Geotechnical characterization of igneous saprolite using the Seismic Cone Penetration Test (SCPTu) from a jungle site in South America

Jose Sanchez-Marrou, Hector Barriga-Gallarday, Ingrid Berru-García

In the proceedings of: GeoSt. John's 2019: 72nd Canadian Geotechnical Conference

Session: Geotechnical Characterization

ABSTRACT: This paper summarizes and discusses the results from Seismic Cone Penetration Tests (SCPTu) on a 40 m thick, igneous, saprolite horizon at a jungle site in South America. These results are compared against the results from conventional geotechnical drilling with in-situ tests (e.g., Standard Penetration Tests (SPT) and down-hole Vane Shear Tests (VST), and laboratory testing results. Saprolite is formed in situ by chemical weathering of the parent rock, resulting in soils with significant microstructure. This is evaluated under the framework of the Soil Behaviour Type (SBT) and the Modified Normalized Small-strain Rigidity Index, K*G. A discussion of the main limitations of conventional SCPTu classification and empirical correlation methods, when applied to saprolite, is presented in this paper along with a framework for interpretation and classification of this material, using information from the drilling and laboratory testing programs.

RÉSUMÉ: Cet article résume et discute les résultats des tests de pénétration de cône sismique (SCPTu) sur un horizon de saprolite géotechnique conventionnel avec des tests in situ (par exemple, des tests de pénétration standard (SPT) et des tests de cisaillement en auge de fond (VST), et des résultats de tests de laboratoire. La saprolite est formée in situ par altération chimique la roche mère, qui donne des sols de microstructure importante, évaluée dans le cadre du type de comportement du sol (SBT) et de l'indice de rigidité normalisé modifié des petites déformations, K*G. Une discussion des principales limites de la classification SCPTu conventionnelle Les méthodes de corrélation empiriques, lorsqu'elles sont appliquées à la saprolite, sont présentées dans cet article, ainsi qu'un cadre d'interprétation et de classification de ce matériau, utilisant les informations provenant des programmes de forage et d'essais en laboratoire.

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Cite this article:
Jose Sanchez-Marrou; Hector Barriga-Gallarday; Ingrid Berru-García (2019) Geotechnical characterization of igneous saprolite using the Seismic Cone Penetration Test (SCPTu) from a jungle site in South America in GEO2019. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Geotechnical Society.

@article{Geo2019Paper197,author = Jose Sanchez-Marrou; Hector Barriga-Gallarday; Ingrid Berru-García,title = Geotechnical characterization of igneous saprolite using the Seismic Cone Penetration Test (SCPTu) from a jungle site in South America,year = 2019}