Soil Penetrometer

Soil Penetrometer

The Penetrometer is a professional tool to measure soil compaction.

The Penetrometer will show the surface of the soil or the hardness/firmness of the surface. By dropping the calibrated weighted impact shaft from a known height, the blunt penetrating point enters showing surface hardness on the graduated scale on the top. The reading is taken from the graduated scale after the impact shaft is released.

The Penetrometer is a must have to determine problems before they become visible. It’s good to use to determine when to Aerate an area and also to assess an area for potential problems. The center weighted shaft is simply raised above the surface and then the release trigger is pulled, allowing a 0.25 inch blunt penetrating point to enter by gravity. The top of the shaft is etched with a specially designed engineering scale showing the results as follows:

• “0” means none or uncompacted sand

• “50%” means soil in good tilth with 50% solids and 50% air

• “60%” is typical for firmer golf greens

• “100%” means solid compaction with no penetration and no soil air space like a cement surface.

When the release trigger is pulled and the shaft is released, the indicator sleeve retains the reading, so you can take an accurate measurement after the force is no longer applied.

The Penetrometer is good to use to see how golf balls will react when they land on an approach or golf green. It’s also good to use in sports turf to make sure the field is soft enough to prevent athlete injuries. Soil penetrometers are used in laboratory and field tests to evaluate the strength and stability of cohesive soils.

See how it works here.

Penetrometer shows the amount of pore space in the soil in quarter point percentages, and a soil moisture probe can be used for more precise measurement.

The new and improved Penetrometer shows percentages with new calibration lines (.25% increments)

Use the Penetrometer to measure in percentages of pore space in the profile.

On Golf Greens the Penetrometer is good to use to determine if playability is uniform in firmness from green to green.On athletic fields the Penetrometer will show how hard lawn is to gauge player safety and also footing. It can prevent player injury by allowing sports turf manager to keep fields in playable conditions year round. Various tests can be performed with the device to assess properties such as strength and consistency.

It’s the most widely used tool to determine when to Aerate a turfgrass area in the world. An optional foot adapter can enlarge the piston area, improving accuracy when testing very soft clays. For related equipment, see our options for determining the particle size of sand.

Introduction and Applications

Pocket penetrometers are a must have for anyone involved in laboratory testing or fieldwork, a quick and reliable way to measure the unconfined compressive strength and consistency of cohesive soils. These compact, handheld penetrometers provide immediate readings of properties, they are an essential accessory for geotechnical engineers, construction professionals and environmental scientists.

In the field, pocket penetrometers are used to test pavement subgrades, embankments and foundation soils. By measuring the resistance to penetration, these devices will determine critical mechanical properties such as bearing capacity, and shear strength. The test is done by pressing a needle or cone into the sample, the force required to penetrate is displayed directly on the unit’s scale. Readings are usually measured in tons or kilograms per square area, giving a clear, quantitative measurement of the soil’s strength and suitability for construction or agricultural use.

Features

Monitor on:

• Golf Greens

• Golf Tees

• Fairways

• Dry Spots

• Pathways

• New Construction

• Sports Fields

• Easy to use.

• Readings are immediate.

• Overall height 48” tall.

• Weight 5 pounds.

• Aluminum is anodized and steel parts are zinc plated for long life.

• Gravity operated.

• Spring trigger quick release.

• Calibrated from 0% to 100%

• Multiple products can be added to your cart or saved list for purchase.

• Users can select the desired quantity when ordering.