Field and laboratory measurements of shear wave velocity in unsaturated soils

Abstract

Shear wave velocity measurements in soil are important for assigning site soil profiles to seismic site classes and for calculating other dynamic soil properties. The seismic cone penetration test (SCPT) is commonly used to determine shear wave velocity profiles in the field. In the laboratory, bender elements provide an easy means to measure shear wave velocity of soil specimens from discrete depths. In this study, shear wave velocity measurements obtained from unsaturated soil profiles in the field and on field samples in the laboratory under similar stress conditions were analyzed and compared. Additionally, the influence of seasonal changes on the behavior of shear wave velocity was investigated. Comparisons of shear wave velocities from the field and laboratory were favorable for similar moisture and stress conditions. However, results showed that as the degree of saturation increases and suction decreases the shear wave velocity can decrease significantly.