A STUDY TO INVESTIGATE THE POTENTIAL OF THE ACOUSTIC EMISSION/MICROSEISMIC TECHNIQUE AS A MEANS OF EVALUATING SLOPE STABILITY. FINAL REPORT

The results of a research program undertaken to investigate the feasibility of using acoustic emission/microseismic (AE/MS) techniques as a means of evaluating the stability of highway slopes, and specifically rock slopes, are discussed. The report includes a review of the literature available relative to slope stability and in particular the application of AE/MS techniques to slope stability monitoring; a review of the principles of the technique; a description of the apparatus and techniques utilized for low- and high-frequency AE/MS field studies; a detailed description of the specific AE/MS field studies carried out; a discussion of the feasibility of AE/MS slope monitoring and proposed routine field procedures; and an outline of proposed additional studies. The results indicate that the AE/MS technique is a feasible method for highway slope stability monitoring. Suitable methods were developed for transducer installation and data acquisition. The AE/MS character of simulated slope instabilities and highway background noise were investigated, and methods for reduction of background noise considered. AE/MS source location techniques were investigated at one slope site and found to provide suitably accurate location data. A special AE/MS system was developed for monitoring rock falls and found to perform well under typical field conditions. A high frequency AE/MS parametric system for routine slope stability monitoring was developed and field tested with encouraging results.

• Corporate Authors:

  Pennsylvania State University, University Park

  Department of Mineral Engineering
  University Park, PA  United States  16802

  Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

  Office of Research and Special Studies, P.O. Box 2926
  Harrisburg, PA  United States  17120

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hardy Jr, H R
  • Belesky, R M
  • Kimble Jr, E J
  • Mrugala, M
  • Hager, M E
  • Taioli, F
• Publication Date: 1988-10

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 304 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accuracy; Acoustic emission; Feasibility analysis; Field tests; Monitoring; Performance evaluations; Rockfalls; Slope stability
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I43: Rock Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00478200
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-PA-87-029+83-35, Res Proj 83-35
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Dec 31 1988 12:00AM