Application of wave equation for interpretation of dynamic penetration tests

Penetrometer driving was simulated and analyzed through the one-dimensional elastic wave propagation theory. The author has used Smith's numerical method for the solution of the wave equation and has developed a special program called Zond. The mass of the dynamic penetrometer ram was 20 kg, its stroke - 50 cm, cross-sectional area of conical tip - 10 cm(2) On the basis of the theoretical analysis of the process of the dynamic penetrometer driving by the Zond program and its field tests after driving by pressing and extracting loads, the method and computer program for determination of bearing capacity of piles on dynamic penetration test results called DPT-20 were developed. Maximum deviation between theoretical bearing capacity calculated with the help of this program and results of static load tests for 17 working piles driven in 9 different places were within the limits +/-30%.