An Electro-Vibrocone for Site-Specific Evaluation of Soil Liquefaction Potential
by Alec McGillivray, (Research Asst., Geosystems Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0355), Thomas Casey, (Research Asst., Geosystems Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0355), Paul W. Mayne, (Assoc. Prof., School of Civil & Env. Engrg., Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0355 E-mail: pmayne@ce.gatech.edu), and James A. Schneider, (Staff Engineer, Geosyntec Consultants, 1100 Lake Hearn Drive, Suite 200, Atlanta GA 30342-1523)
pp. 106-117, (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/40505(285)8)
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| Document type: |
Conference Proceeding Paper |
| Part of: |
Innovations and Applications in Geotechnical Site Characterization |
| Abstract: |
An electric downhole vibrocone has been designed for the site-specific evaluation of soil liquefaction susceptibility in high seismicity regions. The device induces localized cyclic pore pressures while concurrently measuring dynamic tip and friction resistances. Initial versions operated on a pneumatic impulse to generate dynamic forces and showed success in preliminary trials in historic liquefaction sites near Charleston, SC. The latest design couples a dual-element penetrometer with a piezo-actuator shaker and is completely electronic. This vibrocone offers a number of advantages over its predecessors including downhole vertical oscillation, adjustable dynamic displacement, control of excitation frequency from 0 to over 500 Hz, and the simultaneous measurement of porewater pressures at multiple positions including both midface and shoulder locations. |
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