction sleeve, approximately 7 cm from the upper end
of the probe. The temperature sensor, independent from the sensor for temperature correction
in the probe of all CPT measurements, is mounted in the electronic part of the probe as well,
2.5 cm above the friction sleeve. Temperatures are recorded in degrees centigrade. The sensor
is recalibrated together with the other CPT sensors

For the seismic adapter, please refer to the given manual.

3.3.11 Zero Readings

Start the computer and input the probe characteristics, calibration values and start a CPT test
by following the instructions in the manual and on the screen displays.

Check the zeroes by holding the probe by hand against the microphone. The probe should not
be subject to any load. Do not therefore:
Let the probe rest on the ground, loading the point
Introduce the probe in water, loading the pore pressure sensor
Hold the probe by the sleeve friction.

It is important that the zeros are read with the probe holding a temperature close to the soil
temperature as the temperature drift is largest source of measurement error (Non linearity for
the point resistance: <0.1%FS, with temperature stability <0.05%FS/10oC).

It is recommended that the probe and transmitter have been connected at least a minute before
zero readings is made.

More background information is found at the end of the manual.

3.3.12 CPT SOUNDING

Start the CPT sounding. At the end of each stroke, pull the yoke or drill head back up and add
a new rod without going into PAUSE mode.

Both CPT-LOG and CPTGL can monitor dissipation tests.

At the end of a sounding never stop the logging software. All soundings must be terminated
with a second zero reading once the probe is retrieved from the ground. This is to check any
sensor drift.

The data cannot be displayed with the software without zero checks before and after testing.

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4 USE OF CONES WITH A BACK-UP MEMORY

The Geotech CPTU probes can be equipped with a back-up memory of minimum 36 hours
capacity and 18 bits resolution.

The purpose of this back-up memory is to

guarantee a data logging in case of losses of data
with the cordless data transmission, due to high
ambient noise levels when penetrating dense
sands, acoustic interferences on the pusher or
due to too large penetration depths. Failures in
the data transmission can be observed as straight
lines on all channels in the recorded profiles.

4.1 CPT soundings with cones with a back-up memory.

They differ only slightly from the procedure with a standard cone. Only the differences are
therefore described here.

1. After starting the CPT acquisition software, CPT-LOG, make certain that the cone is
defined as a Back-up type in the Cone Database module.

2. Connect the memory read-out cable in the probe and lap top.

3. Start the Penetration module, press F1 New (Sounding).

4. Go to Options Cone synchronization and wait for the synchronization to finish.

5. Continue the sounding as normal.

This procedure is not necessary to be done before each test unless lap top is exchanged but it
is recommended to be done first test of the day.

Once the memory is filled it will overwright the first sounding and continue in a loop.
By request it is possible to set an overwright protection on the back-up memory.

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Data retrieval

At the end of the test or of the day, you can (if necessary) transfer the data saved in the back-
up memory to your lap top.

1. Connect the memory read-out cable to your probe and lap top and start the Back-up
Memory module of the CPT-LOG software.

3. Follow the instructions in the Memory window that shows.

Since no depth and time is recorded in the back-up memory the file needs to be synchronized
with the original file saved on your lap top. The new CPT files are labelled as the original
ones but with a *_m.cpt. More information in the CPT-log manual.

The memory is emptied when all data are transferred or when Erase is pressed.

All data are always stored in a dump.txt file.

5 AFTER THE CPT SOUNDING

5.1 Cleaning the probe

After sounding, it is very important to clean the probe. Dismount the point and filter ring from
the cone and put them in a tank with water so they don't get dry. Dry soil is very hard to get rid
of from inside the filter.

Dismount the friction sleeve by careful rotation and pull it off. Clean the O-rings and the X-
rings both under the sleeve and on the cone. Wipe the moisture away. If it is wet under the
friction sleeve, water has penetrated under the O-rings. They are damaged and must be
replaced. Lubricate the X-rings and the O-rings slightly with Vaseline and mount the friction
sleeve. The sleeve is now easily turned.

If the X-rings and O-rings are not clean, this may affect the local friction readings.

When the probe is pulled back from the ground, soil could penetrate above the upper X-ring
which will force the friction sleeve downwards. During the next sounding the friction from the
soil must first press the soil out from the X-ring before the measuring is started.

