Reliability of Using Standard Penetration Test (SPT) in Predicting Properties of Soil

Abstract

The properties of soil play important role in many practices of geotechnical engineering. The soil classification tests such as Atterberg limits are quick and easy to perform and also cheaper compared to the test required to determine the soil parameter such as shear strength. It may take long time to get the result and difficult to perform. So, the prediction of these properties with the Standard Penetration Test (SPT) gives a chance to obtain these parameters without using of more laboratory test. Standard penetration test is used widespread due its simplicity and not expensive. The test is performed to measure the strength of the soil. In this study, the reliability of using standard penetration test (SPT) in predicting some properties such as Atterberg limits and shears strength parameters. The soil samples collected from 14 boreholes to depths between 1.5 to 19.5 m. The site of this study is at Ulu Jelai which is located in the State of Pahang; in the district of the Cameron Highlands have been investigated. Simple correlations between Standard Penetration Test and Atterberg limit is performed by using simple regression method. The results of the research show that the shear strength of the soil affects the standard penetration test number.