‘r72019 + Plate Bearing Test ~Jurutera Adda (http:/fadda.com.my/) ‘= Back to Blog (http://adda.com.my/blog/) 24 Plate Bearing Test Feb ‘This paper presents details of a plate bearing test and report from a site visit in Kuching, Malaysia, Technical details of a plate bearing test will be presented, including standards and procedures concemed. A sample method statement will also be discussed. Photos and results from a site visit will conclude the peper. TECHNICAL DETAILS Introduction The Plate Bearing Test is done when shallow foundations are to be used, or when temporary work structures such as piling rigs or cranes would be required on site. This test checks the bearing capacity of the soil near the surface of the ground. It also checks the possible settlement under a certain load, The standards applicable to this test are British Standard (BS) 1377 Part 9 and ‘American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) 1194, Frequency ‘The Plate Bearing Test may be done at one or several spots at a site, at the discretion of the design engineer. Sometimes, an experienced contractor may propose additional test locations which shall also depend on the engineer's approval, Test Setup Figure 1 shows how this test is set up. Basically, it contains a plate, loading column, jack, counter ‘weight, pressure gauge and settlement gauge. adga.com my/geotachnicalenginearing/plate-bosrng test masrra019 Pato Bearing Test ~Jurutora Adca “| | Main Beam z | Counter Weight |. Hydric Jack A Ga Z Support v Presbire Garige Dial Gauge Reference Beam ; Bearing Plate (http://adda.com.my/layout3/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PBT-Setup.jpg) Figure 1: Plate Bearing Test Setup The test is done either on ground surface or in a shallow pit where the foundation would sit. The Width of the pit is 4 to 5 times the plate diameter. When digging the pit, care should be taken so that the soll is minimally disturbed, An excavator without teeth is recommended, and the last 0.2m to 0.5m shall be hand-dug. Retaining structures shall be installed if necessary. When the desired pit depth is achieved, the pit bottom is levelled as much as possible. Then, 10mm. to 15mm of sand shall be placed at pit bottom to ensure the levelness of the plate as itis seated. Then, the loading column and jack will be installed above the plate, approaching the counter weight. ‘ada.com myigaotachnica-engineering/plste-esring test itasrra019 Plate Bearing Test ~ suntora Addo It should be made sure that no eccentricity exisis in the setup. Plate diameter for this test varies from 300mm to 1000mm. It is important to note that the “stress Influence zone” is twice the diameter of the plate, as shown in Figure 2. Actual Footing ‘Strésd Influence Zone (http://adda.com.my/layout3/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Stress-Zone jpg) Figure 2: Relationship between Plate Size and Stress Influence Zone Therefore, a bigger plate is desirable when available. The bigger the plate, the better it mimics the actual conditions. The plate thickness is normally 25mm. Loading Schedule The load range that needs to be tested has to be determined. Typically, the maximum load to be tested is 2 to 2.5 times the working load, depending on the factor of safety that needs to be achieved, Loading shall be done in at least § more or less equally spaced increments until the maximum load is reached. Each load shall be maintained until the average settlement rate is less than 0.02mm per § minute interval, or until primary settlement has ceased. This can be judged from ‘@ compression vs log time plot. An example is shown in Figure 3. _adde.com myigectochnicaLengineeringplate-baaring taay ane