DEVELOPMENT OF MINI PLATE LOAD TEST FOR VILLAGE GEOTECHNOLOGY

Abstract

Plate Load Tests have been frequently used to assess the allowable bearing capacity of a large sized footing resting on non-cohesive soil. These tests are normally carried out in the field as per standard speci- fication laid down by Code of Practice on test plate not less than 30 cm in width. However, it is uneconomical to conduct such a plate load test for buildings in villages. For that purpose, we can conduct the Mini Plate Load Test and the test results can be used to extrapolate the load-settlement behaviour of footings. Since there is a great deal of uncertainity about the load- settlement behaviour of small sized test plates on soils even in qualitative terms, a careful study need be conducted to see the effect of plate size on the bearing capacity and settlement in case of test plates less than 30 cm in size. Nini Plate Load Tests were conducted on the test plate of 10 cm square and compared with actual plate load tests on 30 cm square plate. A correlation was established between these two tests