TEST IN YOUR CHARGE PLATE

Theload plate test it is one of

thein situ testscarried out for
carry out ageotechnical reconnaissance. The
execution of the test results
essential for verification of
thebearing capacity of a ground, in
function of its natural state or as
consequence of a determined
compaction.
It consists of applying a load on a
plate, placed on the surface of the
land, and measure the seats produced. It
they use extensively to verify FIGURE N° 01: Load Plate Test. Source:
the deformation module of layers Victor Yepes (Polytechnic University of Valencia)
embankments and pavements.
The method usually used is static, with a load applied on a circular plate
using a hydraulic jack, utilizing a loaded truck or a heavy machine as a reaction
for the cat. The ruleNLT-357/98describe the completion of this essay. The Document of
General Technical Specifications for Road Works, specifies minimum values
of module E2for different materials and situations.
In recent years, the advantages of another similar method, that of loading, are becoming known.
vertical of soils using dynamic plate (UNE 103807-1/2005), of which, due to its high
performance is to the static plate what the nuclear densitometer is to density.
"sand cone method." However, today, it does not replace the static plate, as the
dynamic test results must be contrasted, correlated, and 'translated' to the
parameters considered in the current regulations, which are those of the static test.

STATIC LOAD FOR SOIL LOAD-BEARING CAPACITY

[Link] 357/98

The test allows to determine the load-settlement curves and, from them, the
deformability and the bearing capacity of the soil. From these curves, the modulus can be calculated
of comprehensibility Ev and the reaction module Ks.

A) Devices and necessary materials

Steel plates. They can be 300, 600, or 762 mm (minimum thickness of 25 mm). In the
most occasions, to achieve adequate rigidity, the 300 mm plate of
the diameter is located concentrically on the upper face of the plate of 600 mm, and these
at the same time with the 762 mm plate
A payload 10 kN higher than the maximum load required.
Loading device: hydraulic jack connected to a hydraulic pump with a
high-pressure hose.
Device for measuring loads (1% error of the load)
- Devices to measure settlements (precision of 0.01 mm). The movement of the
the plate will be measured along the vertical axis to the plane of the plate located at the centroid of the
equilateral triangle that are equidistant and form an angle of 120°.
B) Essay

Surface preparation for testing.

Installation of the charging equipment. (If necessary, the surface is leveled) The plate is placed.
y perpendicular to it the hydraulic gage. (D plate-support separation = 1.30 m)
- Placement of measuring devices.
A preload of 0.01 MN/m is applied.2for about 30 s. It discharges immediately and
reset the readings to 0.
The maximum load depends on the purpose of the test, soil characteristics, and size.
from the plate.
Settlement and normal tension for the determination of the compressibility modulus:
Plate of 300 mm: 5 mm and 0.50 MN/m2
600 mm plate: 7 mm and 0.25 MN/m2
Plate of 762 mm: 13 mm and 0.20 MN/m2
The loading process must be done in a minimum of 6 steps with similar variations. In the
The download process must be carried out in 3 steps: 50%, 25%, and 0% of the maximum load.
Once the download is complete, another new loading cycle is carried out until reaching the
penultimate step of those applied in the first cycle. To verify the second cycle,
a third can be carried out after the complete staged download of the second cycle
charge cycle in an analogous form, but applying after the second level of charge,
immediately, the final load of the second cycle.
Determination of the compressibility module:
The preload of 0.01 MN/m2it must be maintained until the variation of the plate's seat
a rate lower than 0.02 mm/min. Then, the load is increased stepwise to 0.04, 0.08,
0.14 and 0.20 MN/m2.
C) Graphic Representation

Comprehensibility Module Ev

From the curve of the first and second cycle, to

starting from the slope of the secant between the
points 0.3 á y 0.7 á through the
expression

∆
= 1.5r () [ 2
]
∆

Where: r : radius of the plate

∆ difference of charges
∆ difference in settlements

Reaction module Ks

The first charging cycle is used

0
=
In road construction and
airports the tension 0what is equivalent to
s = 1.25 mm (0.00125 m)
[Link] D 1194

A) Vertical Test
The direct load test is an on-site test that allows for the estimation of bearing capacity.
from the soil using empirical methods.
This method provides soil information only up to a depth equal to 2 times the
diameter of the plate from the level of the test.
1. TEAM

Reaction Load. A platform or box loaded, of sufficient size and weight to

supply the total required load on the site.
Hydraulic Cat. Capacity to maintain the load (not less than 50 tons). Must have
with a pressure gauge or a load ring (error± 2% increase in load
Loading Plate. 3 circular steel plates with diameters ranging from 305 to 762 mm, or plates
made of steel with equivalent areas.
-Settlement recording devices. 3 extensometers (accuracy of 0.25 mm)
Various Devices. Steel column to transmit the loads of the platform, so
like level, plumb bob, among others.

