The Use of the Dynamic Cone Penetrometer for Quality Control of Compaction Operations

Abstract:

The use of a new quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) specification involving Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) testing in concert with conventional moisture and density testing is becoming more and more frequent in various parts of the world. The need for this additional testing is essential, as the regular in-situ density tests cannot alone ensure the compliance of the layers constructed with the compaction requirements. Recent analyses of the correlation between the DCP testing and the California Bearing Ratio CBR testing show that QC and QA DCP testing is adequate to verify compaction, stability and vertical uniformity in both cohesive and granular soils. Two examples of DCP usage in two Israeli earthwork projects, one of clayey soils and the other of silty-sand soils, indicate the benefits of this usage along with, though for the clayey example only, Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) testing.

• Periodical: International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa (Volume 10)
• Pages: 49-64
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/JERA.10.49
• Online since: July 2013
• Authors: Moshe Livneh, Noam A. Livneh
• Keywords: Compaction, Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP), Earthworks, Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD), Quality Control (QC)

References

[1] B.W. Larsen, D.J. White and C.T. Jahren, Evaluation of dynamic cone penetration quality for cohesive soil embankment construction pilot project for new specification for quality control and quality assurance. Transportation Research Record, Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2082 (2008) 98-100.

DOI: 10.3141/2081-10

[2] J.A. Siekmeier, D. Young and D. Beberg, Comparison of the dynamic cone penetrometer with other tests during subgrade and granular base characterization in Minnesota, in: S.D. Tayabji and E.O. Lukanen (Eds), Nondestructive Testing of Pavements and Backcalculation of Moduli, Volume 3, ASTM STP 1375, West Conshohocken, PA, 2000, pp.175-188.

DOI: 10.1520/stp14767s

[3] M. Livneh and Y. Goldberg, Use of falling weight deflectometer and light drop-weight for quality assessment during road formation and foundation construction. Transportation Research Record, Journal of the Transportation Research Board 1755 (2001) 69-77.

DOI: 10.3141/1755-08

[4] M.I. Pinard, Innovative compaction techniques for improving the bearing capacity of roads and airfields, Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Bearing Capacity of Roads and Airfields, Volume 3, Trondheim, Norway (1998) 1471-1480.

DOI: 10.1201/9781315100333-322

[5] P.R. Fleming, Recycled bituminous planings as unbound granular materials for road foundations in the U.K., Proceedings of 5th International Conference on Bearing Capacity of Roads and Airfields, Volume 3, Trondheim, Norway (1998) 1580-1590.

[6] L. Chaigneau, R. Gourds and D. Boissier, Compaction control with a dynamic cone penetrometer, Proceedings of International Workshop on Compaction of Soils, Granulate and Powders, ISSMGE, Innsbruck, Austria (2000) 103–109.

[7] M.A. Gabr, K. Hopkins, J. Coonse and T. Hearne, DCP criteria for performance evaluation of pavement layers, Journal of Performance and Constructed Facilities 14 (2000) 141-148.

DOI: 10.1061/(asce)0887-3828(2000)14:4(141)

[8] M.Y. Abu-Farsakh, K. Alshibli, M. Nazzaland and E. Seyman, Assessment of in-situ test technology for construction control of base courses and embankments, Report No. FHWA/LA.04/385, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Louisiana Transportation Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA (2004).

[9] M. Livneh, On the statistically based quality control of in-situ stiffness values for the compaction of subgrade and pavement layers, Paper Number P120, Proceedings of the First iSMARTi International Conference on Transport Infrastructure (ICTI), Beijing, China (2008).

[10] E.M. Rathje, S.G. Wright, K.H. Stokoe II, A. Adams, R. Tobin and M. Salem, Evaluation of non-nuclear methods for compaction control, Publication FHWA/TX-06/0-4835-1, Texas Department of Transportation, College Station, TX (2006).

[11] E.S. Berney and J.D. Kyzar, Evaluation of non-nuclear soil moisture and density devices for field quality control. Paper No. 12-3516, Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting (2012).

DOI: 10.3141/2310-03

[12] Y.C. Cho, K. Kabassi and C. Wang, Framework of non-nuclear methods evaluation for soil qc and qa in highway pavement construction. KICEM Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management, Korea Institute of Construction Engineering and Management (2012) 45-52. Information on www.jeepm.org.

DOI: 10.6106/jcepm.2012.2.2.045

[13] M. Livneh, Uncertainty associated with pre-defined correlative expressions of various in-situ tests outputs, Proceedings of the 2007 Federal Aviation Administration (FFA) Technology Transfer Conference, Atlantic City, NJ (2007).

[14] E.G. Kleyn, The use of the dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP). Report 2/74, Transvaal Roads Department, Pretoria, South Africa (1975).

[15] M. Livneh, The correlation between dynamic cone penetrometer, DCP and CBR Values. Publication No. 87-303, Transportation Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel (1987).

DOI: 10.3940/rina.wp.2008.11

[16] V. George, C.N. Rao and R. Shivashankar, PFWD, DCP and CBR for evaluation of lateritic subgrades, International Journal of Pavement Engineering 10 (2009) 189-199.

DOI: 10.1080/10298430802342765

[17] U.C. Sahoo, Performance evaluation of low volume roads, Ph.D. dissertation, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India (2009).

