Vertek Team

CPT Applications: Renewable Energy

Vertek Team · May 19, 2022 ·

Nations are racing to increase renewable energy production and the United States in no different. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, renewable energy production doubled between 2000 – 2020. While wind turbines and solar fields seem to pop up overnight, there is immense preparation before they are established. Part of this preparation is a site investigation to understand what soil conditions exist and what mitigation efforts need to be taken to support the construction of these massive structures and the equipment access to transport and construct them.

This is where cone penetration testing (CPT) comes in. CPT can help identify potential weak spots in the sediment deposits that could lead to slope failure, such as equipment or foundations in non-cohesive materials. By identifying potential problems in advance, engineers can take steps to correct them and ensure that the entire project is a success.

Use of CPT in Clean Energy

CPT is a type of soil testing that involves using a conical-tipped probe to measure the resistance of soil during penetration. CPT is used extensively in the evaluation of soil for clean energy projects. It is used to study the seismic shear wave impact of earthquakes in soil and evaluate the strength and stability of earth structures and dams.

Additionally, CPT can be used to assess the suitability of sediments for the installation of wind turbines and solar panels, as well as the strength of the soil where heavy equipment such as cranes need to travel. Ensuring that the soil is suitable for these installations can be critical to their longevity and potentially reduce risk and costs incurred due to unstable soil conditions or failures. CPT is an efficient and cost-effective subsurface investigation method to ensure a high-resolution site characterization.

Wind

CPT is an essential tool for assessing soil suitability for clean energy projects. Typically, CPT investigations for wind energy systems can help to ensure that the foundations are adequately designed for the existing sediment. CPT data is also leveraged to build temporary roadways capable of supporting the weight of turbines and cranes. Given the large swaths of land used for wind turbines, Vertek’s CPT trucks are perfect for maximizing production.

*Terracon conducting CPT with a Vertek CPT Truck*

As part of the design or pre-construction phase of a wind turbine project, CPT can help ensure that selected wind turbines are constructed to minimize the risk of foundation failure. It can also help identify areas where the combination of sediment type and groundwater may need to be considered. Utilizing Standard Penetration Testing (SPT) technologies may miss these subsurface zones leading to additional maintenance or construction costs down the road. Overall, CPT site investigations can better inform the design and construction saving money and schedule for a project.

Solar

CPT is a valuable tool that can assess the soil properties at a spot where solar energy technology is being considered. CPT can help inform solar designers determine the suitability of a location for this technology by providing information on the soil strength, moisture content, and density.

CPT operators investigating solar sites which are often shallow investigations on undeveloped sites prefer a modular system like Vertek’s S4 CPT Sounding System. The S4 push frame can be attached to various types of standard construction equipment and shipped between job sites with other construction equipment. The S4’s modularity, size, and power are perfect for accessing challenging terrain with existing construction equipment.

CPT Supporting Renewable Energy Infrastructure

The U.S. Energy Information Administration “projects that the share of renewables in the U.S. electricity generation mix will increase from 21% in 2020 to 42% in 2050.” This will require an enormous expansion of renewable energy infrastructure that will require high resolution and efficient subsurface investigations. Engineering and construction firms’ number one goal is to mitigate risk and with Vertek CPT systems, you can deliver the data they need to reduce their project design and construction risk.

Check out our full product line here. New to CPT? Download The Business of CPT.

CPT Applications: Coal Ash Deposits

Vertek Team · March 28, 2022 ·

Cone penetration testing (CPT) is an advanced site investigation method for assessing and recording the properties of sediments. The field test involves the use of a static hydraulic advancement system to slowly advance a probe equipped with multiple measurement sensors into the sediment directly below. The CPT system collects and records high resolution data to determine site characteristics such as density, shear strength, soil behavior type, and other derived properties. The data is then analyzed by engineers to understand what improvements need to be made to support the proposed load bearing structure.

A lesser-known application for CPT is the investigation of coal-fired power station by-product deposit sites, sometimes referred to as “coal ash ponds.” Keep reading to learn why CPT is a great method for investigating these sites.

