Dynamic Response of Tropical Marine Limestone

Widespread bodies of marine limestone border many tropical coastlines. Consequently, siting and design of nuclear power plants will depend in part on the dynamic properties of the limestone. Results of comprehensive laboratory studies performed on tropical marine limestone are presented. Resonant column and cyclic triaxial test methods were utilized to determine dynamic soil properties. Laboratory work was supplemented by in-situ geophysical measurements for dynamic property determinations. Appreciable differences were observed between field and laboratory determined values of shear wave velocities; causal effects were attributed to hard zones causing first arrival from refracted wave, secondary time effect occurring in the laboratory test, etc. Laboratory results for the established geologic unit also indicated nonlinear stress-strain behavior similar to that noted in the literature for soils.