4.1 Various driven in situ penetrometers are used to evaluate the engineering behavior of soils. The Standard Penetration Test is the most common type. Engineering properties can be estimated on the basis of empirical correlations between N-values and soil density, strength or stiffness. Alternatively, the N-value can be used directly in foundation design using correlations to design parameters such as allowable bearing pressure or pile capacity. The N-value depends on the soil properties but also on the mass, geometry, stroke, anvil, and operating efficiency of the hammer. This energy measurement procedure can evaluate variations of N-value resulting from differences in the hammer system. See also Refs (1-6).3
4.2 There is an approximate, linear relationship between the incremental penetration of a penetrometer and the energy from the hammer that enters the drill rods, and therefore an approximate inverse relationship between the N-value and the energy delivered to the drill rods.
Note 1: Since the measured energy includes the extra potential energy effect due to the set per blow, tests for energy evaluation of the hammer systems should be limited to moderate N-value ranges between 10 and 50 (Ref (7)).
4.3 Stress wave energy measurements on penetrometers may evaluate both operator-dependent cathead and rope hammer systems and relatively operator-independent automatic systems.
4.4 The energy measurement has direct application for liquefaction evaluation for sands as referenced in Practice D6066.
4.5 This test method is useful for comparing the N-values produced by different equipment or operators performing SPT testing at the same site, aiding the design of penetrometer systems, training of dynamic penetrometer system operators, and developing conversion factors between different types of dynamic penetration tests.
Note 2: The quality of the result produced by this standard is dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors: Practice D3740 provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.
1.1 This test method describes procedu......
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