[18] P.K. Sahoo, Moduli of granular layers and subgrade soils for flexible pavements, Ph.D. dissertation, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India (2008).

[19] C.N. Rao, V. George and R. Shivashankar, PFWD, CBR and DCP evaluation of lateritic subgrades of Dakshina Kannada, India, Proceedings of the 12th International Conference of International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics (IACMAG), Goa, India (2005) 4417-4421.

DOI: 10.1080/10298430802342765

[20] D.H. Chen, D.F. Lin, P.H. Liau and J. Bilyeu, A correlation between dynamic cone penetrometer values and pavement layer moduli, ASTM Geotechnical Testing Journal 28 (2005), 42-49.

DOI: 10.1520/gtj12312

[21] I. R. Harison, Correlation of CBR and dynamic cone penetrometer strength measurement of soils, Australian Road Research, Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) Group Limited 16 (1986) 130-136.

[22] P.W. Jayawickrama, A.L. Amarasiri and P.E. Regino, Use of dynamic cone penetrometer to control compaction of granular fill, Transportation Research Record, Journal of the Transportation Research Board 1736 (2000) 72-80.

DOI: 10.3141/1736-10

[23] M.A. Gabr, J. Coonse and P.C. Lambe, A potential model for compaction evaluation of piedmont soils using dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP). Geotech. Test. Journal, 24 (2001) 301–313.

DOI: 10.1520/gtj11349j

[24] R. Salgado and S. Yoon, Dynamic cone penetration test (DCPT) for subgrade assessment, Purdue e-Pubs, Publication FHWA/IN/JTRP-2002/30. Joint Transportation Research Program, Indiana Department of Transportation and Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana (2003).

DOI: 10.5703/1288284313196

[25] V. George, C.N. Rao and R. Shivashankar, Effect of soil parameters on dynamic cone penetration indices of laterite sub-grade soils from India. Geotech. Geol. Engineering, 27 (2009) 585-593.

DOI: 10.1007/s10706-008-9248-6

[26] S.I.K. Ampadu and T.D. Arthur, The dynamic cone penetrometer in compaction verification on a model road pavement, Paper ID GTJ12306. Geotech. Test. Journal 29 (2005) 70-79. Information on www.astm.org.

DOI: 10.1520/gtj12306

[27] M. Livneh, I. Ishai and N. Livneh, Effect of vertical confinement on dynamic cone penetrometer strength values in pavement and subgrade evaluations, Transportation Research Record, Journal of the Transportation Research Board 1473 (1995) 1–8.

DOI: 10.3141/1714-12

[28] M. Livneh, A.N. Livneh and I. Ishai, The Israeli experience with the regular and extended dynamic cone penetrometer for pavement and subsoil-strength evaluation, in: S.D. Tayabji and E.O. Lukanen (Eds), Nondestructive Testing of Pavements and Backcalculation of Moduli, Volume 3, ASTM STP 1375, West Conshohocken, PA, 2000, pp.189-213.

DOI: 10.1520/stp14768s

[29] E. Seyman, Laboratory evaluation in-situ tests as potential quality control/quality assurance tools, M.Sc. Thesis, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Baton Rouge, LA (2003).

DOI: 10.31390/gradschool_theses.2601

[30] R. Anderegg and K. Kaufmann, Intelligent compaction with vibratory rollers feedback control systems in automatic compaction and compaction control, Transportation Research Record, Journal of the Transportation Research Board 1868 (2004) 124-134.

DOI: 10.3141/1868-13

[31] D.L. Petersen, Continuous compaction control MnROAD demonstration. Report No. MN/RC-2005-07, Minnesota Dept. of Transportation Office of Materials and Road Research, Maplewood, MN (2005).

[32] C. Zambrano, V. Drnevich and P. Bourdeau, Advanced compaction quality control, Purdue e-Pubs, Publication FHWA/IN/JTRP-2006/10. Joint Transportation Research Program, Indiana Department of Transportation and Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana (2006).

DOI: 10.17973/mmsj.2022_10_2022075

[33] D.J. White, P.K.R. Vennapusa, H.H. Gieselman, L.J. Johanson and J. Siekmeier, Alternatives to heavy test rolling for cohesive subgrade assessment, Proceedings of Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields Conference, Volume 1, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois (2009) 45-55.

DOI: 10.1201/9780203865286.ch6

[34] M.D. Nazzal, Field evaluation of in-situ test technology for QC/QA during construction of pavement layers and embankments, M.Sc. Thesis, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2003).

DOI: 10.31390/gradschool_theses.1002

[35] L.D. Phillips, Field evaluation of rapid airfield assessment technologies, M.Sc. Thesis, Mississippi State University, Starkville, Mississippi (2005).

[36] Y. Desalegn, Developing correlation between DCP and CBR for locally used subgrade materials, M.Sc. Thesis, Addis Ababa University (AAU) School of Graduate Studies and Addis Ababa Institute of Technology-Department of Civil Engineering (2012).

DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.f8880.109119

[37] Y. C. Jung, S. Jung, N.Z. Siddiki and A. Bobet, Field investigation of engineering properties and uniformity of subgrades chemically treated with LKD, International Journal of Pavement Engineering (2011) 1–12.

DOI: 10.1080/10298436.2011.590194