Novel methods of bender element test analysis

J. O'Donovan, G. Marketos, C. O'Sullivan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

The complexity of bender element test interpretation iswell documented. For example the arrival of a compressionalwave at the receiver clouds the arrival of the true shearwave. The wave diffuses while travelling through the sample as the received signal is of lower magnitude than the transmitted signal. The wave exhibits dispersion as the phase velocities of individual frequencies are not equal. Previous laboratory and numerical investigations have proposed that there is a link between the nature of a bender element signal propagating through a soil sample and the sources of these complications. Particle-scale data available through Discrete Element Method (DEM) modelling of a bender element test provide a rich set of information in the time domain; however, deeper insight can be gained by analysing the data in the frequency domain. The analyses confirm that the dispersion and diffusion of the wave are intrinsically linked to the granular nature of the medium. This new understanding of the fundamental mechanisms involved will likely lead to more accurate ways of estimating shear stiffness values from bender element tests, as it is shown here that existing time-domain techniques do not accurately calculate the shear stiffness of a granular sample.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGeomechanics from Micro to Macro - Proceedings of the TC105 ISSMGE International Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, IS-Cambridge 2014
EditorsKenichi Soga, Krishna Kumar, Giovanna Biscontin, Matthew Kuo
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Pages311-316
Volume1
ISBN (Print)978-1-138-02707-7
Publication statusPublished - 2015
EventInternational Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, IS-Cambridge 2014 - Cambridge, United Kingdom
Duration: 1 Sept 20143 Sept 2014

Conference

ConferenceInternational Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, IS-Cambridge 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityCambridge
Period1/09/143/09/14

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