What it involves
A plate load test measures how soil or pavement subgrade responds under load before you build on it. A rigid steel plate is loaded incrementally through a reaction frame or kentledge, with settlement recorded at each increment to produce a load-settlement curve: the basis for deriving bearing capacity and the modulus of subgrade reaction. It's a direct, in-situ alternative (or complement) to lab-derived design parameters, run to AS 1289.6.9.1 across Melbourne, regional Victoria and the Greater Brisbane area.
Applications
- Footing & foundation bearing capacity
- Pavement subgrade/subbase verification
- Ground improvement validation
- Settlement prediction under load
What you receive
- Load-settlement curve
- Modulus of subgrade reaction (k)
- Bearing capacity assessment
Method & standard
Incremental static load applied through a rigid steel bearing plate via a reaction frame or kentledge, with settlement recorded at each load increment per AS 1289.6.9.1. Carried out to AS 1289.6.9.1 by Probegeo's MIEAust-certified engineers.
Where we provide this service
Plate Load Test is available across the Greater Melbourne area and regional Victoria, plus the Greater Brisbane area as a mobile, BPEQ-registered operation.
- Melbourne & regional Victoria
- Brisbane & South East Queensland
Common questions
What is a plate load test?
An in-situ test that applies incremental static load to the ground through a rigid steel plate, recording settlement at each increment to produce a load-settlement curve. Engineers use that curve to derive bearing capacity and the modulus of subgrade reaction for footing, pavement or ground-improvement design.
What size plate is used?
Plate diameters commonly range from 300mm up to 760mm depending on the standard, soil type and what the design engineer needs. We select the size appropriate to your project scope.
How are plate load test results interpreted?
The load-settlement curve is used to derive the ground's bearing capacity and modulus of subgrade reaction (k), which feed directly into footing design, pavement thickness design, or verification that ground improvement (e.g. compaction) has achieved its target stiffness.
What standard governs plate load testing in Australia?
AS 1289.6.9.1, Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes, Determination of the resistance of a soil to plate loading. All our plate load testing is carried out to this standard by MIEAust-certified engineers.