Panda Penetrometer Testing

(See News section for latest developments)

Corehard have employed the use of ultra-light dynamic cone penetrometers to provide resistance values in relation to existing or imported materials. As a result these devices have two primary uses.

1. Unbound materials or soils investigation: This is applicable to investigations on existing ground and will provide accurate information in relation to the following.

• Preliminary investigations (road structures, trenches, river banks, railway cuttings, etc)
• Soil studies (buildings, pylons, masts, structures, etc)
• Diagnosis and assessment (Moisture content, voids, material layers, disorders, etc)
• Site investigations with remote or restricted access
• Monitoring of embankment stability

2. Control of compaction

Quality control of reinstated backfills Layer thickness monitoring Compaction homogeneity Trench or excavation backfill compaction Compaction control of all types of embankments (roads, rail, earthworks, dams, dykes, etc)

The device provides results throughout depth of penetration and will identify layers within structure of materials to be tested. Output from the device will provide results in MPa, KN, psi, and CBR at any given depth through materials. Conventional test methods such as CBR, bearing plate, and impact hammer will only supply results from depths proportional to a diameter of hammer or bearing plate, and this will not account for anomalies beyond this effective depth due to dissipation of force. This is why reinstatement of backfill materials should be tested in layers no more than 100 - 150mm thick when employing impact hammer to verify trench compaction.

Examples of panda testing can be viewed by clicking here (link to pdf of panda results)

Standard DCP is a recognised method for measuring in situ strength of flexible road construction in all materials other than bound concrete or bituminous mixtures.

For information on PANDA penetrometer please click here

For further information relating to penetrometer testing services available, or to discuss your specific requirements please click here

<< Back to Services Page