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6 INSTALLATION DESCRIPTION

6.1 Depth Synchronisation Unit

The DSU is initially made to give increasing depth when the wire is going inwards. If you
desire the reverse (e.g. increasing depth when the wire is pulled out) you swap the wires on
pin B and pin C in the cable connector that is connected to the interface. The DSU should be
mounted so that the wire runs downwards, to avoid water entering the box.

Depth encoder, wire 2007

6.2 Cables

For maintenance purpose or if you need to

lengthen the cables in your application, the cable
connections in the CPT system are as seen here.

Figure 10: Cable connections

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6.3 Overload control card

The Geotech Overload Control Function is used for CPT soundings with the Geotech
cordless Cone Penetration Test (CPT) system.

The CPT operator can pre-set a maximum point resistance (Qc) and/or tilt increment at which
the cone penetration will automatically be halted in order to avoid damaging the probe. This
can occur when the probe hits a stone or gravel or slants on its side. In particular, bending of
probes can occur within a few centimetres slanted pushing.

6.3.1 Mounting Instructions

1. Connections to the penetrometer: The overload function is a single pole switch, type SPCO
which can be used to either close or open an electrical circuit, such as an electrically
controlled hydraulic valve. I.e., the penetrometer has to have an electrically controlled
hydraulic valve to activate the pushdown of the yoke.
2. Add extra 2 wire-cable to the female contact of the power cable (we can supply you with
this).
3. If the hydraulic flow is stopped by disconnecting the electric circuit, i.e. disconnecting the
electrical power to the valve, use the pins A and F on the female connector.
4. If the hydraulic flow is stopped by closing the electric circuit, i.e. connecting the electric
power to the valve, use the pins A and B on the female connector.

When uncertain, please send us the electrical circuit diagram of the rig and we will give you a
more detailed answer.

6.3.2 Use of the overload control card with the CPT logging software

The maximum point resistance and tilt increment values are set in the logging software CPT-
LOG (Windows XP, Vista).

When the recorded point resistance or tilt increment value exceeds the pre-set values, the
software goes into PAUSE. This gives the operator the choice to stop the sounding or
continue, at his risk.

6.3.3 Recommendations

Maximum point resistance value: The cones have a safety factor of 50%. Therefore never
exceed 25% of the point resistance range.
Tilt increment: For space reasons, the tilt sensor is placed in the electronic part of the
probe, i.e. 20 cm from the porous filter. Once the probe is introduced in the ground, use
therefore small tilt increment values (in the range of 0.5o/cm or 50o/m).
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7 Calibration, Sensors and Sealing

7.1 Calibration codes

Each channel has a calibration code, which is a scaling factor (amplifying factor) for the
measured value. The calibration code can adopt values from approx. 400 up to 9999, and
doesn't affect the zero value (offset) of the gauge.

The sensitivity of the sensor can be changed by changing the calibration code. If the
calibration code is increased, the sensitivity of the sensor will be decreased (lower gain).

To check that the measured value from the CPT-probe is correct, the CPT-probe should be
loaded in a loading frame and the read-out from the CPT-probe should be compared with the
read-out from an accrue load cell. If the value differs, a new calibration code can be
determined from the following formula.

Cn/Co=Pr/Pl

Where: Co is the old calibration code.

Cn is the new calibration code.
Pr is the read-out value from the CPT-probe.
Pl is the loaded value on the load cell.

The relation between the read-out value from the CPT-probe and the load cell is not a linear
function for the pore pressure and the friction sleeve sensors. Therefore, the calibration code is
only valid for a certain load. When determine a new calibration code, the corresponding load
on the CPT-probe should be in the area where the highest accuracy is needed. Sometimes it
can be necessary to use different calibration codes for different soundings, depending on soil
conditions.

When loading the sensors of the CPT-probe, it is important to point out following details:

The probe should be loaded with friction sleeve, filter ring and cone tip and all X- and O-
rings mounted on the probe. The probe and its parts should be well cleaned and all sealing
lubricated with Vaseline. The cone tip should be tightened by hand and the friction sleeve
turned half a turn to centre between the sealing. Turn the friction sleeve the right way.
Wrong way will loosen the cone tip.

