Cone Penetration Testing (CPT)

Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) is performed by hydraulically advancing a penetrometer rod into the ground while measuring tip resistance, friction and pore water pressures.

WSP provides CPT rigs that will supply high quality information vital to making cost effective foundation and environmental decisions. Our software and equipment are regularly maintained and updated as new developments become available.

The on-board CPT computer software and equipment collects and displays real-time data, enabling accurate onsite display of results and data interpretation.

CPT data is used to:

• Detect soil layers to centimetre accuracy
• Assess soil properties, such as type, relative density, shear strength, stiffness
• Assess soil liquefaction potential

WSP has over thirty years of experience with CPT testing and interpretation.

The benefits of CPT include:

• Faster and more economical than drilling
• Minimal surface damage
• Seismic CPT – Analysis of seismic data and reporting
• Nationwide service
  

CPT 1

WSP provides a 17 tonne truck mounted CPT. Truck mounted CPT relies on the dead weight of the rig, resulting in less surface damage. This method is quick to carry out and provides cost effective foundation and environmental decisions.

CPT 1 has LSD (limited slip differential) installed to give the truck the opportunity to access steeper terrain and softer areas.

CPT 2

This rig has recently been upgraded to include the latest electronic enhancements. Its capacity is 8 tonne.

CPT 3

Our Panther 100-Flex 200 is our newest investment in CPT equipment. We provide a combined crawler/ truck mount combination (Panther 100-Flex 200). This combination provides a CPT sounding either on or off the truck, providing accessibility to hard to reach terrain.

WSP's track mounted crawler has been designed for conducting CPT soundings in all terrain circumstances at the lowest possible ground pressure while still guaranteeing the highest production rates and utmost reliability and efficiency.

Sounding from the truck allows for swift and economic road movement as well as for quick location change on site if the crawler rig is not needed.

Seismic CPT

As one of the leading CPT operators in New Zealand, we also perform Seismic Cone Penetration Testing.

The seismic CPT acquisition is conducted with a 10cm2 compression CPT (U) cone allowing both CPT data and SCPT data to be collected at the same time.

The analysis and reporting of the seismic data is interpreted in-house.

Pore pressure dissipation tests

Help with the identification of soil permeability and static groundwater levels in permeable soils

Insitu CBR and plate bearing tests

Our CPT rigs are also equipped to undertake insitu CBR and plate bearing tests.

Soil sampler

WSP have the capabilities of soil sampling with a VERTEK Soil Sampler, this method of sampling is a reliable and cost effective method of retrieval of minimally disturbed soil samples in difficult geological conditions. It is designed to be pushed with standard CPT equipment. Our soil sampler can collect full sample tubes for geotechnical or environmental laboratory testing. It has been designed with a unique core catcher to retain loose soils that tend to flow out of standard samplers. The diameter of the soil sampler is 35mm with a length of up to 600mm.

The soil sampler may eliminate the need for drilling on many projects. More on the soil sampler.

CPT testing

All our cones measure pore pressure, friction and tip resistance. We continually update our software so that we have the latest technology and provide the most accurate results possible. We ensure our calibration of equipment is done regularly to meet with industry standards.

Concrete coring

We can pre-core our holes through concrete up to a thickness of 300mm, only disturbing a small area making for an easy reinstatement.

Temperature cone

We have a temperature cone, which in addition to all the standard measurements, can also measure temperature. This function allows us to monitor the temperature of the soil in potentially geothermal areas and continue to test safely within given limits.