ASTM D1586-99
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Penetration Test and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
Standard Test Method for Penetration Test and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes the procedure, generally known as the Standard Penetration Test (SPT), for driving a split-barrel sampler to obtain a representative soil sample and a measure of the resistance of the soil to penetration of the sampler.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.> For a specific precautionary statement, see 5.4.1.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard.
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Designation: D 1586 – 99
Standard Test Method for
Penetration Test and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1586; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 3.1.1 anvil—that portion of the drive-weight assembly
which the hammer strikes and through which the hammer
1.1 This test method describes the procedure, generally
energy passes into the drill rods.
known as the Standard Penetration Test (SPT), for driving a
3.1.2 cathead—the rotating drum or windlass in the rope-
split-barrel sampler to obtain a representative soil sample and
cathead lift system around which the operator wraps a rope to
a measure of the resistance of the soil to penetration of the
lift and drop the hammer by successively tightening and
sampler.
loosening the rope turns around the drum.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.3 drill rods—rods used to transmit downward force and
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
torque to the drill bit while drilling a borehole.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.4 drive-weight assembly—a device consisting of the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
hammer, hammer fall guide, the anvil, and any hammer drop
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific
system.
precautionary statement, see 5.4.1.
3.1.5 hammer—that portion of the drive-weight assembly
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
consisting of the 140 6 2 lb (63.5 6 1 kg) impact weight
as the standard.
which is successively lifted and dropped to provide the energy
NOTE 1—Practice D 6066 can be used when testing loose sands below
that accomplishes the sampling and penetration.
the water table for liquefaction studies or when a higher level of care is
3.1.6 hammer drop system—that portion of the drive-weight
required when drilling these soils. This practice provides information on
assembly by which the operator accomplishes the lifting and
drillingmethods,equipmentvariables,energycorrections,andblow-count
dropping of the hammer to produce the blow.
normalization.
3.1.7 hammer fall guide—that part of the drive-weight
2. Referenced Documents
assembly used to guide the fall of the hammer.
3.1.8 N-value—theblowcountrepresentationofthepenetra-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
tion resistance of the soil. The N-value, reported in blows per
D 2487 Practice for Classification of Soils for Engineering
foot, equals the sum of the number of blows required to drive
Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System)
the sampler over the depth interval of 6 to 18 in. (150 to 450
D 2488 Practice for Description and Identification of Soils
mm) (see 7.3).
(Visual-Manual Procedure)
3.1.9 DN—the number of blows obtained from each of the
D 4220 Practices for Preserving and Transporting Soil
6-in. (150-mm) intervals of sampler penetration (see 7.3).
Samples
3.1.10 number of rope turns—the total contact angle be-
D 4633 Test Method for Stress Wave Energy Measurement
tween the rope and the cathead at the beginning of the
for Dynamic Penetrometer Testing Systems
operator’s rope slackening to drop the hammer, divided by
D 6066 Practice for Determining the Normalized Penetra-
360° (see Fig. 1).
tion Resistance Testing of Sands for Evaluation of Lique-
3.1.11 sampling rods—rods that connect the drive-weight
faction Potential
assembly to the sampler. Drill rods are often used for this
3. Terminology
purpose.
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: 3.1.12 SPT—abbreviation for standard penetration test, a
term by which engineers commonly refer to this method.
This method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
4. Significance and Use
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.02 on Sampling and
4.1 This test method provides a soil sample for identifica-
Related Field Testing for Soil Evaluations.
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 1999. Published March 1999. Originally
tion purposes and for laboratory tests appropriate for soil
published as D 1586 – 58 T. Last previous edition D 1586 – 98.
obtained from a sampler that may produce large shear strain
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
3 disturbance in the sample.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D1586–99
(a) counterclockwise rotation
approximately 1 ⁄4 turns
(b) clockwise rotation
approximately 2 ⁄4 turns
FIG. 1 Definitions of the Number of Rope Turns and the Angle for (a) Counterclockwise Rotation and (b) Clockwise Rotation of the
Cathead
4.2 This test method is used extensively in a great variety of 5.1.4 Solid, Continuous Flight, Bucket and Hand Augers,
geotechnical exploration projects. Many local correlations and less than 6.5 in. (162 mm) and greater than 2.2 in. (56 mm) in
widely published correlations which relate SPT blowcount, or diameter may be used if the soil on the side of the boring does
N-value, and the engineering behavior of earthworks and not cave onto the sampler or sampling rods during sampling.
