Use of Elastic and Electromagnetic Waves to Evaluate the Water Content and Mass Density of Soils: Potential and Limitations

The use of elastic and electromagnetic waves to monitor soil properties provides complementary information about stiffness and phase distribution. This paper presents a methodology for monitoring electromagnetic (ELM) and elastic wave parameters as the soil is being inundated with water. The approach helps relating volumetric water content to stiffness and hints to the use of the technique for non-destructive evaluation of in situ water content and mass density of soils. The methodology is tested using a simple numerical study that incorporates errors in the simulated measurement of volumetric water content and P-wave velocity. Results show that even with the presence of errors, the inverted results match the simulated values of mass density and water content. The development of such a technique opens an opportunity for the advancement in measurement practices over time-consuming and destructive techniques (e.g., sand cone and water balloon methods) and for the replacement of regulated materials (i.e., nuclear moisture-density apparatus).

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/9780784408216
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  1801 Alexander Bell Drive
  Reston, VA  United States  20191-4400
• Authors:
  • Alramahi, Bashar
  • Alshibli, Khalid A
  • Fratta, Dante
• Conference:
  • 13th Great Lakes Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Conference
  • Location: Milwaukee Wisconsin, United States
  • Date: 2005-5-13 to 2005-5-13
• Publication Date: 2006

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 134-145
• Monograph Title: Geotechnical Applications for Transportation Infrastructure Featuring the Marquette Interchange Project in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Density; Elastic waves; Electromagnetic waves; Measurement; Moisture content; Nondestructive tests; Numerical analysis; Simulation; Soils; Stiffness; Volumetric analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: P waves
• Subject Areas: Geotechnology; Highways; I42: Soil Mechanics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01051924
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0784408211
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 22 2007 9:18AM