Quantitative Comparison of Cone Penetration Testing Tip Resistance Data with Ground-Penetrating Radar Amplitude Data
Publication: Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 34, Issue 2
Abstract
Both cone penetration test (CPT) tip resistance data and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) amplitude data vary at the interface of snow layers of different density. Therefore, relationships between these data should be observable, enabling spatial extrapolation of CPT tip resistance values using GPR. Quantitative analysis of GPR amplitude data occurs in pavement analysis, but these techniques have not been applied to snow. GPR sounding using a commercially available ground-coupled 400 MHz antenna was conducted in the immediate vicinity of numerous CPT holes in Antarctic firn. Comparison between CPT tip resistance and GPR amplitude data reveals that extrapolation of point CPT resistance data is possible over large spatial areas by tracking GPR horizons that equate with CPT resistance value. In addition, GPR amplitude and polarity can reveal information about relative snowpack density. GPR can be used efficaciously with CPT snow resistance data, enabling efficient extrapolation of snow physical properties across large areas. Complementary use of GPR with CPT can enhance site investigation procedures for the development of polar infrastructure.
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Acknowledgments
This research was only possible due to the generous assistance of Lankelma and Gardline Geosciences and the British Antarctic Survey, both in Cambridge, UK, and Halley Research Station, Antarctica. Funding assistance was provided by The Menzies Foundation, Australia. Constructive advice from three anonymous reviewers improved this manuscript considerably.
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Published In
Journal of Cold Regions Engineering
Volume 34 • Issue 2 • June 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 30, 2019
Accepted: Aug 28, 2019
Published online: Mar 16, 2020
Published in print: Jun 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Aug 17, 2020
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