Comparative study of field seismic tests at a multi-layered model testing site

Abstract

To obtain a shear-wave velocity (V S) profile in geotechnical practice, various seismic investigations are being frequently used. Due to discordant shear wave velocity profile of each test, it is important to develop the representative V S profile considering the reliability and applicability of each seismic test. In this study, a model testing site which composed of four local layers with size about 16m*26m*8.5m (W*L*H) was designed and constructed for a comparative study of field seismic tests. To evaluate the dynamic material properties of each layer, total of 140 vertical and horizontal geophones were embedded at the boundary of each layer, and the locations of geophones and model geometry were measured by surveying during construction process. Using the interval travel time between embedded geophones, the body wave velocities of each layers were obtained as reference data for evaluation of other seismic tests. Down-hole, SASW, MASW and HWAW tests were performed at the model testing site and the V S profiles of each test and reference data of model site were compared. The advantages and disadvantages of applied seismic tests and the reliability of new innovative HWAW method were discussed. Copyright ASCE 2006.