Evaluation of the response of a BE system. Time and frequency domains

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Camacho-Tauta, G., (Author) Other; Cascante, G. (Author) Other; Viana da Fonseca, A. (Author) FEUP; Santos, J.A. (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Geotechnique

Vol. 65 No. 7

Pages: 548-562

ISSN: 0016-8505

Publisher: ICE Publishing Ltd.

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge

ISI Web of Science

Scopus

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Civil engineering

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering > Civil engineering > Geotechnics

Other information

DOI: 10.1680/geot./13-P-206

Abstract (EN): Bender elements are used to measure the low-strain shear-wave velocity of soils in many geotechnical laboratories worldwide. Despite their popularity, the method remains without a standard, mainly owing to the difficulties in controlling the actual behaviour of the bender element inside the specimen. Previous experimental and analytical studies on the behaviour of bender elements have found evidence that the actual transmitter movement is not equal in shape or frequency content of the electrical signal used as the input excitation. Furthermore, the size and geometry of the specimen influence the response of these piezoelectric transducers. In this study, miniature accelerometers are used to measure the particle vibration inside specimens during bender elements tests, which were performed in a resonant column device. The comparison between shear wave velocities obtained by resonant column and miniature accelerometers tests allow a better interpretation of bender element testing. The sine pulse bender element test results showed good agreement with the resonant column measurements. The results show the importance of the resonant frequencies of the bender element and their influence on frequency domain analysis of bender element testing.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific