Testing & Verification
We measure ground properties before design, calibrate treatment in trial areas, and verify that improved ground and installed piles meet the agreed acceptance criteria. Results are reported for consultant review.
Testing & Verification methods
Cone Penetration Testing
An instrumented cone pushed into the ground gives a continuous profile of soil resistance, before and after treatment.
Plate Load Testing
A loaded steel plate measures the ground's settlement response to give near-surface stiffness and bearing behaviour.
Pressuremeter Testing
An inflatable probe expanded in a borehole measures in-situ stiffness and limit pressure at depth.
Pile Testing
Static, dynamic and integrity tests confirm pile capacity, settlement behaviour and soundness.
Which test answers which question
A qualitative guide. The test programme is agreed with the consultant for each project.
| Test | What it measures | Typically used for | Depth covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cone Penetration TestingCPT | Cone resistance qc, sleeve friction fs, pore pressure u2 | Soil profiling; verifying densification before and after treatment | Continuous profile, to refusal |
| Plate Load TestingPLT | Load-settlement response of a rigid plate | Stiffness and bearing of fills, platforms and improved ground | Near surface: about 1.5 to 2 plate diameters |
| Pressuremeter TestingPMT | Pressure-volume response of the borehole wall | Modulus EM and limit pressure pL for design and verification | Discrete depths in a borehole |
| Pile TestingStatic, dynamic and integrity | Load-settlement, stress-wave signals, reflections | Pile capacity, settlement behaviour and soundness | The full pile |