Measurement and Use of Shear Wave Velocity for Evaluating Dynamic Soil Properties

Woods, Richard D.; ,

Measurement and Use of Shear Wave Velocity for Evaluating Dynamic Soil Properties

by Richard D. Woods, (M.ASCE), Prof.; Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48109,

American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY
978-0-87262-456-6 (ISBN-13) | 0-87262-456-0 (ISBN-10), 1985, Soft Cover, Pg. 84

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Conference information: A Session of ASCE Convention | Denver, Colorado, United States | May 1, 1985

Out of Print: Not available at ASCE Bookstore.

Document Type: Book - Proceedings

Abstract:

Geotechnical engineers have recognized in the past decade that shear wave velocity is a basic soil property and have begun to use it to characterize sites for many uses. Most notable has been the realization that the so called dynamic modulus is simply the low strain value of elastic modulus and this can be used in many static as well as dynamic applications. Because of its basic nature, it has also been recognized that shear wave velocity is an excellent diagnostic tool which can be used to evaluate the results of soil modification techniques. Three of the papers included in this publication deal with the measurement of shear wave velocity; one through its relationship with Rayleigh Waves, another by coupling with cone penetration sounding, and the third by combined field and lab measurements. All represent significant advances in the art of shear wave velocity measurements but for different reasons. Other papers take advantage of the long known connection between time and frequency domains and the powerful relationships provided by Fourier Duals. Geotechnical engineers are finally beginning to recognize and take advantage of some of the tools which the geophysicist has been using for several decades. The relationships between well known in-situ exploration techniques, cone penetration tests and down-hole seismic tests are presented. The combining of these two should result in data which is greater than the sum of the two methods separately. An application of shear wave velocity in the identification of the potential for liquefaction and in the evaluation of the stability of an earth embankment subject to earthquake shaking is described. An empirical correlation between shear wave velocity and depth of overburden is presented.

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