State parameter of sands from centrifuge cone penetration test

A large series (more than 60) of cone penetration tests was performed on reconstituted sand models using the ISMGEO seismic geotechnical centrifuge and miniaturised piezocone and interpreted in the frame of the critical state soil mechanics in order to evaluate the state parameter ψ (Been & Jefferies 1985) from the cone resistance qc. The tested materials are both standard (i.e. Ticino, Toyoura, Fontainebleau) and natural (San Carlo and Stava) silica sands, with and without fine content, characterised by mean grain size ranging from 0.53 mm to 0.12 mm. The results of the centrifuge CPTs and the correlations ψ – qc are presented in this paper.