ABSTRACT
The static Cone Penetration Test (CPT) is now a standard in situ technique to explore geotechnical properties of soil layers. However, this test cannot be used easily in situations where sites are relatively inaccessible, such as the seabed. In these cases a Free Falling Penetrometer (FFP) is often employed to provide information on the strength of seabed sediments. Such tests can provide useful data such as the total depth and time of penetration and the deceleration characteristic of the penetrometer. Potentially at least, these data can then be used to deduce fundamental strength parameters for the soil in situ.
