Correlation between PMT and SPT results for calcareous soil

Abstract

The simplicity and low cost of the standard penetration test (SPT) have always been the major advantages of this test over other field tests. Despite that other field tests (e.g. PMT, CPT, DMT, …) are supposed to provide more reliable results, yet they are still costly and not feasible in every project. Considering that SPT is available in all site investigation programs for all sizes of project, it was tempting to provide correlations between SPT results and other field test results. Through these correlations it will be feasible to estimate the soil parameters and deformation properties from the SPT number of blows. However, it is believed that correlations will differ, if the tested soil is calcareous. Furthermore, adopting local correlations is more favorable as it caters for the geological formation of the site. In this research it is aimed to obtain correlation between the PMT results and the SPT results for calcareous soil. A site investigation comprising boreholes with SPT and PMT was carried out near to the Red sea coast in Jeddah. The study was carried out to develop a local correlation between the results of SPT and PMT considering the effects of soil gradation and carbonate content. Comparison between the obtained correlation and other available correlations is also considered.