Nondestructive Sample Quality Assessment of a Soft Clay Using Shear Wave Velocity

While improvements in equipment and sampling methods have enabled collection of better quality samples of soft clays for more reliable engineering design and performance prediction, current sample quality assessment methods typically require destructive laboratory testing performed long after samples are taken. This paper describes a nondestructive technique for sample quality assessment of soft clays using shear wave velocity. A portable bender element device was used to measure shear wave velocity (V and subscript vh) in the field immediately following collection of Sherbrooke block, tube, and split spoon samples of Boston blue clay. V and subscript vh values were compared to in situ values from seismic piezocone (V and subscript SCPTU) tests. The ratio V and subscript vh /V and subscript SCPTU was compared with results from a conventional, laboratory-based assessment method. Results indicate a consistent correlation between laboratory-based methods and the V and subscript vh /V and subscript SCPTU ratio, which ranges from V and subscript vh /V and subscript SCPTU =0.77 for the block samples to 0.28 for split spoon samples. The portable bender element device and nondestructive assessment technique offer the potential for field quality assessment and allow for real time adjustments to sampling techniques and/or more effective selection of samples for laboratory testing.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/3519342
• Authors:
  • Landon, Melissa M
  • DeGroot, Don J
  • Sheahan, Thomas C
• Publication Date: 2007-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Illustrations; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 424-432
• Serial:
  • Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
  • Volume: 133
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 1090-0241
  • Serial URL: http://ojps.aip.org/gto

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Clay soils; Evaluation and assessment; Field tests; Laboratory tests; Measuring instruments; Nondestructive tests; S waves; Samples; Sampling; Soft clays; Velocity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bender elements
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01049966
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 25 2007 10:36AM