Abstract

A method for measuring the shear wave velocity (Vs) of soil in a centrifuge model using a “mini-air hammer” is presented. Propagation of shear waves in a model soil profile was recorded in-flight by a vertical array of four accelerometers placed at different depths. Shear wave velocities were measured at different centrifugal accelerations for Nevada sand and for peaty organic soil. The Vs measured in the centrifuge was in excellent agreement with the Vs measured using piezo-ceramic bender element tests on these soils in a triaxial device. The value of the Vs measurements is demonstrated by typical analysis results for a centrifuge model of horizontally layered peaty organic soil and Nevada sand subjected to simulated earthquake shaking. Site response analyses using the measured shear wave velocities as input parameters produced good agreement with the measured site response.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
shear wave velocity, shear modulus, bender element test, centrifuge test, site response, organic soil

References

1.
Arulnathan
,
R.
,
1999
, “
Dynamic Properties and Site Response of Organic Soils
,” Ph.D. thesis,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California
, Davis, CA.
2.
Arulnathan
,
R.
,
Boulanger
,
R. W.
, and
Riemer
,
M. F.
,
1998
, “
Analysis of Bender Element Tests
,”
Geotechnical Testing Journal
 0149-6115, ASTM, Vol.
21
, No.
2
, pp.
42
-
53
.
3.
Boulanger
,
R. W.
,
Arulnathan
,
R.
,
Harder
,
L. F.
,
Torres
,
R.
, and
Driller
,
M.
,
1998
, “
Dynamic Properties of Sherman Island Peat
,”
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
 1090-0241 https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(1998)124:1(12), ASCE, Vol.
124
, No.
1
, pp.
12
-
20
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
4.
Fiegel
,
G. L.
,
1995
, “
Centrifugal and Analytical Modeling of Soft Soil Sites Subjected to Seismic Shaking
,” Ph.D. thesis,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California
, Davis, CA.
5.
Gohl
,
W. B.
 and
Finn
,
W. D. L.
,
1987
, “
Seismic Response of Pile Foundation in a Centrifuge
,”
Proceedings of International Symposium and Prediction and Performance in Geotechnical Engineering
,
Balkema
, pp.
419
-
426
.
6.
Hardin
,
B. O.
,
1978
, “
The Nature of Stress-Strain Behavior of Soils
,”
Proceedings, Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics
,
ASCE
,
Pasadena, CA
, Vol.
1
, pp.
3
-
89
.
7.
Hardin
,
B. O.
 and
Black
,
W. L.
,
1968
, “
Vibration Modulus of Normally Consolidated Clay
,”
Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division
 0044-7994, ASCE, Vol.
94
, SM 2, pp.
353
-
369
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
8.
Hardin
,
B. O.
 and
Richart
,
F. E.
,
1963
, “
Elastic Wave Velocities in Granular Soils
,”
Journal of the Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division
 0044-7994, ASCE, Vol.
89
, SM 1, pp.
33
-
65
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
9.
Idriss
,
I. M.
 and
Sun
,
J.
,
1991
,
User's Manual for SHAKE91
,
Center for Geotechnical Modeling, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California
,
Davis, CA
.
10.
Iwasaki
,
T.
,
Tatsuoka
,
F.
, and
Takagi
,
Y.
,
1976
, “
Dynamic Shear Deformation Properties of Sand for Wide Strain Range
,”
Report of Civil Engineering Institute
, No. 1085,
Ministry of Construction
, Tokyo, Japan.
11.
Iwasaki
,
T.
,
Tatsuoka
,
F.
,
Tokida
,
K.
, and
Yasuda
,
S.
,
1978
, “
A Practical Method for Assessing Soil Liquefaction Potential Based on Case Studies in Various Sites in Japan
,”
Proceedings of the 4th Asian Regional Conference on Microzonation for Safer Construction—Research and Application
, Vol.
2
, pp.
197
-
201
.
12.
Kita
,
K.
,
Shibata
,
T.
,
Yashima
,
A.
, and
Kobayashi
,
S.
,
1992
, “
Measurement of Shear Wave Velocities of Sand in a Centrifuge
,”
Journal of Soils and Foundations
, Vol.
32
, No.
2
, pp.
134
-
140
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
13.
King
,
A. D.
,
McDermott
,
S. J.
,
Hurley
,
S. J.
, and
Smyth
,
S. J.
,
1996
, “
In-flight Shear Wave Measurements in a Soft Cohesive Soil Undergoing Self-weight Consolidation in C-Core's Geotechnical Centrifuge
,”
Proceedings, 49th Canadian Geotechnical Conference of the Canadian Geotechnical Society
, 23–25 September,
St. John's, Newfoundland
, pp.
497
-
504
.
14.
Roesler
,
S. K.
,
1979
, “
Anisotropic Stress Modulus due to Stress Anisotropy
,”
Journal of Geotechnical Engineering Division
, ASCE, Vol.
105
, GT7, pp.
871
-
880
.
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
15.
Sanchez-Salinero
,
I.
,
Roesset
,
J. M.
, and
Stokoe
,
K. H.
,
1986
, “
Analytical Studies of Body Wave Propagation and Attenuation
,” Report GR86-15,
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin
.
16.
Schnabel
,
P. B.
,
Lysmer
,
J.
, and
Seed
,
H. B.
,
1972
, “
SHAKE a Computer Program for Earthquake Response Analysis of Horizontally Layered Sites
,” Report EERC-72-12,
Earthquake Engineering Research Center Berkeley
, CA.
17.
Seed
,
H. B.
 and
Idriss
,
I. M.
,
1970
, “
Soil Moduli and Damping Factors for Dynamic Response Analyses
,” Report EERC-70-10,
Earthquake Engineering Research Center
, Berkeley, CA.
18.
Stokoe
,
K. H.
,
Lee
,
S. H. H.
, and
Knox
,
D. P.
,
1985
, “
Shear Moduli Measurements under True Triaxial Stresses
,”
Proceedings, Advances in the Art of Testing Soils under Cyclic Conditions
,
ASCE
,
New York
, pp.
166
-
185
.
This content is only available via PDF.
All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced or copied, in whole or in part, in any printed, mechanical, electronic, film, or other distribution and storage media, without the written consent of ASTM International.
You do not currently have access to this content.