Soil Identification in Victoria Using the Quasi-static Cone Penetration Test

Data collected by the Road Construction Authority on routine geotechnical investigations using the electrical friction-cone penetrometer alongside boreholes where full soil classification and relative density and undrained shear strength measurements have been taken are presented. Plots of cone resistance and friction ratio are compared with soil identification charts proposed by Schmertmann (1978) and Douglas and Olsen (1981). Encouraging agreement with the Douglas and Olsen chart is found. Difficulties in producing universal correlations between cone resistance, friction ratio and relative density and undrained shear streggth are discussed and illustrated with the data.