In-Situ and Ex-Situ Testing
Ex-situ
"Out of its original place"
Plate Loading Test
Load a square plate to failure; loading arrangement makes it expensive
Standard Penetration Test
Mainly for granular soils and unreliable in clays
Ex-situ
May be performed on either disturbed or undisturbed samples
Specific Gravity Test
Measures the ratio of the weight in air of a given volume of soil particles to the weight in air of an equal volume of distilled water at 4 degree Celsius
Pressuremeter Test
Most rational of all in situ tests; gives strength; for all soils
Hydraulic Conductivity Test
Permeability of coarse and fine grained soils
Plate Loading Test
Plot pressure vs. Settlement. Extrapolate to prototype
Static Cone Penetration Test
Pushed into the ground @ 2cm and gives continuous measurements
Standard Penetration Test
Samples (disturbed) collected in split-spoon sampler
Dynamic Cone Penetration Test
Similar to SPT but is hammer driven
Dynamic Cone Penetration Test
Simple and rugged; better than SPT and SCPT in hard soil such as dense gravels
Sieve Analysis
The distribution of particle sizes or average grain diameter of coarse grained soils
Hydrometer Analysis
The distribution of particle sizes or average grain diameter of fine grained soils
Ex-situ
The most common method of measuring soil and rock properties
Ex-situ
The removal of soil samples from the ground and testing them elsewhere
Proctor Compaction Test
Use compaction that increases soil unit weight
Pocket Penetrometer
Used in trial pits and samples
Field Density Test
Used to determine the in-place density and unit weight of soils
Dilatometer Test
Uses nitrogen tank for inflating the membrane
Dynamic Cone Penetration Test
Using cone instead of split spoon
In-situ
Usually less expensive than obtaining samples and performing ex-situ tests
Standard Penetration Test
Getting the number of blow count
Dilatometer Test
Gives soil stiffness and can identify soil based from a chart
Plate Loading Test
Good on random fills; indicates an average behavior
Piezocone
A modern static cone; measures pore water pressure
Pocket Penetrometer
A simple hand-held device for measuring unconfined compressive strength
In-situ
Additional data that can give more insight into the soil variability beneath a proposed construction site
Moisture content test
An indicator of the amount of water present in soil
Dynamic Cone Penetration Test
As crude as SPT; relies in correlations based on blow counts
Cone Pressuremeter
Combines piezocone and pressuremeter; uncommon; specialized
In-situ
Consists of bringing special equipment to the field, inserting it to the ground, and testing the soil or rock while it is still underground
N-value
Correlated to strength parameters
Relative Density Test
Defines the loosesr and densest states of a material
Pressuremeter Test
Expand a cylindrical probe inside a bore hole
