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Published By Lankelma

Lankelma is the foremost contractor for onshore in-situ soil testing in the UK. An acknowledged specialist in CPT, Lankelma also offers a worldwide consultancy and training service.

A.P. van den Berg develops, designs and manufactures geotechnical and environmental soil investigation equipment for onshore and offshore applications. Specialists in CPT systems and equipment.

Gardline

Gardline Geosciences offers worldwide marine geotechnics, in-house consutancy and services with marine investigations ranging from nearshore to full ocean depth (down to 3000m).

About the Author

Hans Brouwer studied civil engineering at Delft University in The Netherlands. He has worked as a part-time lecturer at Amsterdam Polytechnic and was senior partner in a structural engineering consultancy. He has written a standard textbook in Dutch about the design of building foundations. He now lives in England where he writes technical textbooks in English, hopefully to reach a bigger readership.

Chapter 7

Onshore testing

Cone penetration rigs


CONE PENETRATION RIGS   7.1
 

 
  
 
Truck, 6 wheel drive, 20 tonnes push weight
Suitable for intermediate access sites. Three jacks to set the truck at a horizontal level.
 
The truck is equipped with a mobile office enabling operators to send site investigation results directly to engineers and customers. 
Truck with integrated tracks, 21 tonnes push weight
Suitable for the majority of sites. Tracks can be lowered for off-roadtravel and are also used to set the truck at a horizontal level.
 
It can be used as a normal truck on road, ensuring movement from site to site is fast compared with the low loader moves necessary for other crawler rigs.
 
The truck is equipped with a mobile office enabling operators to send site investigation results directly to engineers and customers.
  
 
Crawler, 20 tonnes push weight
Suitable for peat bogs, soft sites and intertidal areas. Three hydraulic jacks to set the crawler at a horizontal level.
 
The crawler is mobilised to site on a low loader. It is equipped with a mobile office enabling operators to send site investigation results directly to engineers and customers. 
  
 
 
 Mini crawler, capacity up to 20 tonnes
Capacity 15 tonnes depending on the capacity of ground anchors. A pushing capacity of 20 tonnes can be achieved by loading it with reaction weight (kentledge). 
  
 
 
      Basement rams, capacity up to 20 tonnes
Push capacity typically 5–15 tonnes, depending on fixation.
 
The system is supported by a portable hydraulic power pack, generator and data-logging unit.
 
The most common methods of obtaining reaction are to use either Acrow props so that reaction is achieved from ceiling beams, or, preferably, by anchoring the rams to a concrete floor slab. The latter system uses a least four resin injected expansion bolts.
 
Set up time is on average 1.5 hours per location, with a typical daily performance of up to 50 m. 
  
 
 
   Lightweight CPT unit, capacity 15 tonnes
Push capacity determined by permitted load on the tunnel. Stroke of 500 mm.
 
This unit is for use within rail tunnels. It is half the size and weight of a standard set of CPT rams. This allows it to be carried to locations by two people. 
  
 
  

  
  		 
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