How CPT Testing is Helpful

Coal ash can take many forms, including solid particles, liquid slurry, or gas. Coal ash is often disposed of in large ponds enclosed by earthen dams, which can be a potential hazard if the material is not homogenous, or the confining dam fails. As one might expect, coal waste sites are highly regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and require investigation to evaluate the overall site’s stability and failure risk. By understanding the composition and strength of coal ash and confining structures, geotechnical engineers can make informed decisions and predictions based on collected site data, such as how sediment may behave during an earthquake or severe weather event and what risk mitigation efforts should be implemented preventing catastrophic damage.

CPT site characterization allows engineers to measure high resolution sediment characteristics safely and efficiently with minimal disruption to subsurface material. Measuring sediment properties in-situ, or “in the original place,” is important as it gives engineers the most accurate assessment of what is deposited at specific depths. Other, more invasive testing methods may disrupt the soil enough that the collected samples are not an accurate reflection of the in-situ sediment conditions.

CPT Systems

CPT is an effective and easy way to investigate subsurface conditions of coal ash deposits as shown above. However, not every CPT system is the right fit for coal ash and other waste sites.

Vertek’s S4 CPT Sounding System offers modularity and can be used with a wide track skid steer to provide low ground pressure footprint and lower capital investment. The benefit of the S4 is that it can used as needed on a site and be adapted to common construction equipment via quick attach or mounted to a custom self-sufficient trailer.

Vertek’s Track CPT Systems offer the ability to have a powerful track-mounted CPT system that also offers low ground pressure and built for high levels CPT production testing. With a lighter and distributed footprint, these track systems are ideal for navigating less stable ground.

As former CPT providers, Vertek builds systems that provide the reliability and ease of use we would want and demand from a system. With less than a day of training, we can have you up and running. Contact Team Vertek to discuss your needs and our solutions.

CPT and Risk Mitigation

Vertek Team · February 8, 2022 ·

Cone penetration testing, or CPT, is a valuable site investigation tool for risk mitigation. By understanding the characteristics of the soil and subsurface materials, CPT can help find potential risks in the design and building of infrastructure. In addition, CPT can be used to assess the vulnerability of sites to natural hazards such as earthquakes and landslides. When combined with other risk management techniques, CPT provides a safe and efficient method to obtain a comprehensive picture of site risk to help make informed decisions about risk reduction measures.

CPT and Risk Mitigation

Risk mitigation can be defined as actions that prevent or reduce adverse outcomes of hazards. Therefore, risk mitigation minimizes the probability and impact of threats and reduces the amount of financial loss. There are many ways to mitigate risks, especially when constructing buildings and infrastructure. One of these methods is cone penetration testing, the in-situ testing of soil to determine its physical characteristics in an undisturbed environment.

CPT should be an essential part of a well-planned risk mitigation strategy because it provides on-site data to identify potential problems before they become an issue. In this sense, CPT mitigates a portion of the subsurface risk because structures can be designed to appropriately respond to the representative soil conditions, reducing factors of safety used in design and construction activities.

Benefits of CPT and Risk Mitigation

CPT is an advanced geotechnical testing method that can provide detailed information about the soil. Unlike standard penetration tests (SPT), CPT has the advantage of being less invasive than SPT while also being significantly more accurate. Only a small hole (< 2”) is created by the cone penetrometer, and data is measured and displayed in real-time as the cone penetrometer advanced into the soil.

CPT can identify how the soil composition responds to seismic waves from earthquakes, vibrations from running machinery, and other factors. The response to these generated seismic waves is often used to determine soil liquefaction potential, providing pertinent engineering information in structure design for super-structures like buildings and bridges. Geotechnical and structural engineers consider many factors such as: slope stability, liquefaction potential, soil settlement, and soil shearing derived from CPT analysis. Without a CPT test, structures may not be built to suit the conditions under the ground’s surface or mis-characterized, leaving it vulnerable to damage under the right conditions.

