The light dynamic penetrometer and its use in geotechnical investigation for monuments and historic sites
The light dynamic penetrometer and its use in geotechnical investigation for monuments and historic sites
The Dynamic Cone Penetration-Light test (DCP-L) is widely used for the determination of soil strength in-situ and the compaction control of pavement layers. It is also used for geotechnical investigation of road and highway works, for soil classification, for stratigraphy determination and for earthworks construction quality control. The results of the test are correlated to SPT and other geotechnical properties, such as CBR, modulus of elasticity or resilient modulus, stiffness modulus, unconfined compressive strength, relative density etc. This test however can, with limited modifications, serve in every type of geotechnical investigation mostly thanks to the ease of transport and access of the equipment, the ability to perform the test faster than other means of site investigation and the fact that it does not need specialised personnel to perform the test. It is also very useful, even for investigation to considerable depth, not so much in this case for estimation of parameters by empirical relations, as for the identification of stratigraphy, especially when other methods cannot be applied due to time, space or cost restrictions. Especially regarding space restrictions and minimum disturbance to surroundings, the DCP-L can often be the sole answer to geotechnical investigation for monuments and historic sites. The paper presents a large number of examples where DCP-L tests were used for geotechnical investigation of monuments and historic sites down to depths of even up to 10m. Common problems and benefits from these cases are identified and classified documenting this method for more extensive use in the field of monuments and historic sites preservation.
Michael Bardanis; DIMITRIOS KOKOVIADIS
4th International Symposium on the Preservation of Monuments and Historic Sites
Materials, Monitoring and Geotechnical Investigation Methods
https://doi.org/10.53243/tc301-2026-101