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Chapter
May 7, 2012

Needle Probe Application for High-Resolution Assessment of Soil Spatial Variability in the Centrifuge

Publication: Site Characterization and Modeling

Abstract

This paper addresses the development of an electrical resistivity needle probe to be deployed during centrifuge model testing to assess with high-resolution the spatial variability of soil electrical resistivity. The probe is able to detect thin layers and accurately resolve interfaces between soil layers. The prototype probes are made from thin, stainless steel needles, with an insulated wire inserted into the needle, and bonded to it with epoxy resin, to form a coaxial probe. Different tip shapes including single-wedge, double-wedge and cone have been developed to optimize the spatial resolution of porosity, soil interfaces and layering. The calibration and testing of the needle probe has been conducted both at Georgia Tech and UC Davis. This paper presents results of resistance versus depth and porosity versus depth, and compares the porosity based on measurement of mass and volume with the calculated porosity based on the needle probe measurements. Consequently, insertion effects are discussed and theoretical explanations are given. For its deployment in the centrifuge, a special needle probe tool has been developed to be operated by the new NEES robot. Instrumentation, data acquisition and data processing issues associated with the needle probe robot tool are discussed. The basis for selection of materials, probe tip geometry, and the optimum frequency of AC electrical measurements is explained.

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Go to Site Characterization and Modeling
Site Characterization and Modeling
Pages: 1 - 15

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Published online: May 7, 2012

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Zhihua Li
Ph.D. Candidate, Research Engineer, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
Bruce L. Kutter
Professor, Research Engineer, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
Daniel W. Wilson
Research Engineer, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
Kenneth Sprott
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J St., Sacramento, CA 95819
Jong-Sub Lee
Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332
J. Carlos Santamarina
Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332

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