APPLICATIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE SPECTRAL-ANALYSIS-OF-SURFACE-WAVES METHOD. FINAL REPORT

The Spectral-Analysis-of-Surface-Waves (SASW) method is an in situ seismic method for nondestructively determining the modulus profiles of geotechnical, pavement, and structural systems. This method requires no boreholes and is performed entirely from the surface of the system being tested. Measurements are made at strains below 0.001 percent where elastic properties of the materials are independent of strain amplitude. The versatility and relatively easy deployment of this method represent two of the strengths of the method. By generating and measuring surface waves in the field, a dispersion curve, a plot of surface wave velocity versus wavelength, is constructed. This dispersion curve is then inverted in the office. Inversion is an analytical process for reconstructing the shear wave velocity profile from the field dispersion curve. Layering and the Young's modulus of each layer are readily obtained from the shear wave velocity profile. Due to the complex nature of surface wave propagation, a half space with infinite lateral extent was assumed in the past for most theoretical analyses. As a result, the existence of reflected waves from any reflecting boundary was neglected. To understand the impact from the existence of reflecting boundaries in the real world such as joints or edges in a pavement system, a simplified model was developed. Field experiments were then performed to verify this model. Based on the results from both model and field studies, remedial measures for minimizing the effects of reflections in SASW testing are recommended. Several case studies are presented to illustrate the versatility of the SASW method, and a MASSCOMP minicomputer was introduced in an attempt to automate the SASW method.

• Record URL:
  • https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/digitized/texasarchive/phase2/437-3f.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/86073
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research study title: Utilization of Surface Wave System for Measuring Moduli of Pavements.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Texas, Austin

  Center for Transportation Research, 3208 Red River Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78705

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transportation

  Transportation Planning Division, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Sheu, J-C
  • Stokoe II, K H
  • Roesset, J M
  • Hudson, W R
• Publication Date: 1986-11

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 306 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Field tests; Mathematical models; Minicomputers; Modulus of elasticity; Nondestructive tests; Pavements; Rayleigh waves; S waves; Seismicity; Spectrum analysis
• Candidate Terms: Spectral analysis of surface waves
• Uncontrolled Terms: Seismic investigations; Wave dispersion
• Old TRIS Terms: Insitu methods
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00475125
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TS-87/70+437-3F, Res Rept 437-3F, CTR 3-8-85-437-3F
• Contract Numbers: Study 3-8-85-437
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1988 12:00AM