CROSS-HOLE SEISMIC TESTING OF SAND FILL

The authors examine the requirements of soils used to form layers around structures to protect them from the impact of high explosive weapons. Such soils must have a low compressive wave velocity and sufficient structural strength to support any concrete blast slabs without undue consolidation. The paper describes procedures used during the testing of a trial embankment and comments on the significance of the results. The in-situ compressive wave velocity was determined by a combination of cross-hole and downhole seismic methods. Detonators were used for cross-hole tests and a surface hammer was used with geophones embedded within the base of the fill. Wave velocities were determined before and after loading the embankment with a water tank quarter, half and threequarters full of water. Some difficulties were experienced in determining the energy travel path through the concrete base because it was jointed and not continuous. No significant change in velocity was found after test loading. It is estimated that velocities can be determined to within five percent accuracy for the direct paths, but the error could be of the order of fifteen per cent from the use of detonators. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00174653
• Corporate Authors:

  Wells (Edward) and Sons, Limited

  143/145 Camberwell New Road
  London SE5,   England 
• Authors:
  • Darracott, B W
  • May, J
• Publication Date: 1987-9

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 33-38
• Serial:
  • GROUND ENGINEERING
  • Volume: 20
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: EMAP CONSTRUCT LIMITED
  • ISSN: 0017-4653

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crossheadings; Detonation; Explosives; Fills; Sand; Seismicity; Testing; Wave motion; Weapons
• Uncontrolled Terms: Seismic investigations; Wave velocity
• Old TRIS Terms: Cross hole; Detonators
• ITRD Terms: 5188: Blasting; 5532: Compression; 2801: Embankment; 6226: In situ; 5412: Pressure; 9149: Prevention; 4105: Sand; 5731: Seismic; 6120: Sensor; 5531: Shear; 5408: Speed; 6255: Test; 6767: Wave
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00470761
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1988 12:00AM