ISSN: 1945-7545
Published Online: 24 July 2009
Page Count: 10

A Miniature Falling Weight Device for Non-Intrusive Characterization of Soils in the Centrifuge

Murillo, Carol
Researcher, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of los Andes, Bogota,

Caicedo, Bernardo
Professor, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of los Andes, Bogota,

Thorel, Luc
Researcher, Centrifuge and Soil Mechanics Unit, Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées, Bouguenais,

(Received 5 November 2008; accepted 25 June 2009)

Abstract

Non-intrusive and non-destructive techniques are used for characterizing multilayer soil models in the centrifuge. Based on the spectral analysis surface waves analysis, a miniature falling weight-type (FW) device is developed for centrifuge testing. A description of the mini-FW with application to characterize homogeneous and bilayer models is presented. The mini-FW principle consists of the fall in a steel ball generating vibrations within the centrifuged models. These vibrations are recorded by accelerometers placed on the model’s surface. On condition that the vibrations remain within the first five upper centimeters in order to avoid near-field effects, the results obtained for both wave velocity values and location of the layer interfaces agree satisfactorily with already available data.

Keywords:
centrifuge modeling, non-destructive techniques, unsaturated soil, shear wave velocity

Paper ID: GTJ102217
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ102217
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