Assessing Subsurface Conditions for Tower Foundations: A Comparison of In-situ Standard Penetration Test (SPT), Cone Penetration Test (CPT), and Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) Methods
Abdul A. Koroma
Victor S. Kamara
Abstract
Accurate soil stratigraphy is paramount for designing stable, reliable tower foundations for transmission lines. Difficult terrain often makes conventional field testing, such as the Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Cone Penetration Test (CPT), impractical due to accessibility issues and high costs. This research applies Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) alongside SPT and CPT to validate and compare their efficacy in obtaining subsurface profiles. VES (ASTM D6431) offers a non-invasive, cost-effective alternative that detects subsurface resistivity variations to identify soil and rock layers. The study establishes correlations between SPT, CPT, and VES results, providing insights into their interchangeability under varying site conditions. SPT (ASTM D1586), CPT (ASTM D5778), and VES (Miller 400D resistivity meter) tests were conducted at multiple tower locations. Key findings reveal VES accurately determines bedrock presence and continuity where SPT and CPT encounter refusal. Bearing strength values from CPT and SPT correlate closely, and VES results align with SPT, confirming consistent lithology. This research highlights VES as a valuable tool for geotechnical investigations in challenging environments.