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Dilatometer—an in Situ Soil Exploration Tool for Problematic Ground Conditions vis-à-vis for Economizing Construction Activities

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Abstract

Proper identification and characterization of sub-soil profile depends on thorough geotechnical investigation. Standard Penetration Test and collection of undisturbed soil samples are age-old common techniques. But from the last decades, it has been observed that there is a major shift in this field. Confidence has been generated more into obtaining results directly from in situ testing. In situ tests (e.g. Cone Penetration Test (CPT), Standard Penetration Test (SPT), and Flat Dilatometer Test (DMT) etc.) are fast, economical and highly informative. Important engineering properties such as undrained cohesion (cu), angle of internal friction (φ) and vertical drained constrained modulus (M) can be estimated by the Flat Dilatometer test with high degree of accuracy. In this paper, the undrained cohesion (cu) and constrained modulus (M) are obtained from Dilatometer Tests and the values have been compared with other field and laboratory test results from three different test sites in Kolkata. Apart from this, two numbers of software, namely DMT Settlement and PLAXIS 2D, were used to draw a comparison on the settlement of the foundation between the estimated value, based on constrained modulus (M) obtained from DMT, CPT tests data and conventional shear strength parameters obtained from conventional boring practices. Finally, it is concluded that geotechnical properties obtained from DMT tests are conservative in nature and settlement obtained from DMT test is well comparable with regard to estimated and observed settlement from other test results. Besides, use of DMT tests reduces overall construction cost and can be performed with confidence in difficult ground condition.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are highly grateful to Prof. G L S Babu of IISc Bangalore & Prof. S. Mittal of IIT Roorkee for their sincere collaboration and advice at High Court site. The authors express their sincere thanks to M/S L & T Construction, Kolkata, M/S Continental Consultants, Kolkata and M/S M. N. Consultants Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata, for their valuable contributions at Science City project site. Thanks are also due to Studio Prof. Marchetti s.r.l., Rome, Italy, Pagani Geotechnical Equipment, Calendasco, Italy, and BENTLEY EDUCATION for providing assistance at various stages for successful completion of the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Construction Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India

    Kaushik Bandyopadhyay, Kaustav Das & Saptarshi Nandi

  2. Civil Engineering Department, Narula Institute of Technology, Kolkata, India

    Abhipriya Halder

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  1. Kaushik Bandyopadhyay
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Correspondence to Kaustav Das.

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Bandyopadhyay, K., Das, K., Nandi, S. et al. Dilatometer—an in Situ Soil Exploration Tool for Problematic Ground Conditions vis-à-vis for Economizing Construction Activities. Indian Geotech J 52, 1155–1170 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-022-00655-7

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