Comparative analysis of repeatability and reproducibility of compaction testing

Abstract

This article investigates alternatives for soil compaction testing to potentially replace the standard nuclear density gauge by examining alternate testing devices and methods. Gauge reproducibility and repeatability is used to compare various devices including the Light Weight Deflectometer and the Dynamic Cone Penetrometer. The objective of this study is to find the appropriate means for measuring repeatability and reproducibility in the field for the testing devices. This article considers both measurement system analysis in the form of gauge repeatability and reproducibility and statistical data assessments including: (1) coefficient of variation; (2) statistical error compared to the mean; (3) one-way ANOVA; and (4) hypothesis test for paired samples.

Keywords:

• Dynamic cone penetrometer
• light weight deflectometer
• repeatability
• reproducibility
• soil compaction