Why plate load test is done
A plate load test is performed to determine the bearing capacity of soil under a given load and is carried out onsite. This service is now offered nationwide by cbrtesting.com
What are the limitations of plate load tests?
This test is very useful for getting information regarding the design of shallow foundations, such has that used for crane mats etc.
However this test only predicts the behaviour of soil which is loaded less than twice the depth of the width of the bearing plate being used for the test.
What is the bearing capacity of soil?
In simple terms the bearing capacity is the ability of the soil to support the loads applied to the ground. The bearing capacity indicates the maximum average pressure between the foundation and the soil that will not produce a shear failure.
If you require CBR test this can not just be done on any type of soil, it should be done soil with overall particle size of 20mm or more.
The plate bearing test is also known as the Plate load test and is covered by BS1377 Part 9.1990
And is an in-situ test given to determine the settlement of ground for a given pressure and are often used for crane mats and crane outriggers.