Measurement of Frequency-Dependent Dynamic Properties of Soils Using the Resonant-Column Device
Publication: Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 134, Issue 9
Abstract
Dynamic properties of soils are commonly evaluated at resonance; thus, their variation with frequency is difficult to measure. A nonresonance (NR) method has been recently used for testing soils at low frequencies and strain levels below the linear threshold shear strain. However, the NR method has not been validated with the standard resonant method for different shear strain levels. In this study, the NR method is used to measure the dynamic properties of soils at low and midstrain levels for a maximum frequency bandwidth between 5 and using the resonant-column device. A new transfer function (NTF) equation is introduced to compare the dynamic properties measured using the NR method and the conventional transfer function approach. Experimental results for two sands and a sand–bentonite–mud mixture are presented for different strain and stress confinement levels. Results from the NR method compare well with the standard resonant column method at the resonant frequency if the strain levels are the same. The NTF approach can be used to measure the dependence of phase velocity of shear waves with frequency. However, the NTF method cannot be used to measure the variation of material damping with frequency. On the other hand, the NR method can be used to measure the degradation curves of wave velocity and material damping ratio as a function of frequency.
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Acknowledgments
This research is part of a study on nondestructive testing of civil infrastructure. Support is provided by the Centre for Research in Earth and Space Technology (CRESTech), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Dillon/Hyd-Eng Geophysics Inc., and the National Research Council (NRC). Their support for this project is very much appreciated. We appreciate the comments of the anonymous reviewers, which help to improve the original manuscript.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Volume 134 • Issue 9 • September 2008
Pages: 1319 - 1326
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Feb 20, 2007
Accepted: Jan 23, 2008
Published online: Sep 1, 2008
Published in print: Sep 2008
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