Electronic collection and storage of data from a hand-held recording soil penetrometer

Abstract Data collection from a Bush electronic recording soil penetrometer was improved by feeding the digital output through an interface into a portable, solid-state data collector. Data were recorded more rapidly by this method than by either manual data collection or linking to a programmable calculator. Work rates of about 200 penetrations/h are typical in field experiments. The advantages of the new system are illustrated by reference to a test in which a contour diagram of cone resistance distribution under a tractor wheel track, based on 180 penetrations, was produced.