The application of cone dynamic penetration test method to geotechnical exploration in gravel soils

The heavy and super-heavy cone dynamic penetration test is an effective means to geotechnical exploration in gravel soils. But the results of cone penetration tests are often used just as qualitative parameters or reference values. Even though sometimes the results of cone penetration tests are used to obtain the bearing capacity and deformation parameters of soil foundation from the criterion tables,but these bearing capacity and deformation parameters are too larger than actual values to be used. Based on the principle of cone dynamic penetration test,a reasonable relationship between the dynamic penetration test results and the parameters of foundation soil mechanics is presented through analyzing the reason why dynamic penetration test results are often much larger than their normal values. Therefore, the cone dynamic penetration tests could be better applied to geotechnical engineering exploration.