If the cone tip needs to be dismounted, to load the friction sleeve, the upper x-ring must
also be taken off.

When loading the pore pressure sensor, the other sensors should also be set under the same
pressure. The reason for this is that crosstalk can be measured so net area factors for local
friction and cone resistance can be determined.

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When loading local friction and cone resistance it is important that the load is applied
straight in line to the probe to avoid bending. This is for safety reasons and to avoid the
influence of bending to the sensors during the calibration procedure. The adapters provided
by Geotech AB, or similar, should be used when loading the sensors on the probe.

7.2 Sensors and sealing

The sensors on the CPT-probe are operating in a difficult environment and therefore special
demand is required.

General description of the sensors

The friction sleeve is mounted at the lower end of the probe. Between the sleeve and the probe
is a double O-ring sealing to prevent water to leak in under the friction sleeve. At both ends of
the friction sleeve an X-ring is mounted. They prevent the soil to act on the ends of the
friction sleeve, but they are not intended to seal for neither for water nor air.

The lower X-ring (close to the filter ring) is attached to a support ring (washer). The support
ring has three major tasks:
1) To prevent the filter ring to press on the friction sleeve.
2) To hold the X-ring
3) To prevent the friction sleeve to be pressed downwards and cause damage to the lower
X-ring during the pull back after each test.

At this lower end of the probe, the point with the filter ring is mounted.

The pore pressure sensor is located inside the cone resistance sensor. The cavity between the
pore pressure sensor and filter ring (pore pressure chamber) and the filter ring should be
saturated with liquid to have the necessary response.

All sensors are arranged on the probe in order to minimise the influence between the sensors.

To obtain repeatable results, it is very important that the O-rings seal for water and the X-rings
for soil. Therefore all sealing in the probe are set under initial stress. If not, they will not seal!

In addition, O-ring sealing will always leak if damaged or dirty. When replacing O-rings,
lubricate with Vaseline, and mount the friction sleeve carefully.

Because of tolerances in the manufacturing procedure of the CPT probe, the friction
response should always be checked when the friction sleeve is replaced.

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7.3 Zero readings

After each test in the field and after the probe has been pulled out from the ground, the zero
values of the sensors should be compared with the zero values taken before the test was
started. If the difference is small, for the cone resistance and local friction, the conclusion is
that it has not been any damage to the sensors and the sealing had worked correctly during the
test.

If there is a difference between the zero readings before and after the test, for the cone
resistance and local friction, it could be caused by the following reasons.
1) Overload of the sensors due to high loads or strong bending of the probe.
2) The sealing has been leaking. Soil between the x-rings and the friction sleeve causing
higher loads on the ends than the initial load.
3) Different temperatures in the probe before and after the test in combination with
significant temperature drift in the sensors.
4) If the tip, for some reason, is taken off or just unscrewed a little, the initial load on the
sensors will also be removed or reduced.

The zero readings from the pore pressure sensor suffer from a different problem. During the
pull back after each test, sometimes very low pressure can be generated. If so, the filter ring
will drain from liquid and replaced with soil. The soil will seal off the pore pressure gauge
from the surrounding pressure.

The result of this is that when the zero readings after test is taken, with the tip still on the
probe, the pressure on the sensor will not be atmospheric. To read the correct unloaded pore
pressure value (zero reading) the tip must be removed from the probe. However, if the tip is
removed, the initial load of the cone resistance and local friction sensor is removed.

Therefore, two zero readings should be taken after the CPT test. One with the tip mounted on
the probe and one with the tip taken off from the probe.

8 SPECIAL APPLICATIONS

8.1 CPT Soundings with cable mode data transmission

In CPT soundings where it is preferred to use a cable, the same probes, depth encoder and
interface box are used. Needed in addition are:
a cable adapter on the probe,
cable of sufficient length,
an adapter between the end of the cable and the interface box

The sound transmitter and microphone are not used.

The cable is threaded through the extension rods prior to the sounding. The two leads of the
cable are then connected to the signal conditioning box: lead 1 to socket 1 and lead 2 to
socket 2.
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Seismic CPT tests (SCPT), done with the Geotech seismic CPT adapter, can only is run with a
cable due to the density of incoming data. The data from the other CPTU channels then also
transmitted by cable. The seismic CPT cable is a shielded cable, different from the normal one
(P.N. 08870).

