ABSTRACT
Despite the popularity of the Cone Penetration Test, uncertainty remains regarding the stress level dependence of qc in a sand of constant relative density, the effect of the mineralogy and the effect of saturation. This paper provides greater clarity on these effects by presenting results from a large series of drained cone penetration tests performed under controlled conditions in a laboratory pressure chamber. The experiments involve dry and fully saturated silica and carbonate sands placed at a number of relative densities (Dr) and tested at different stress levels and overconsolidation ratios. The observations are compared with existing relationships proposed between qc and Dr and highlight the approximate nature of such relationships.
