Fast, Economical, Cone Testing of River Sediments

by Thomas F. Zimmie, Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst, Troy, NY, USA,
Carlos R. Cordon, Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst, Troy, NY, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Use of In Situ Tests in Geotechnical Engineering

Abstract:

The objective of the study reported was to obtain quantitative geotechnical information over many square miles of Hudson River bottom. A hand held cone penetrometer was selected for use. Because the river sediments encountered were generally very soft, a custom made cone, larger than the standard 10 cm**2 cone, was constructed of aluminum, 11. 2 cm in diameter. Tests could be performed in maximum water depths of about 8 m utilizing relatively small and inexpensive boats. The drained analysis of the cohesionless river sediments employs the well known bearing capacity equation which enables the computation of drained shear strength. For cohesive sediments and undrained conditions, the local value of N//c, the bearing capacity factor, varied from 6. 3 to 11. 9.

Subject Headings: Sediment | Penetration tests | Shear strength | Rivers and streams | Material tests | Strength of materials | Load bearing capacity | Hudson River

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