SPECIFICATION FOR PLATE LOAD TEST

1.0 SCOPE

The plate load test shall be carried out at locations as shown in the drawings or as
directed by the Engineer using approved equipment. The test should be carried out in
accordance to BS 5930 or ASTM D1194.

2.0 EQUIPMENT

The details of equipment including the certificates of instrument and copies of

calibration charts from approved agency and setup for conducting the plate load test
shall be submitted for the approval by the Engineer before commencement of the
test.

For bearing plates, three circular steel bearing plates, not less than 25mm in
thickness and varying in diameter from 300mm to 1000mm including the minimum
and maximum diameter specified or square steel bearing plates of equivalent area. In
rock, plates larger than 1000mm diameter may be used, depending on the jointing
frequency. As an alternative, three small concrete footings of the size mentioned or
larger can be cast in-situ. Such footing must have a depth of not less than two thirds
of their width.

The Hydraulic or Mechanical Jack Assembly should have sufficient capacity to

provide and maintain the maximum estimated load but not less than 50 tons in any
case.

The applied load shall be measured using calibrated electronic load cell. The force
measuring devices should be capable of recording the load with an error not
exceeding ± 2 percent of the load increment used or 1% of maximum load whichever
is lesser.

The Settlement-Recording Devices, such as dial gauges should be able to measure

to an accuracy of at least 0.25mm.

Precise leveling optical survey (to accuracy of 0.01mm) with respect to fixed datum to
be carried out to measure plate settlement and movements of the reference beam for
correction of dial gauges readings.

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 The reference beam and measuring devices should be protected from the direct rays
of the sun and from wind by means of tarpaulins or other forms of shelter, to minimize
errors of measurement which can easily arise from these causes.

Miscellaneous Apparatus required, including loading columns, steel shims, and other
construction tools and equipment required for preparation of the test pits and loading
apparatus.

3.0 TEST PROCEDURE

The plate load test shall be carried out in accordance to BS5930 or ASTM D1194 with
the following additional requirement:

• Test pit should be at least 4 times as wide as the plate and to the foundation
depth to be placed.
• The test shall be carried out at the same level of the proposed foundation level or
as directed by the Engineer while the same conditions to which the proposed
foundation will be subjected should be prepared if possible.
• At least three (3) test locations are required for calibration on size effect of test
plates, and the distance between test locations shall not be less than five (5)
times the diameter of the largest plate used in the tests.
• The test surface should be undisturbed, planar and free from any crumbs and
loose debris. When the test surface is excavated by machinery, the excavation
should be terminated at 200mm to 300mm above the test surface and trimmed
the test surface manually.
• To ensure even transference of the test load on to the test surface, the steel plate
should be leveled and have full contact with the ground. Sand filling or cement
mortar or plaster of paris could level small uneven ground surface.
• If the test is carried out below the groundwater level, it is essential to lower the
groundwater level by a system of wells or other measures outside and below the
test position.
• The preparation of the test surface may cause an unavoidable change in the
ground stress which may result in irreversible changes to the subsoil properties. It
is essential that the exposure time of the test surface and the delay between
setting up and testing should be minimized. The time lag shall be reported with
the test result.
• Support the loading platforms or bins by cribbing or other suitable means, at
points as far removed from the test area, preferably not less than 2.4m. The total
load required for the test shall be available at the site before the test is started.

Spec. for plate load test Page 2 of 4

 • The support for the beam with dial gauges or other settlement-recording devices
shall not less than 2.4m from the center of the loaded area.
• Mackintosh Probe Test to be carried out at load test location (center of plate) at
testing level before the test for calibration purpose.
• Loading shall be applied in 3 cycles as shown in Table 1. The time interval of
each stage of loading should not less than 15 minute. Longer time interval is
required at certain specified loading stages.
• The settlement at each stage of loading should be taken at the interval of every
15 minutes before and after each load increment. If the required time interval is
more than 60 minutes, the reading shall be taken at every 15 minutes interval.
• In the load measurement, the test record sheet should include the targeted load
schedule, load cell readings (primary measurement) & pressure gauges readings
(secondary measurement).
• The testing contractor shall control the loading using load cell readings to achieve
the targeted load in each stage of loading & record the actual readings in the load
cell & the pressure gauge simultaneously.
• Continue each test until a peak load is reached or until the ratio of load increment
to settlement increment reaches a minimum, steady magnitude. If sufficient load
is available, continue the test until the total settlement reaches at least 10 percent
of the plate diameter, unless a well-defined failure load is observed.
• The test shall be discontinued if any of the following occurs:
1. Faulty jack or gauges,
2. Instability of the kentledge,
3. Improper setting of datum,
4. Unstable reference bench mark or reference beam,
5. Measuring instruments used are found to have been tempered.
The Contractor shall re-perform the test at location as directed by the Engineer.
The cost and time incurred shall be borne by the Contractor.

4.0 REPORT
In addition to the continuous listing of all time, load, and settlement data for each test,
the report shall include at least the followings:

• General information such as date, weather conditions, temperature, location of

test, test surface soil description and others.
• Measured data. All data shall be checked for misrecording or miscalculation.
• Notes or abnormal phenomenon during the test shall be described.
• Load settlement relationship shall be plotted and presented in the report.
• Evaluation of the yielding load, elastic modulus, subgrade reaction and allowable
bearing pressure.

Spec. for plate load test Page 3 of 4

 Table 1 Loading Cycles
Load (% of Working Load) Time Interval (minute)
12.5 15
25 15
37.5 15
50 15
62.5 15
75 15
87.5 15
100 60
75 15
50 15
25 15
0 15
50 15
100 15
125 15
150 15
175 15
200 60 or longer as instructed by the Engineer
150 15
100 15
50 15
0 15
50 15
100 15
150 15
200 15
225 15
250 15
275 15
300 60 or longer as instructed by the Engineer
200 15
100 15
0 15

Note: The rate of settlement should not exceed 0.25mm/Hr for each load increment.

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