Estimating bearing capacity of polar snow using the Cone Penetration Test (CPT)

Increased access to the polar regions requires increased infrastructure. Design and construction of this infrastructure can only be achieved by accurately estimating surface bearing capacity. We reviewed contemporary methods for determining bearing capacity in soils and applied these to data obtained from almost 100 cone penetration tests conducted in Antarctica. Numerous direct and indirect methods exist to enable estimation of surface bearing capacity in polar snow, but the preferred method is the rate-controllable, friction-sleeve equipped, cone penetration test (CPT). Application of this and similar techniques is essential to ensure the correct design and construction of infrastructure in ever-more trafficked polar regions.