Common Mistakes in Execution of Plane Load Test

Abstract

Shallow foundation is the preferred foundation whenever possible, as it is economically more feasible compared to deep foundation. The design method for shallow foundation has long been established by Terzaghi. The Terzaghi’s bearing capacity equation requires soil strength parameters for its calculation. To obtain accurate results, undisturbed sample for laboratory testing is necessary. However, depending on the accuracy of soil sampling and laboratory testing, the results can have large inaccuracy. The in-situ determination of shallow foundation can be carried out by plate loading test. It is a well-established test which was standardized by British Standards in 1990 and American Society for Testing and Materials in 1994. The testing method is simple, and the standards provide flexibility in the execution of the test. Unfortunately, this flexibility can cause mistakes in the execution of the test, as practitioners can be selective in choosing the test procedure to minimize the test duration and/or cost. These mistakes can cause the plate load test results to be unusable or lead to erroneous results. This paper aims to address common mistakes in execution of plate load test.