Design and Validation of a Novel Small Calibration Chamber for Cone Penetration Tests in Soils
Design and Validation of a Novel Small Calibration Chamber for Cone Penetration Tests in Soils
This paper presents the design and validation of a novel small calibration chamber and modular penetrometer for developing soil-specific cone penetration test (CPT) calibration correlations. The chamber design includes innovative aspects such as bottom up loading, horizontal stresses measurement and the capability of applying very fast and slow penetration rates. Dry Medium Hutcheson sand (MHS) specimens of different densities were prepared using the air pluviation method. Vertical stress was applied using a membrane, with chamber walls acting as a near-zero displacement lateral boundary. The stress state in the specimens was quantified using embedded zero-deformation null gauge pressure sensors. CPTs were performed to determine tip resistance and sleeve friction. With a test performed per day, the chamber offers a practical way of developing CPT interpretation correlations in a variety of soils.
Peter Adesina; Shahpar Shoghi; Alan McClenaghan; Henning Mohr; David Eden; Mason Ghafghazi
11th International Conference on Physical Modelling in Geotechnics (ICPMG2026)
Session 3: Resilient geotechnical infrastructure
https://doi.org/10.53243/ICPMG2026-364