A report without a graph is just a spreadsheet. Your XLS should automatically generate two plots:

Whether you download a template or build your own, your XLS workbook must handle the following five tasks seamlessly:

Before we dive into Excel workflows, let’s align on the core principles.

| Parameter | Value | Unit | Formula / Note | |-----------|-------|------|----------------| | Test location | BH-01 | - | Input | | Plate diameter | 300 | mm | Input | | Plate area | 0.0707 | m² | =PI()*(0.3/2)^2 | | Max load applied | 100.0 | kN | Input | | Max pressure | 1414.2 | kPa | =Max Load / Area | | Settlement at max load | 5.80 | mm | From Sheet 2 | | Safe bearing capacity (SBC) | 282.8 | kPa | At 5 mm settlement (or 1/3 of failure) | | Modulus of subgrade reaction (K) | 48.8 | kN/m³ | =Pressure / Settlement (in meters) | | Modulus of elasticity (E_plate) | 15.2 | MPa | From initial linear slope | | Remarks | Soil: Sandy Silt, dry | - | - |

Safe bearing capacity: Use settlement corresponding to 5 mm or 1/3 of failure load, whichever is smaller.

Set up columns for the raw data processing. Start around Row 10.

Column Headers:

Key Formulas:

  • Pressure/Intensity (Col D):
  • Average Settlement (Col G):
  • Cumulative Settlement (Col H):

    • While there are expensive software packages out there, an Excel-based (.xls) reporting system offers three unbeatable advantages:

    Before opening Excel, you need your raw field data. A standard PLT report requires specific input variables.

    Required Field Data:

    Scenario: You are at a site in Mumbai. The soil is medium sand. You performed a PLT with a 300mm plate. Field readings:

    | Load (kN) | Avg Settlement (mm) | |-----------|---------------------| | 0 | 0.00 | | 10 | 0.85 | | 20 | 2.10 | | 40 | 4.50 | | 60 | 7.80 | | 80 | 12.50 | | 100 | 20.00 | | 120 | 34.00 (stopped) |

    Using your XLS template:

    Total time: 10 minutes. Total errors: Zero.