ABSTRACT
The cone penetration test (CPT) has been widely used as one of the most well-known and reliable performance tests for ground improvement works. A comprehensive CPT testing campaign was conducted for the proposed ground improvement works of a highly technical project in Oman. The ground improvement works were evaluated based on the results of pre and post improvement CPT testing. CPT was the basis for choosing rigid inclusions (RI) and Vibro-compaction (VC) as the most suitable and economical ground improvement techniques for this project. The acceptance criteria based on the Post improvement CPT results incorporated the liquefaction potential and both allowable immediate and long-term settlements. The degree of ground improvement was evaluated by verifying that the final test results in the field met the project design criteria. It was concluded that CPT testing can be accurately correlated with multiple ground improvement acceptance criteria including liquefaction and settlement.
