How Seismic Cone Penetration Equipment Works

How does a SCPT test work?

1. Push the seismic CPT probe to the desired test depth (shear wave velocities will be measured at multiple depths in the same push.)
2. Generate a seismic pulse by hitting the shear plate with a sledgehammer (the hammer hitting the plate creates a vibration that moves through the soil). Data aquisition begins as soon as the hammer hits the shear plate.
3. The shear wave travels from the shear plate, through the soil, and excites the accelerometer on the seismic CPT probe as it moves past the probe's position.
4. The accelerometer data is displayed and then stored on a laptop computer. Multiple seismic traces are generated at each depth.
5. Push the probe to the next measurement depth.
6. Data is filtered and wave velocities are calculated using the SCPT software - this can be done in the field or at the office.