Journal Published Online: 10 February 2020
Volume 44, Issue 1

Piezoelectric Ring-Actuator Technique: In-Depth Scrutiny of Interpretation Method

CODEN: GTJODJ

Abstract

The piezoelectric ring-actuator technique (P-RAT) is a recent laboratory technique for the measurement of shear wave velocity (Vs) of soils. The measurement is based on transmission of a mechanical signal through the soil specimen with source and receiver transducers capsulated, for instance, in the end platens of an oedometer cell. An interpretative framework of the signals produced in the P-RAT has also been developed to minimize the subjectivity of the process and provide a consistent approach to Vs determination. However, there are some issues that would potentially affect the quality of the signals; consequently, biases of the velocity determination have not yet been explicitly discussed, such as the effects of sample and sensor characteristics as well as the signals used to excite the P-RAT sensors. P-RAT experiments on two different soils using different sensors, input signals, and oedometer cells are implemented in this study. The main purpose of the tests is not to elicit definitive information about the tested materials but to allow the P-RAT interpretation methodology to be revealed. The results suggest that this interpretation method can be beneficially used with other piezoelectric techniques (e.g., BE).

Author Information

Hussien, Mahmoud N.
Department of Civil Engineering, Assiut University, Assiut, Québec, Egypt
Karray, Mourad
Department of Civil Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
Pages: 11
Price: $25.00
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Details
Stock #: GTJ20180205
ISSN: 0149-6115
DOI: 10.1520/GTJ20180205