• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2019

There always exist the spatial variations of material properties such as a shear wave velocity in a dam and between same type dams. These uncertainties cause those in evaluation of a shear wave velocity profile of a dam and should be considered in determining the shear wave velocity profile for a rockfill zone of a fill dam. In this paper, these uncertainties of a shear wave velocity in the rockfill zone of the fill dam in Korea are evaluated. And the shear wave velocity profile model considering these uncertainties in rockfillzone is proposed using the method based on Harmonic wavelet transform. The proposed shear wave velocity profile model is compared with Sawada-Takahashi model widely used for evaluation of a shear wave velocity profile of a rockfill zone of fill dams.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2008.03a
• /
• pp.318-326
• /
• 2008

Recently, a new seismic probe, called "MudFork", has been developed and can be utilized for accurate and easy measurements of shear wave velocities of soft soils. To expand its use to estimate undrained shear strength and density, correlations between those and shear wave velocity were being attempted. Cone penetration tests and a seismic test, using MudFork, were performed at a soft ground site near Incheon, Korea. Also, undisturbed samples were obtained and shear wave velocities of the samples were measured as well as undrained shear strength, using triaxial compression test and bender elements. A simple linear relationship between shear strength and shear wave velocity was obtained, and a tentative relationship between density and shear wave velocity was also defined.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
• /
• v.22 no.4E
• /
• pp.167-175
• /
• 2003

Shear wave velocity was measured and grain size analysis was conducted on two core samples obtained in unconsolidated marine sediments of the western continental margin, the East Sea. A pulse transmission technique based on the Hamilton frame was used to measure shear wave velocity. Duomorph ceramic bender transducer-receiver elements were used to generate and detect shear waves in sediment samples. Time delay was calculated by changing the sample length from the transducer-receiver element. Time delay is 43.18 μs and shear wave velocity (22.49 m/s) is calculated from the slope of regression line. Shear wave velocities of station 1 and 2 range from 8.9 to 19.0 m/s and from 8.8 to 22 mis, respectively. Shear wave velocities with depth in both cores are qualitatively in agreement with the compared model〔1〕, although the absolute value is different. The sediment type of two core samples is mud (mean grain size, 8-9Φ). Shear wave velocity generally increases with sediment depth, which is suggesting normally consolidated sediments. The complicated variation of velocity anisotropy with depth at station 2 is probably responsible for sediment disturbance by possible gas effect.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2006.03a
• /
• pp.402-413
• /
• 2006

Strength evaluation of soft soils is a formidable task because of difficulties in sampling, specimen preparation and setting in triaxial cells. In undrained triaxial testing, sampling disturbance, verticality of specimen and bedding effect give a great influence on shear strength measurements. In the other hand, shear wave measurements of specimens are less influenced by these factors. In this research, the bender elements were attached top cap and base pedestal of triaxial cell and shear wave velocities were measured. To initiate a methodology to evaluate shear strength indirectly by measuring shear wave velocity, a relationship between shear strength and shear wave velocity was developed with kaolinite specimens consolidated in the laboratory. Undrained shear strength turns out to increase linearly with shear wave velocity. Stress-strain curves can also be predicted with a hyperbolic model and shear wave measurements.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.11 no.5
• /
• pp.713-723
• /
• 2016

Shear wave velocities of three selected sandy soils subject to drained triaxial compression test were continuously measured using the bender elements. The shear wave velocity during isotropic compression, as widely recognized, increased as confining pressure increased and they were correlated well. However, during drained shearing, the mean effective stress could no further provide a suitable correlation. The shear wave velocity during this stage was almost constant with respect to the mean effective stress. The vertical stress was found to be more favorable at this stage (since confining stress was kept constant). When sample was attained its peak stress, the shear wave velocity reduced and deviated from the previously existed trend line. This was probably caused by the non-uniformity induced by the formation of shear band. Subsequently, void ratios computed based on external measurements could not provide reasonable fitting to the initial stage of post-peak shear wave velocity. At very large strain levels after shear band formation, the digital images revealed that sample may internally re-arrange itself to be in a more uniform loose stage. This final stage void ratio estimated based on the proposed correlation derived during pre-peak state was close to the value of the maximum void ratio.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2006.03a
• /
• pp.137-146
• /
• 2006

