| | | | --- | --- | | Bearing Capacity | 150 kPa | | Settlement | 2.5 mm |
The most critical part of the report is the . This is where the engineer decides the capacity of the soil.
The plate load test is a widely used field test to determine the bearing capacity of soil and settlement of structures under loads. The test involves applying a load to a steel plate placed on the soil surface and measuring the resulting settlement. The data collected from the test is then used to calculate the bearing capacity of the soil and design foundations.
Test number (e.g., PLT-01), date, and weather conditions. Equipment Specs: Plate diameter (commonly , , or
Excel formulas instantly convert gauge readings (pressure and dial indicators) into applied stress (kN/m² or kPa) and settlement (mm). plate load test report xls work
| | | | --- | --- | | Loading Sequence | 10 kN, 20 kN, 30 kN, ... | | Equipment Used | Hydraulic jack |
Applied Stress (q)=Applied Force (kN)Area of Bearing Plate (m2)Applied Stress open paren q close paren equals the fraction with numerator Applied Force (kN) and denominator Area of Bearing Plate open paren m squared close paren end-fraction
If the load is monitored via hydraulic pressure gauge instead of a load cell, input the multiplier factor ( kN/barkN/bar Tab 3: Data Logging and Processing Matrix
sf=sp⋅(BfBp)s sub f equals s sub p center dot open paren the fraction with numerator cap B sub f and denominator cap B sub p end-fraction close paren For Cohesionless Soils (Sand): | | | | --- | --- |
| Load Increment (kN) | Duration (min) | Number of Cycles | | --- | --- | --- | | 50 | 10 | 3 |
The Plate Load Test (PLT) is used to determine the bearing capacity of soil and the settlement characteristics under a given load. Excel is the industry standard for this because it handles the repetitive calculations and graphical plotting required for the report.
If you are looking to create a template for repeated use, organize your workbook with these four tabs:
The specific stage or step of loading.
: Measured using three dial gauges (sensitivity ~0.02 mm) placed 120° apart to ensure average settlement accuracy. Excel (.xls) Calculation Workflow
Terzaghi and Peck’s empirical relationship accounts for the confining effect of larger footprints:
The final output section designed for stakeholders and inclusion in the main geotechnical report.
Keep a clean master file named PLATE_LOAD_TEST_TEMPLATE_REV0.xltx . Save individual testing files separately under specific project identifiers (e.g., PLT-REPORT-PIT03-JOB2026.xlsx ) to prevent corruption of your core reporting framework. The test involves applying a load to a
| Cell | Content (Label) | Content (Value/Input) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | A1 | | [Type Project Name] | | A2 | Test Location: | [e.g., Borehole 1, 2m depth] | | A3 | Plate Diameter (D): | 300 (mm) | | A4 | Plate Area (A): | =PI()*(B3/2)^2 (Calculates area automatically) | | A5 | Proving Ring Constant: | [e.g., 0.5 kg/div] | | A6 | Jack Capacity: | [e.g., 50 Tons] |