Critical Insights in Laboratory Shear Wave Velocity Correlations of Clays

Author(s):  
Dania Elbeggo ◽  
Yannic Ethier ◽  
Jean-Sébastien Dubé ◽  
Mourad Karray

Shear wave velocity is an important mechanical/dynamic parameter allowing the characterization of a soil in the elastic range (γ < 0.001 %). Thirty five existing laboratory correlations of small strains shear modulus or shear wave velocity were examined in this study and are grouped into different general forms based on their geotechnical properties. A database of 11 eastern Canadian clay deposits was selected and used for the critical insights. The effect of the coefficient of earth pressure at rest was also examined. A range of variation for each general form of correlation was determined to take the plasticity index and void ratio values of investigated sites into account. The analysis shows a significant scatter in normalized shear wave velocity values predicted by existing correlations and raises questions on the applicability of these correlations, especially for eastern Canadian clays. New correlations are proposed for Champlain clays based on laboratory measurement of shear wave velocity using the piezoelectric ring actuator technique, P-RAT, incorporated in consolidation cells. An analysis of P-RAT results reveals the sample disturbance effect and suggests an approach to correct the effect of disturbance on laboratory shear wave velocity measurements. The applicability of the proposed correlations, including the disturbance correction, is validated by comparison with in situ measurements using multi-modal analysis of surface waves (MMASW).

1982 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 506-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Larkin ◽  
P. W. Taylor

In a previous paper by the same authors the values of the shear-wave velocity in natural soils found from laboratory tests were compared with wave velocities measured in situ. Dynamic free-vibration torsion tests were carried out in the laboratory on undisturbed 150 × 75 mm soil samples. Downhole seismic tests were performed at the site to measure the velocity of propagation of low strain shear waves from a surface wave source. Differences between laboratory and field values of the shear-wave velocity were considered to be due to sample disturbance. Further work has established that, provided system compliance in the laboratory apparatus is allowed for, laboratory and field values agree reasonably well. The test results are analysed again with account being taken of the stiffness of the laboratory apparatus.


2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (12) ◽  
pp. 1752-1761 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.K. Robertson ◽  
A. Viana da Fonseca ◽  
B. Ulrich ◽  
J. Coffin

It is becoming increasingly common in the mining industry for either crushed ore or filtered mine waste to be stacked to a significant height (>100 m) in a moist state with little compaction, resulting in deposits that can be potentially loose and unsaturated. This paper presents a case history describing the characterization of stacked filtered tailings at a mine site in South America. Cone penetration tests with pore pressure and seismic velocity measurements (SCPTu) were carried out along with selected drilling, sampling, and laboratory testing. Compression wave velocity (Vp) and shear wave velocity (Vs) profiles were obtained and compared with laboratory values on reconstituted saturated and unsaturated samples. Results indicate that shear wave velocity is sensitive to suction hardening effects and appears to capture the correct unsaturated in situ behavior. The cone resistance, which is a large strain measurement, can destroy the beneficial effects of suction hardening and appears to be insensitive to the unsaturated in situ behavior, but may capture the correct behavior after the beneficial effects of suction are removed if the soil becomes saturated.


1994 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Sasitharan ◽  
P.K. Robertson ◽  
D.C. Sego

Effective techniques are currently available to obtain undisturbed samples of cohesive soils. However, little advance has been made in the procurement of undisturbed samples of cohesionless soils such as sands, silty sands, and clayey sands. In the area of earthquake design and liquefaction, researchers and practitioners are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of obtaining high-quality undisturbed samples of cohesionless soils. In situ ground-freezing techniques can be used to obtain undisturbed samples of cohesionless soils. However, there is still concern regarding the possibility of disturbance during the freezing and thawing of the samples. Shear wave velocity is a direct measurement of the stiffness of the soil skeleton at small strains (<10−4%). Hence, shear wave velocity can be a sensitive measurement to detect changes in void ratio and soil structure due to freezing and thawing. A laboratory study has been performed to evaluate the use of shear wave velocity measurements to detect sample disturbance due to freezing and thawing of cohesionless soils. Samples prepared with different amounts and type of fines were frozen using uniaxial freezing techniques and subsequently thawed. Shear wave velocity measurements were made before and after freezing and thawing of the reconstituted samples. The measured shear wave velocities were unchanged for samples that did not heave (undisturbed) during the freeze–thaw cycle. Samples that heaved (disturbed) showed an associated change in shear wave velocity. Hence, measurements of shear wave velocities in situ and in the laboratory have the potential to identify sample disturbance in granular soils. Key words : in situ, sampling, freezing, disturbance, shear wave velocity.


Author(s):  
Mariusz Lech ◽  
Marek Bajda ◽  
Katarzyna Markowska-Lech

The use of resistivity and seismic cone penetration tests for site characterization The use of resistivity and seismic cone penetration tests for site characterization. Recent application of cone penetration tests to geotechnical and environmental site characterization has generated a wide collection of new sensors. This paper presents methods of interpreting geotechnical in situ investigations carried out by electrical resistivity (RCPT) and seismic (SCPT) cones. It contains some fundamental equations and the description of in situ electrical resistivity and shear wave velocity measurements and presents the results of SCPT and RCPT investigations at the experimental Stegny site in Warsaw. The aim of the paper is to present the approach to determination of shear wave velocity and porosity of clayey soils. According to the test results obtained, it can be concluded that both applied techniques are very useful to estimate the distribution of clay deposits and some of their geotechnical parameters.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 943-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgios Zalachoris ◽  
Ellen M. Rathje ◽  
Jeffrey G. Paine

The P-wave seismogram method is used to develop estimates of the time averaged shear wave velocity of the upper 30 m ( V S30) at 251 seismic stations in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Geologic conditions at the sites are documented using large-scale geologic maps. The V S30 values from the P-wave seismogram method agree well with the limited in situ measurements across the study area and correlate well with the mapped geologic units. Compared with the V S30 proxy values assigned to the stations by the Next Generation Attenuation–East (NGA-East) project, the P-wave seismogram method generally produces larger V S30 estimates. These differences are likely due to the fact that very few V S measurements in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas were available for use in the development of the NGA-East proxies. Analysis of the P-wave seismogram V S30 values indicates that, in this geographic area, incorporating rock type along with geologic age better distinguishes the average V S30 of these materials than geologic age alone.


