ABSTRACT
The use of the Cone Penetrometer Test sounding (CPT) in geotechnical exploration in Mexico goes back to the 1970s, during which time a great deal of experience and a set of empirical correlations with different mechanical properties of the soils have been obtained; however, that local experience has been limited almost exclusively to the measurement of tip resistance (qc) in soft clay deposits, especially in the Valley of Mexico. In recent years, new versions of cones have been made available in our country that allow digital measurements and visual checks on real time, not only of end resistance against depth but also of sleeve friction and pore pressure during driving, i.e., the piezocono test (CPTu). In this paper, we present several case histories of the application of the digital piezocone (CPT-u) in various geotechnical environments; In soft clayey stratified soils with hard layers, in clean sands and in tailings deposits. It highlights the advantages and disadvantages of this new generation of electrical cones, mainly on aspects of field execution, equipment operation and interpretation of recorded data.
