Shear wave velocity of soft sensitive clay using novel piezoelectric technique P-RAT

Y. A. Ethier

In the proceedings of: GeoVancouver 2016: 69th Canadian Geotechnical Conference

Session: SOIL AND TERRAIN CHARACTERIZATION - II Geotechnical Laboratory Testing

ABSTRACT: Shear waves velocity (Vs) is a mechanical geotechnical parameter that can be measured in-situ as well as in the laboratory. Iions other than in situ to be readily investigated. The most important laboratory techniques of Vs measurement are the resonant column and the piezoelectric bender elements. Although these techniques are widely used, they have a number of difficulties that cannot be denied such as, for the latter, the mixed radiation of both P- and S-waves, near field effects and uncertain detection of first arrivals. Piezoelectric Rings Actuators Technique (P-RAT) has been developed in the geotechnical laboratory at the University of Sherbrooke in order to minimize/eliminate the aforementioned difficulties. P-RAT offers the ability to be incorporated in traditional geotechnical apparatus, an advantage that makes it a powerful tool in many applications. This paper presents a brief description of the different components of P-RAT along with Vs measurements realized with the technique both at University of Sherbrooke and ÉTS. Consolidation curves in terms of Vs are presented for a soft sensitive clay. Results obtained at both institutions were used to establish a relation of normalized Vs with respect to void ratio for the studied site and scatter appears minimal.

RÉSUMÉ: La vitesse de propagation des ondes de cisaillement, Vs, constitue un paramètre de résistance géotechnique qui peut Les mesures de Vs conditions de chargement. Les méthodes les plus usuelles pour mesurer Vs en laboratoire sont la colonne de résonance et les bilames piézoélectriques. Ces derniers, quoique commodes, sont connus pour entraîner différentes difficultés dont les réflexions des ondes P et S, les effets de choment de la première arrivée. La méthode des anneaux piézoélectrique (P-té de Sherbrooke afin de minimiser/éliminer ces difficultés. La méthode P-RAT peut être incorporée dans la plupart des appareils géotechniques conventionnels, constituant ainsi un outil puissant. Cet article présente une brève description des composantes du P-RAT de même que des courbes de consolidation en termes de Vs institutions ont été utilisés pour établir une relation de Vs et qui montre peu de dispersion.

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