Fall Cone

Applicable during research cruises and in the lab, the fall cone penetrometer is a fast and easy way to determine a first approximation of the stiffness of cohesive soils. In Marum, we use a Wykeham-Farrance cone penetrometer WF 21600

For the measurement, the metal cone is brought to a point exactly on the sediments face (Wood 1985). A manual displacement transducer is then used to measure the distance prior to and after release of the cone. The distance can then be translated into sediment strength (see Hansbo, 1957).

The undrained shear strength can be calculated from the mass m of the falling cone, gravity g, penetration depth d and the cone factor k.

Su = k · m · g / d²

For more information's please contact

Prof. Dr. Achim Kopf