Dynamic Cone Penetration Penetrometer (DCP), Dual Mass

Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) – Dual Mass Hammer

The AMS 300 Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) is a fast, portable field instrument used to measure in-situ soil shear strength and penetration resistance up to 6 ft (1.8 m), with extension rods available for deeper testing. Designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it complies with ASTM D6951 standards and is widely used for pavement design, geotechnical investigations, and construction quality control.

This DCP features a dual-mass hammer system with an 8 kg (17.6 lb) hammer, convertible to 4.6 kg (10.1 lb) for weaker soils, allowing accurate testing across CBR values from 0.5 to 100. The 60° cone with 20 mm diameter minimizes rod friction and ensures reliable penetration data. Users can choose between reusable hardened steel cones or single-use disposable cones, ideal where extraction is difficult.

The test measures penetration per hammer blow, providing quick correlation to CBR values, layer thickness, and soil strength. Lightweight, rugged construction and quick-connect rods make it easy to assemble and operate in the field.

The complete kit comes in a wheeled Pelican case and includes the dual-mass hammer assembly, drive rod, hardened point, disposable cones, vertical scale, tools, lubricant, and user manual with Excel data reduction templates.

Applications include:

• Pavement and road construction

• Soil compaction and subgrade evaluation

• Foundation bearing capacity assessment

• Geotechnical and agricultural soil testing

The DCP with Dual Mass Hammer is a reliable, cost-effective solution for fast soil strength evaluation in field conditions.