Analysis of factors influencing soil classification using normalized piezocone tip resistance and pore pressure parameters

This paper discusses the development of a framework for classifying soil using normalized piezocone test (CPTU) data from the corrected tip resistance (q(t)) and penetration pore-water pressure at the shoulder (u(2)). Parametric studies for normalized cone tip resistance (Q=q(cnet)/sigma(v0)') and normalized excess pressures (Delta u(2)/sigma(v0)') as a function of overconsolidation ratio (OCR=sigma(vy)'/sigma(v0)') during undrained penetration are combined with piezocone data from clay sites, as well as results from relatively uniform thick deposits of sands, silts, and varietal clays from around the globe. The study focuses on separating the influence of yield stress ratio from that of partial consolidation on normalized CPTU parameters, which both tend to increase Q and decrease the pore pressure parameter (B-q=Delta u(2)/q(cnet)). The resulting recommended classification chart is significantly different from existing charts, and implies that assessment of data in Q-Delta u(2)/sigma(v0)' space is superior to Q-B-q space when evaluating piezocone data for a range of soil types. Still, there are zones of overlap for silty soils and heavily overconsolidated clays, thus requiring that supplementary information to Q and Delta u(2)/sigma(v0)' be obtained in unfamiliar geologies, including variable rate penetration tests, dissipation tests, CPT friction ratio, or soil sampling.