FIGURE N° 01: Equipment assembly. Source: Geotechnical Research (Argentina, 2014)

2. PROCEDURE

Selection of the representative area for the trial

At least 3 wells are required, which must be spaced 5 times the
diameter of the largest plate. The area must be leveled and cleaned carefully
where contact with the plate will be made.
Weigh and record as dead weight all the equipment used (plates, steel bar and the
hydraulic jack
Independently support the reference beam, which will hold the strain gauges.
other recording devices (not less than 2.4 m)
Apply the load to the ground in equal and cumulative increments, no greater than 1.
Tn/ft2(95KPa). Make sure to measure each load.
After the application of each load increase, keep it constant for a
interval no less than 15 min.
Register the settlements
Continue each test until the total settlement is at least 10% of the
diameter of the plate.

3. EVALUATION OF RESULTS

Admissible Capacity. According to the criterion of Terzaghi and Peck, they indicate that the load
The admissible value of a direct load essay is half of the effort that causes a
settlement of 10 mm, or half of the failure stress in the load test.
Settlement Calculation. The settlement recorded on a 300 mm plate
diameter can be related to the expected settlements of the foundation. A
relationship suggested by Terzaghi and Peck (1967) is:

= ( )
+ /

2Foundation settlement of width B2in cm

1Settlement of the 30 cm plate (B1under the expected load to be applied
s for the foundation

Another relationship given by Bond (1961):

= ( / ) +

Where the notation used by Terzaghi and Peck is the same. The coefficient
Adimensional 'n' depends on the soil and can be determined by performing 2 or
More plate tests with different diameters and solving the equation for 'n', it is: 0.20
- 0.40 for loose to compact sands and 0.40 - 0.50 for dense sands.

Calculations of stiffness (Ky) and cutting modulus (G). The direct load test can be
used for estimating the vertical stiffness of the soil (Ky), through the application
 of cyclic loads, this parameter is very important in the foundation design of
machines. Furthermore, the G value can be obtained using the following expression:
(1 - u)
=
( )1/2
Where: G = cutting module
vertical rigidity
Poisson module
shape coefficient
foundation width
length of the foundation
For a square plate it is given:
(1 - u)
=
2.16 B
To extrapolate the stiffnesses obtained using the small area plates to the real ones
the prototype can use the recommendations for Terzaghi for static loads;
that is to say:

Cohesive soil: Kprototype= K1C

Non-cohesive soil: Kprototype= K1(C+1)2
ñ ó
Where: =
ñ

B) Horizontal Test

The methodology of the test consists of placing two plates vertically on the ground,
of dimensions 500x500x50 millimeters attached to this by bolts. The are loaded the
two plates located on opposite walls with the same jack. Some profile beams are added.
metallic to the plates so that it fits perfectly in the ground and a ball joint for
attenuate and correct a possible deviation of the cat during loading. Two are also incorporated
strain gauges at the ends of the plate and diametrically opposed, thus obtaining the
average displacement in the center of it plus that of the ends. Also, they are added
Some analog comparators on the perimeter of the board to capture movements not
uniforms.
The pressure, force, and elongation data measured by the manometer are recorded.
digital support extensometer. From this information, the tension-relationship is obtained.
displacement from where the soil resistance parameters are deduced.

Interpretation of the results

From the digital recording of pressure, force, and elongation data

measured by the manometer and the extensometer, the stress-strain relationship is obtained.
displacement. The resistance parameters of the soil are determined from the
records mentioned, after an individual analysis of the elastic and plastic zone.

Elastic zone
From the stress-displacement diagram that represents each test and using the
The formulas of the theory of elasticity deduce the modulus of deformation or Young's modulus.
(E).

∆ = B( 1 −2 )
where:
∆ it is the movement produced when applying a tension
it is the applied tension
B is the width of the plate that applies stress to the ground
it is the Poisson's ratio assumed to have a value of 0.2
I is the shape coefficient which for a square plate is 1.18

Plastic zone
Based on the Brinch-Hansen formula that allows calculating, in rupture, the load of
sinking in shallow foundations, the undrained shear strength is deduced
(Cu) for the undrained case.

= 5.14°C (1+ +′ −′ −′ −′ +′)

where it is the sinking load of the shallow foundation

it is the undrained shear strength
′ it is the correction factor for the shape of the foundation (6.3)
′
it is the correction factor for the foundation depth (6.4)
′ it is the correction factor for the load inclination
′
It is the correction factor for the base inclination.
′ it is the correction factor for the slope of the terrain
What is an equivalent overload of the ground situated above the plane of
foundation

In the case at hand, only two correction factors are taken into account, that of the
′
shape )′ and the depth ( of the foundation. It is also not considered, as it does not
to exist, the ground situated above the foundation plane (q).

The correction factors proposed by Brinch-Hansen are as follows:

′ = 0.2

where: B is the width of the foundation, in meters

L is the length of the foundation, in meters
 ′
= 0.4 tan-1

where: D is the depth of the foundation relative to the surface, in meters

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Polytechnic University of Valencia. Victor Yepes