Utilizing Risk Mitigation & Soil Testing

Since CPT testing is both quick and efficient, the process delivers accurate results in less time than SPT and other methods. In addition, the process itself is also safer, which reduces risk in the testing process as well. The data collected with CPT allows engineers to quickly adapt to soil conditions to ensure that project design is suitable. Without this, they could be taking on considerable risks. Unstable soil is the last thing a business would want to respond to amid a project underway.

Whether you are interested in a modular CPT system, a truck or track-based system, or leveraging your drill rig to expand into CPT, Vertek has a system to help you get the geotechnical data you need.

Expanding drill rig capabilities with CPT

Vertek Team · January 19, 2022 ·

With more engineers seeking hybrid – CPT and SPT – site investigation data, you can now offer both and reap the rewards. The good news for drill rig owners is you already have the most expensive part of a CPT system: The push system. With Vertek’s Drill Rig Conversion Kit, your drill rig can become an efficient CPT system without any modification or tools.

What is CPT?

Cone penetration testing, or “CPT,” is an advanced in situ test that uses a steel cone equipped with sensors to record and relay real-time measurements of multiple data points such as resistance, friction, and pore water pressure. The cone is advanced into the ground at an ASTM-specified rate of 2cm/sec to ensure data integrity. With Vertek, operators can also collect shear wave and percussion seismic data.

Why should you offer CPT?

First, as mentioned earlier, CPT provides engineers with a plethora of data that SPT alone cannot. Engineers also value the efficiency of CPT data as it is available immediately following a site investigation. Leveraging your drill rig, you can offer “hybrid” investigation: SPT and CPT. CPT also offers a much safer operation with minimal pinch points and rods weighing less than 20 pounds.

Second, you can earn more money! For a low investment, you can expand your capabilities and bid on more jobs. Vertek’s systems are built to last decades and have significantly lower annual costs than a drill rig; again, helping you maximize profit. Check out the Vertek ROI calculator to estimate how fast you can earn your money back on the purchase of a Drill Rig Conversion Kit.

How easy is CPT?

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Screw on the NWJ or AWJ push adapter.

Step 2: Prepare your cones and Data Acquisition System.

Step 3: Place the push cap on top of your rods and start pushing.

From one rig operators to national firms, Vertek’s Drill Rig Conversion Kit has successfully provided drillers with the capability to expand their business. Ready to join them?

Contact Team Vertek for a quote today.

An Easy Way to Maintain CPT Data

Vertek Team · July 19, 2021 ·

Are your office and field teams on the same page when it comes to data management and on-going site characterization activities? If the answer is “no,” there may be an easy fix.

Project communication and data management are essential for ensuring you are a successful CPT provider. As former CPT service providers turned CPT manufacturers and support specialists, we understand the challenge of maintaining accurate site records when you have multiple crews moving across numerous sites. What’s the solution?

With personnel and jobs spread all over the United States, a tool that Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) utilized to empower remotely operating teams to communicate was a simple Excel workbook we called the “Daily Log.” These workbooks can easily capture a complete week’s activities and all the pertinent details of the day to include:

Project number
Cone information
Arrival and departure time
Operators
Location
Date

Recording this information also helps assure compliance with CPT ASTM standards and provides an easily transferable, historical document that can be essential for a project’s success. You will also see there is a tab featuring a diagram of where to measure your cone surfaces along with the tolerances.

The Daily Log can be stored and organized on your field computer and re-saved. We recommend keeping your Daily Log open in the background during your push and toggling to it (Ctrl & Tab) as needed to enter data in real time.

At the end of the day or job, you can simply download the Daily Log to a USB drive to share with your team. Based on experience, we know how important this simple file was to our overall team’s success, data management, and project documentation of fieldwork activities.

You can find a free download here and implement as you wish! As a bonus, you will see a tab that includes ASTM measurements for your cone.

Don’t be afraid of CPT data: Collecting and processing data

Vertek Team · June 2, 2021 ·

Is the thought of processing data keeping you from offering cone penetration testing (CPT)? Then this article is for you.