8.2 Mud lubrication to reduce skin friction along the extension rods

Skin friction can be reduced by using a ring of larger diameter on top of the probe (so called
friction reducer), or by pumping approximately 1liter of
bentonite per push meter. By running CPT without a cable,
the inner diameter of the extension rods can be used for
pumping down bentonite.

Bentonite is prepared in the reservoir of a mud pump,

which is connected with a hose to the mud adapter of the
CPT microphone. The pump is activated as the test is
started. The resulting reduction in skin friction is illustrated
in Fig. 11, where a reaction force of 8 tons is reduced by
50% at 18 n depths.

Figure 11: Reduction of reaction force in CPT sounding by using mud

lubrication. Geotech probe used in the Canadian Beaufort Sea (in
Lunne et al. (1997)

8.3 CPT Tests in very soft grounds

Running CPT in very soft grounds, such as in tailings dams, it is highly recommended to run
CPT test with casing tubes to avoid bending and breaking of rods as the probe would meet
more consolidated layers at depth. In the absence of skin friction, the rods buckle with a load
of 5 tons and a rod length of only 1,7 m. This is the Euler second formula for rods with both
ends able to rotate where:

Fk = 2EI/l2

and Fk = Applied axial force (N)

E = Elasticity modulus = 22. 1010 N/m2
I = Surface moment of inertia = (OD4-ID4)/64 (m4)
l = Breaking length (m)

Running CPT with acoustic transmission of data and no cable simplifies the use of casing
during testing. Casing tubes should be ID 39 mm.

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In order to reduce the risk of bending and breaking of rods, a tilt increment alarm is available
in the acquisition software CPT-LOG and is defined as degrees per meter. A normal triggering
value should be approximately 60 degrees/meter. This function, when activated, will set the
alarm several times each time a new sounding is started, before the probe has penetrated the
ground.

For most soils, it is recommended to use a friction holder at the foot of the pushing
equipment, to hold the rods from sinking by their own weight and to fall back in the hole,
when pulling them up.

8.4 Offshore CPT

The standard CPT probes and sound transmitters can be used for offshore use. The normal
water pressure range of the probe is 2.5 MPa, i.e. a 250 m water column. The other standard
equipment items, microphone, depth encoder and interface box cannot be placed under water.

1. Soundings from boat decks or platforms

The standard equipment can be used in a normal way, using casing tubes, from deck to sea
bottom, to avoid the bending of rods, like in very soft soils.

2 Soundings from sub sea platforms

In CPT soundings from sub sea platforms, generally all rods are assembled prior to the start of
the sounding. The use of a cordless system does not in such case simplify the operation. The
microphone and sound transmitter are replaced by a cable connection as under Cable CPT,
here above.

The depth encoder is replaced by a watertight version with a wheel rotating against the rods,
Fig. 12. The unit consists of:
An outer part with the rotating wheel, which is loosened regularly for greasing of the
bearings,
An inner part which should under no circumstances be opened. It consists of a two couple
of magnets, which transmit the rotation of the wheel through the watertight separation, the
electronic unit with cable connections. The inner part does not require any maintenance.

Mounting of the depth encoder

Depth increments are only registered in one rotation direction. In order to establish the proper
direction of rotation, connect the depth encoder and the CPT probe with the interface box and
PC, start the acquisition program CPT-LOG and a simulated CPT test. In case no depths are
recorded, turn the depth encoder upside down in order to change the direction of rotation.

Once the orientation of the encoder is established, mount the unit with a spring load, with a
load of 4 kg on the rotary wheel against the CPT extension rods.

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Measuring wheel, rota-

ting against the CPT rods

2 pair of
magnets

Grease bearings
of axis

Bolts to loosen outer

part and grease the
Electronic unit measuring wheel axis

Figure 12: Depth encoder for sub-sea use

The depth range of the depth encoder is 40 m.

Interface box and signal conditioning box

It is preferable to keep the signal conditioning box and interface box above sea level. The
observation of the diodes of the interface box is a good monitoring of the CPT test. If not
possible, the two boxes can be paced in a watertight caisson on the sub sea rig.

GEOTECH AB: NOVA CPT Acoustic manual 2009.doc, 2009