Abstract: The static steel chisel sounding is a new portable subsurface exploration device. This device has the functions of classifying the soil stratigraphy and measure the subgrade reaction. This paper presents a case history of comparison between the static steel chisel sounding (SSCS) penetration and penetration resistance obtained by cone penetration test (CPT) and their relationships in a highway project in Wuwei City. The subsurface investigation results obtained by SSCS, CPT, special disturbed soil sampler and laboratory test are evaluated; the tip resistance with depth curves and stratigraphy obtained by SSCS and CPT are compared; the reliability of the SSCS is discussed in this paper. 

Key words: static steel chisel sounding, subsurface investigation, in-situ test, foundation bearing capacity evaluation