We understand adopting a new technology can seem intimidating. “Friction Ration (Fs/Qt)” or “SBT (Bq)(1990)” would cause most people to scratch their head or go running for the hills. That’s where we come in.

As former CPT service providers, we can tell you with confidence it has never been easier to collect and process CPT data. How easy is it? It’s just four simple steps.

Step 1. As you setup for a sounding test, you will open your laptop, click on the “CPTSND” icon, detect your equipment, and select which data channels you wish to view while conducting your CPT sounding. We can help you determine which channels show important information you should be monitoring during your soundings.

Vertek CPT Data — **Pictured above: CPTSND home screen**

Step 2. Once you begin your CPT sounding, you will see the live data graphed for each channel you selected.

Step 3: After you conduct your CPT sounding, you will open Vertek’s data plotting software, ConePlot, and select the data you wish to see as listed format data or in a graphical format. The format and channels will be determined by your customer.

Step 4: Instantly email the CPT data files to your customer or print the data if you wish. If your customer is using third party software and needs the data in a different format such as .CSV, simply click “File,” “export,” and choose which format you’d like to export the data file to.

See, there’s nothing to it! For nearly four decades, we have trained drill rig operators and engineers around the world to successfully operate our CPT equipment and process CPT data. We have no doubt we can do the same for you. Plus, anytime you have a question, we are just a phone call away to offer free tech support and answer any questions, small or large.

Explore our products here.

What is DCP testing and how does it compare to CPT?

Vertek Team · May 19, 2021 ·

Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP) testing is used to measure the strength of in-situ soil and the thickness and location of subsurface soil layers.

Smart DCP Hammer — Smart DCP disc with built-in level.

It is similar to CPT (cone penetration testing) in that a metal cone is advanced into the ground to continuously characterize soil behavior.

In DCP, however, the cone is driven by a standard amount of force from a hammer, and how far the cone moves with each blow is used to determine the soil density and properties at that level.

In DCP testing, the pushing force is applied by manually dropping a single or dual mass weight (called the hammer) from a fixed height onto the push cone unit.

The resulting downward movement is then measured. Unlike CPT systems, basic DCP equipment is hand-portable and may be limited to test depths of 3-4 feet: this makes it a good choice for shallow testing applications such as roadbed construction and maintenance.

Since DCP is essentially hand-powered, it is cheaper and more portable than CPT equipment, but the possibility of human error makes it trickier to obtain consistent and accurate data.

Historically, one of the largest difficulties associated with DCP has been obtaining accurate depth difference measurements with a hand rule after each blow of the hammer.

As you can imagine, taking these measurements by sight and recording them by hand can be slow, finicky work.

Plus, to measure the total depth, the sum of these measurements is calculated, so it is easy to accumulate a troublesome amount of error if each measurement is even slightly off.

Fortunately, handheld electronics technology has alleviated these issues to a great extent. Vertek’s Smart DCP Kit uses a smartphone app and a laser rangefinder to automatically count blows and measure, record, and plot depth.

From the smartphone, this data can be easily graphed in the field and transferred to a computer or client for reporting and analysis.

Automatic data collection saves time, increases accuracy, and means that the test can be efficiently completed by one person. Check out our video below to see how much more efficient the Vertek Smart DCP Kit makes DCP testing.

To further increase the repeatability and efficiency of DCP testing, Vertek offers automatic DCP (ADCP) testing systems. ADCP rigs can be mounted on lightweight trailers, commercially available trucks, or ATVs.

Automated tests are both faster and more consistent than their manual counterparts, and also decrease physical labor for the operator.

DCP and ADCP testing and data analysis is a broad subject, so we’ll return to it in another blog.

In the meantime, be sure to check out the DCP testing information and video demonstrations YouTube channel! You can also download our catalog to see the full specifications and capabilities of Vertek’s Smart DCP and ADCP equipment.

Have questions about whether DCP is right for you?

Click here or give us a call at 1-800-639-6315 to discuss your needs and our solutions.