Shear wave velocity of uncemented soil can be expressed as the function of effective stresses when capillary phenomenons are negligible. However, the terms of effective stresses are divided to the direction of wave propagation and polarization because stress states are generally anisotropy. The shear wave velocities are affected by parameters and exponents that are experimentally determined. The exponents are controlled contact effects of particulate materials(sizes, shapes, and structures of particles) and the parameters are changed contact behaviors between particles, material properties of particles, and type of packing(i.e., void ratio and coordination number). In this study, consolidation tests are performed by using clay, mica and sand specimens. Shear wave velocities are measured during consolidation tests to investigate the stress-induced and inherent anisotropies through bender elements. Results show the shear wave velocities depends on the stress-induced anisotropy for round particles. Furthermore the shear wave velocity is dependent on particle alignment under the constant effective stress. This study suggests that the shear wave velocity and the shear modulus should be carefully calculated and used for the design and construction of geotechnical structures.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.289-302
• /
• 2011

In marine clay deposits, naturally formed or artificially reclaimed, the evaluation and monitoring of the consolidation process has been a critical issue in civil engineering practices due to the time frame required for completing the consolidation process, which range from several days to several years. While complementing the conventional iconographic method suggested by Casagrande and recently developed in-situ techniques that measure the shear wave, this study suggests an alternative experimental procedure that can be used to evaluate the consolidation state of marine clay deposits using the shear wave velocity. A laboratory consolidation testing apparatus was implemented with bimorph-type piezoelectric bender elements to determine the effective stress-shear wave velocity (${\sigma}^{\prime}-V_s$) relationship with the marine clays of interest. The in-situ consolidation state was then evaluated by comparing the in-situ shear wave velocity data with the effective stress-shear wave velocity relationships obtained from laboratory experiments. The suggested methodology was applied and verified at three different sites in South Korea, i.e., a foreshore site in Incheon, a submarine deposit in Busan, and an estuary delta deposit in Busan. It is found that the shear wave-based experimental procedure presented in this paper can be effectively and reliably used to evaluate the consolidation state of marine clay deposits.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2009.09a
• /
• pp.209-218
• /
• 2009

In this study, properties of shear wave velocity of core zone in filldams are analyzed. Shear wave velocity is derived using analysis of surface wave method that can be used nondestructively on the surface of filldams. These values are acquired through the tests for the core zone of six filldams by SASW and HWAW methods. Existing 2 more results are added. Shear wave velocity according to the depth and confining pressure are estimated, respectively. These analytical results are compared with the frequently used empirical method by Sawada and Takahashi.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.191-199
• /
• 2019

To calculate proper seismic design load and seismic design category, the exact site class for construction site is required. At present, the average shear-wave velocity for multi-layer soil deposits is calculated by the sum of shear-wave velocities without considering of vertical relationship of the strata. In this study, the transfer function for the multi-layered soil deposits was reviewed on the basis of the wave propagation theory. Also, the transfer function was accurately verified by the finite element model and the eigenvalue analysis. Three methods for site period estimation were evaluated. The sum of shear-wave velocities underestimated the average shear-wave velocities of 526 strata with large deviations. The equation of Mexican code overestimated the average shear-wave velocities. The equation of Japanese code well estimated the average shear-wave velocities with small deviation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2010.03a
• /
• pp.656-665
• /
• 2010

Shear modulus has been recognized as one of the important soil properties in dynamic analysis of ground and can be calculated from in situ measurement of shear wave velocity. Field seismic tests are the most accurate but expensive methods to investigate dynamic ground characteristics. Due to that reason, empirical equations for estimating the shear wave velocity are widely used rather than conducting in-situ tests. The most common equations are based on the N value obtained in conjuctions with a standard penetration test. In this paper, the field datas of standard penetration test and suspension PS logging measured in 126 sites of Korea were summarized and the correlation equations between N value and shear wave velocity are suggested.