Bender Elements: Performance and Signal Interpretation
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 131, Issue 9
Abstract
Bender elements are convenient shear wave transducers for instrumenting soil cells due to optimal soil–transducer coupling and compatible operating frequency. Experimental and analytical methods are implemented in this study to explore various aspects of bender element installations including: electromagnetic coupling prevention, directivity, resonant frequency, detection of first arrival, and near field effects. It is shown that electromagnetic coupling effects are critical in soils with high electrical conductivity and can be minimized by shielding and grounding, or by using parallel-type bender elements. Bender elements generate both P- and S-waves. The in-plane S-wave directivity is quasicircular. The resonant frequency of bender element installations depends on the geometry of the bender element, the anchor efficiency, and the soil stiffness. The cross correlation of subsequent reflections is a self-healing measurement procedure which resolves uncertainties in both travel time and travel distance. Near field effects can be effectively taken into consideration by matching the measured signal with the analytical solution, directly rendering shear wave velocity.
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Acknowledgment
This study was supported by the NSF–NEES project (based at the University of California at Davis and directed by Dr. B. L. Kutter and The Goizueta Foundation). The anonymous reviewers provided insightful comments and suggestions.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 131 • Issue 9 • September 2005
Pages: 1063 - 1070
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Jan 25, 2004
Accepted: Dec 7, 2004
Published online: Sep 1, 2005
Published in print: Sep 2005
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