2013 ◽  
Vol 405-408 ◽  
pp. 470-473
Author(s):  
Sheng Jie Di ◽  
Ming Yuan Wang ◽  
Zhi Gang Shan ◽  
Hai Bo Jia

A procedure for evaluating liquefaction resistance of soils based on the shear wave velocity measurements is outlined in the paper. The procedure follows the general formal of the Seed-Idriss simplified procedure. In addition, it was developed following suggestions from industry, researchers, and practitioners. The procedure correctly predicts moderate to high liquefaction potential for over 95% of the liquefaction case histories. The case study for the site of offshore wind farm in Jiangsu province is provided to illustrate the application of the proposed procedure. The feature of the soils and the shear wave velocity in-situ tested in site are discussed and the liquefaction potential of the layer is evaluated. The application shows that the layers of the non-cohesive soils in the depths 3-11m may be liquefiable according to the procedure.


2018 ◽  
Vol 203 ◽  
pp. 04009
Author(s):  
Nor Faizah Bawadi ◽  
Nur Jihan Syamimi Jafri ◽  
Ahmad Faizal Mansor ◽  
Mohd Asri Ab Rahim

The shear wave velocity (Vs) is an important dynamic parameter in the field of geotechnical engineering. One of the surface wave methods is Spectral Analysis of Surface Wave (SASW) has received attention in obtaining the shear wave velocity (Vs) profile by analysing the dispersion curve. SASW is a non-destructive test, fast and time-effective for field survey. Thus, this paper proposed the application of SASW method to obtain the shear wave velocity (Vs) to represent the soil profile. This paper aims to determine the shear wave velocity (Vs) profile using SASW method, where the testing has been conducted at three site of residual soils located in Damansara, Kuala Lumpur and Nilai area. In this study, it shows that the soil profile obtained from shear wave velocity value is similar pattern with profile that obtained using Standard Penetration Testing (SPT), which conventional used in field. The shear wave velocity are proportionally increase with depth.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 263
Author(s):  
Breno Padovezi Rocha ◽  
Heraldo Luiz Giacheti

ABSTRACT. The shear wave velocity (Vs) is an important geotechnical parameter to be used in dynamic problems (e.g. earthquakes and vibration problems) as well as in static deformation analysis such as excavations and foundation engineering design. There are several in situ seismic tests to determine Vs such as the crosshole and the downhole techniques, as well as hybrid tests (e.g. seismic dilatometer – SDMT). This paper presents crosshole, downhole and SDMT tests carried out in a typical tropical soil profile from Brazil. Advantages and limitations regarding the test procedures and interpretation are briefly presented and differences observed among Vs determined by these techniques are discussed. Shear wave velocities (Vs) estimated from the crosshole, downhole and SDMT tests ranging from 194 to 370 m/s. The shear wave velocity suggests that the experimental site could be divided into two strata, which are in agreement with soil profile description. The maximum shear modulus (G0) calculated from the Vs by theory of elasticity can be used to show the investigated tropical soil is a typical unusual geomaterial. This article also emphasizes that the SDMT is a useful test for site investigation since it allows a great means for profiling geostratigraphy and soil engineering properties during routine site investigation as well as for dynamics problems. Keywords: shear wave velocity, maximum shear modulus, crosshole, downhole, SDMT.RESUMO. A velocidade de onda cisalhante (Vs) é um parâmetro geotécnico empregado em análises dinâmicas (terremotos e problemas de vibração), bem como em análises estáticas (escavações e projeto de fundações). Existem vários ensaios sísmicos de campo para a determinação de Vs, entre eles as técnicas crosshole e downhole, e os ensaios híbridos (por exemplo, dilatômetro sísmico – SDMT). Este artigo apresenta os ensaios crosshole, downhole e SDMT realizados em um perfil típico de solo tropical do Brasil, as vantagens e limitações dos procedimentos de ensaio e de interpretação são brevemente apresentadas, e as diferenças observadas entre os valores de Vs determinados pelas diferentes técnicas são discutidas. Os perfis de Vs determinados pelas diferentes técnicas variaram de 194 a 370 m/s. A velocidade da onda cisalhante sugere que o campo experimental investigado pode ser dividido em dois horizontes, os quais estão de acordo com a descrição do perfil do solo estudado. O módulo de cisalhamento máximo (G0), calculado a partir de Vs pela teoria da elasticidade, pode ser utilizado para demonstrar o comportamento não convencional do solo investigado. Este artigo também enfatiza que o SDMT é um ensaio geotécnico útil para a investigação geotécnica do subsolo, uma vez que permite a definição do perfil estratigráfico e a estimativa de parâmetros estáticos e dinâmicos de um projeto.Palavras-chave: velocidade de onda cisalhante, módulo de cisalhamento máximo, crosshole, downhole, SDMT.


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