The cone penetration tests under seven different gravity fields were studied by a commercial distinct element method (DEM) code PFC2D (particle flow code) in order to investigate the relationship between cone penetration tests under high and low gravity fields. The numerical results show that cone penetration has an apparent effect on the upper zone of the ground under low gravity fields

while it has a significant effect on the lower zone of the ground under high gravity fields. The maximum (steady) values of the normalized cone tip resistance and the maximum values of normalized mean stress and deviatoric stress increase linearly with the reciprocal of gravity accelerations. The soil around the penetrometer undergoes apparently loading and unloading process during the penetration process

with the smaller gravity field corresponding to the more apparent loading and unloading phenomenon

while the upper zone of the ground undergoes the loading and unloading process more apparently than the lower zone under the same gravity field.