DCP FAQs

What is a dynamic cone penetrometer?

The Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) is used to determine underlying soil strength by measuring the device’s penetration into the soil after each hammer blow.

How does a cone penetrometer work?

A cone penetration test rig pushes steel cone into the ground, generally up to 20m below the surface or until the cone reaches a hard layer. The steel cone contains an electronic measuring system that records tip resistance and sleeve friction.

What is DCP testing?

Dynamic Cone Penetration (DCP) testing is used to measure in-situ soil’s strength and the thickness and location of subsurface soil layers. It is similar to CPT in that a metal cone is advanced into the ground to characterize soil behavior continuously.

What is DCP in the construction industry?

Dynamic Cone Penetrometer, or DCP, is a tool used for evaluating the strength of soils on site. It also helps with monitoring the condition of granular layers and subgrade soils in pavement sections over time.

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In Situ Soil Testing 101: The Different Types of Tests

Vertek Team · April 22, 2021 ·

Exploring adding in situ soil testing to your geotechnical operations? Already doing in situ and want to find the right tools for the job? Vertek has you covered.

In this post, we will take a deep dive into a few different types of soil tests that can be performed in situ. First, let’s start with “why do you conduct in situ soil testing?”

In situ soil testing is essential for gaining soil property information, measuring groundwater pressure, gathering moisture content data, and other essential data points, all in which can be safety-critical in many different instances.

In situ soil testing can be accomplished in a variety of different ways. Every soil test has its place and benefit; however, the most accurate and thorough in situ soil testing for determining a wide variety of technical attributes is Cone Penetration Testing (CPT).

Just like everything else, determining what is best for your business requires understanding the pros and cons of every possible solution, in this case, an in situ soil testing solution.

Options for in situ soil testing procedures

Here is a closer look at a few different options for performing an in situ soil test:

Standard Penetration Testing (SPT) and in situ soil testing:

This option is dynamic, low in cost, and has been widely recognized as a simplified solution that provides useful information.

While it’s reasonably consistent with its fine-grained sands results, it’s not as consistent with coarse sands or clays, which can be difficult for gathering accurate data and analysis of soil conditions.

Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) testing:

With a DCP test, the cone is driven by a standard amount of force from a hammer, and how far the cone moves with each blow is used to determine the soil density and properties at that level. It will record the number of mm per hit and gather an estimate of different soil properties.

Since DCP is essentially hand-powered, it is cheaper and more portable than CPT equipment, but the possibility of human error makes it trickier to obtain consistent and accurate data.

Historically, one of the largest difficulties associated with DCP has been obtaining accurate depth difference measurements with a hand rule after each blow of the hammer.

Fortunately, handheld electronics technology has alleviated these issues to a great extent. Vertek’s handheld Smart DCP Kit uses a smartphone app and a laser rangefinder to automatically count blows and measure, record, and plot depth. From the smartphone, this data can be easily graphed in the field and transferred to a computer or client for reporting and analysis.

Automated tests are both faster and more consistent than their manual counterparts, and also decrease physical labor for the operator.

Cone Penetration Testing (CPT):

Geotechnical engineers have been using Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) for over 40 years to assist in the design and construction of foundations, embankments and other structures.

The data compiled from this testing is valuable for assessing the subsurface stratigraphy associated with soft materials, discontinuous lenses, organic materials, potentially liquified materials (such as sand, silt and granule gravel), and predicting landslides or ground settling.

This type of testing is not only accurate, but it can collect data at a fast rate and, from there, will interpret the data on the site, enabling you to gain a competitive advantage as an engineer.

Whether you purchase a Vertek CPT truck rig, SmartDCP, drilling rig CPT conversion kit, or CPT cones, you can operate reliably in the most demanding conditions. Contact us to discuss your needs and our solutions.

CPT platforms designed for Cone Penetration Testing.

Vertek CPT has one goal. To make your business a success.

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Have questions about Vertek’s solutions for in situ soil testing?

Click here or give us a call at 1-800-639-6315 to discuss your needs and our solutions.