A comparison of four geophysical methods for determining the shear wave velocity of soils
Environmental & Engineering Geoscience
By: N. Anderson, T. Thitimakorn, A. Ismail, and D. Hoffman
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Open Access Version: External Repository
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) routinely acquires seismic cone penetrometer (SCPT) shear wave velocity control as part of the routine investigation of soils within the Mississippi Embayment. In an effort to ensure their geotechnical investigations are as effective and efficient as possible, the SCPT tool and several available alternatives (crosshole [CH]; multichannel analysis of surface waves [MASW]; and refraction microtremor [ReMi]) were evaluated and compared on the basis of field data acquired at two test sites in southeast Missouri. These four methods were ranked in terms of accuracy, functionality, cost, other considerations, and overall utility. It is concluded that MASW data are generally more reliable than SCPT data, comparable to quality ReMi data, and only slightly less accurate than CH data. However, the other advantages of MASW generally make it a superior choice over the CH, SCPT, and ReMi methods for general soil classification purposes to depths of 30 m. MASW data are less expensive than CH data and SCPT data and can normally be acquired in areas inaccessible to drill and SCPT rigs. In contrast to the MASW tool, quality ReMi data can be acquired only in areas where there are interpretable levels of "passive" acoustic energy and only when the geophone array is aligned with the source(s) of such energy.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | A comparison of four geophysical methods for determining the shear wave velocity of soils |
| Series title | Environmental & Engineering Geoscience |
| DOI | 10.2113/gseegeosci.13.1.11 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 2007 |
| Language | English |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Environmental and Engineering Geoscience |
| First page | 11 |
| Last page | 23 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |