Standard penetration testing in a virtual calibration chamber

The virtual calibration chamber technique, based on the discrete element method, is here applied to study the standard penetration test (SPT). A macro-element approach is used to represent a rod driven with an impact like those applied to perform SPT. The rod is driven into a chamber filled with a s...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Zhang, Ningning, Arroyo Álvarez de Toledo, Marcos|||0000-0001-9384-9107, Ciantia, Matteo Oryem|||0000-0003-1897-4471, Gens Solé, Antonio|||0000-0001-7588-7054, Butlanska, Joanna
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/134607
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/134607
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2019.03.021
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Soil penetration test
Discrete element method Standard penetration test Blowcount Energy Fontainebleau sand
Sòls -- Proves
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Geotècnia::Mecànica de sòls
Descripción
Sumario:The virtual calibration chamber technique, based on the discrete element method, is here applied to study the standard penetration test (SPT). A macro-element approach is used to represent a rod driven with an impact like those applied to perform SPT. The rod is driven into a chamber filled with a scaled discrete analogue of a quartz sand. The contact properties of the discrete analogue are calibrated simulating two low-pressure triaxial tests. The rod is driven changing input energy and controlling initial density and confinement stress. Energy-based blowcount normalization is shown to be effective. Results obtained are in good quantitative agreement with well-accepted experimentally-based relations between blowcount, density and overburden. It is also shown that the tip resistance measured under impact dynamic penetration conditions is close to that under constant velocity conditions, hence supporting recent proposals to relate CPT and SPT results.