High penetration rate CPT to determine damping parameters for rapid load pile testing

A series of CPT tests were undertaken in a glacial till at varying penetration rates up to 140 mm/s using stand-ard testing apparatus. The results have been analyzed in an attempt to derive rate effect parameters for rapid load pile testing. In order to do this successfully it is necessary to choose a low speed reference penetration rate that relates to the static pile tests that the rapid load tests are to be compared with. Although it has been possible to measure rate effects with standard CPT equipment, more specialized equipment capable of testing at up to 1 m/s would be more appropriate. Such equipment may not be feasible in onshore applications but may prove economic for deep water investigations.