foundations are available. 5.2 Sampling Rods—Flush-joint steel drill rods shall be
used to connect the split-barrel sampler to the drive-weight
5. Apparatus
assembly. The sampling rod shall have a stiffness (moment of
inertia) equal to or greater than that of parallel wall “A” rod (a
5.1 Drilling Equipment—Any drilling equipment that pro-
vides at the time of sampling a suitably clean open hole before steel rod which has an outside diameter of 1 ⁄8 in. (41.2 mm)
insertion of the sampler and ensures that the penetration test is and an inside diameter of 1 ⁄8 in. (28.5 mm).
performed on undisturbed soil shall be acceptable. The follow-
NOTE 2—Recent research and comparative testing indicates the type
ing pieces of equipment have proven to be suitable for
rod used, with stiffness ranging from “A” size rod to “N” size rod, will
advancing a borehole in some subsurface conditions.
usually have a negligible effect on the N-values to depths of at least 100
5.1.1 Drag, Chopping, and Fishtail Bits, less than 6.5 in.
ft (30 m).
(162 mm) and greater than 2.2 in. (56 mm) in diameter may be
5.3 Split-Barrel Sampler—The sampler shall be constructed
used in conjuction with open-hole rotary drilling or casing-
with the dimensions indicated in Fig. 2. The driving shoe shall
advancement drilling methods. To avoid disturbance of the
be of hardened steel and shall be replaced or repaired when it
underlying soil, bottom discharge bits are not permitted; only
becomes dented or distorted. The use of liners to produce a
side discharge bits are permitted.
constant inside diameter of 1 ⁄8 in. (35 mm) is permitted, but
5.1.2 Roller-Cone Bits, less than 6.5 in. (162 mm) and
shall be noted on the penetration record if used. The use of a
greater than 2.2 in. (56 mm) in diameter may be used in
sample retainer basket is permitted, and should also be noted
conjunction with open-hole rotary drilling or casing-
on the penetration record if used.
advancement drilling methods if the drilling fluid discharge is
NOTE 3—Both theory and available test data suggest that N-values may
deflected.
increase between 10 to 30 % when liners are used.
5.1.3 Hollow-Stem Continuous Flight Augers, with or with-
out a center bit assembly, may be used to drill the boring. The 5.4 Drive-Weight Assembly:
inside diameter of the hollow-stem augers shall be less than 6.5 5.4.1 Hammer and Anvil—The hammer shall weigh 140 6
in. (162 mm) and greater than 2.2 in. (56 mm). 2 lb (63.5 6 1 kg) and shall be a solid rigid metallic mass. The
D1586–99
A = 1.0to2.0in.(25to50mm)
B = 18.0 to 30.0 in. (0.457 to 0.762 m)
C=1.3756 0.005 in. (34.93 6 0.13 mm)
D=1.50 6 0.05 − 0.00 in. (38.1 6 1.3 − 0.0 mm)
E=0.10 6 0.02 in. (2.54 6 0.25 mm)
F=2.00 6 0.05 − 0.00 in. (50.8 6 1.3 − 0.0 mm)
G = 16.0° to 23.0°
The 1 ⁄2 in. (38 mm) inside diameter split barrel may be used with a 16-gage wall thickness split liner.The penetrating end of the drive shoe may be slightly rounded.
Metal or plastic retainers may be used to retain soil samples.
FIG. 2 Split-Barrel Sampler
hammer shall strike the anvil and make steel on steel contact proven to be acceptable for some subsurface conditions. The
when it is dropped. A hammer fall guide permitting a free fall subsurface conditions anticipated should be considered when
shallbeused.Hammersusedwiththecatheadandropemethod selecting the drilling method to be used.
shall have an unimpeded overlift capacity of at least 4 in. (100
6.2.1 Open-hole rotary drilling method.
mm).Forsafetyreasons,theuseofahammerassemblywithan
6.2.2 Continuous flight hollow-stem auger method.
internal anvil is encouraged.
6.2.3 Wash boring method.
NOTE 4—It is suggested that the hammer fall guide be permanently
6.2.4 Continuous flight solid auger method.
marked to enable the operator or inspector to judge the hammer drop
6.3 Several drilling methods produce unacceptable borings.
height.
The process of jetting through an open tube sampler and then
5.4.2 Hammer Drop System—Rope-cathead, trip, semi-
sampling when the desired depth is reached shall not be
automatic, or automatic hammer drop systems may be used,
permitted. The continuous flight solid auger method shall not
providing the lifting apparatus will not cause penetration of the
be used for advancing the boring below a water table or below
sampler while re-engaging and lifting the hammer.
the upper confining bed of a confined non-cohesive stratum
5.5 Accessory Equipment—Accessories such as labels,
that is under artesian pressure. Casing may not be
...
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