1. Geotechnical Characterization for Seismic
Design: Standard Penetration Testing and
Shear Wave Velocity ProfilesShear Wave Velocity Profiles
Brady R. Cox, Ph.D., P.E.Brady R. Cox, Ph.D., P.E.
The University of Arkansas
Department of Civil Engineering
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering for Seismic Design Workshop,
Department of Civil Engineering
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, November 18-19, 2010
2. Geotechnical Investigation: Standard Objectives
• Determine the depth and thickness of soil layers (including depth
to bedrock if possible)
• Determine the location of the ground water table
• Obtain soil samples for testing
• Most common
method used
around the world
is the Standard
Penetration TestPenetration Test
(SPT)
McCarthy
3. Standard Penetration Test (SPT): Equipment
Drill Rig
Coduto (2001)
S lit
Coduto (2001)
Split-spoon
Sampler
5 OD
Coduto (2001)
5 cm OD
3.5 cm ID
4. SPT: Procedure
• Drill to the desired depth
• Drop a 63.5 kg mass on top of the
drill rod from a height of 0.75 m
• Count the number of hammer
blows to drive the split-spoon
sampler 3 separate 15 cm intervals
• Sum of blows over the last 2
increments (i.e. the last 30 cm) is
the “blow count” or N-value C d t (2001)Coduto (2001)
• Stop if > 50 blows are needed for any 15 cm increment (refusal)
• Remove the split spoon and retrieve soil sample for characterization• Remove the split-spoon and retrieve soil sample for characterization
• Repeat the test at desired depth interval (typically every 1 – 1.5 m)
7. In-Situ Shear Wave Velocity (Vs) Measurements
• Earthquake damage is considered to be caused
primarily by vertically propagating shear waves
• The velocity at which these shear waves travel
through a given material (i e rock vs soil)through a given material (i.e. rock vs. soil)
strongly influences the response of the material
because V is directly related to shear modulusbecause Vs is directly related to shear modulus
• Therefore, a very important part of
Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering is
dynamic site characterization to obtain in-situ
measurements of Vs
8. Seismic Investigation: Additional Objectives
• Obtain a shear wave velocity
(Vs) profile to a depth of at least
30 m
0 0
6005004003002001000
Shear Wave Velocity (m/s)
30 m
• Vs reflects the shear modulus
(G) of the soil according to:
50
10
(G) of the soil according to:
G = *Vs2
• Vs used to obtain simplified 100
epth(ft)
30
20
Depth(
p
Seismic Site Classification via
the average shear wave velocity
over the top 30m (Vs30 or Vs) 150
De
40
(m)
Vs = Vs30 = 325 m/s
over the top 30m (Vs30 or Vs)
• Vs profile also needed for more
advanced ground motion 200 60
50
advanced ground motion
prediction via site response
analysis
200
2000160012008004000
Shear Wave Velocity (ft/sec)
9. In-Situ Shear Wave Velocity (Vs) Measurements
• Intrusive (Borehole Methods)
C h l– Crosshole
– Downhole
S i L i– Suspension Logging
• Non intr si e (S rface Wa e Methods)• Non-intrusive (Surface Wave Methods)
– Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW)
Multi channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW)– Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW)
– Refraction Microtremor (ReMi)
10. Crosshole: Setup and Equipment
Horizontal (H1)
Geophone
H i t l (H2)
Horizontal (H1)
Geophone
H i t l (H2)Horizontal (H2)
Geophone
Vertical (V)
Geophone
Horizontal (H2)
Geophone
Vertical (V)
Geophone
Receiver
Case
Receiver
Case
3D Receiver
Crosshole Hammer
11. Crosshole: Shear Wave Records
2
Downward Impact
Upward Impact
T i
0
agnitude
Trigger
Vertical Receiver
in One Borehole
-2
ormalizedMa
in One Borehole
Vertical Receiver
in Second Borehole
-4
No
Denotes Arrival Time
-6
0.0100.0080.0060.0040.0020.000-0.002
Time, sec
Denotes Arrival Time
t Vs = d / t = m/s
23. Surface Wave Dispersion
Low frequency
Layer 1Layer 1
Vertical
Particle Motion
Vertical
Particle Motion
1
Air
Layer 1Layer 1
Vertical
Particle Motion
Vertical
Particle Motion
1
Air
Layer 1Layer 1
Vertical
Particle Motion
Vertical
Particle Motion
1
Air
Low frequency
surface waves have
long wavelengths
Layer 2
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 1
2
1
Layer 2
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 1
2
1
Layer 2
Layer 1
Layer 2
Layer 1
2
1
(), while high
frequency waves
have short
Depth Depth
Layer 3Layer 3
Depth Depth
Layer 3Layer 3
Depth Depth
Layer 3Layer 3
wavelengths
W i h Depth Depth
a. Material
Profile
c. Longer
Wavelength, 2
b. Shorter
Wavelength, 1
Depth Depth
a. Material
Profile
c. Longer
Wavelength, 2
b. Shorter
Wavelength, 1
Depth Depth
a. Material
Profile
c. Longer
Wavelength, 2
b. Shorter
Wavelength, 1
Waves with
different
frequencies/q
wavelengths sample
different depths
Surface wave velocity (Vr) is close to shear wave velocity (Vs):
Vs ~ 1.1*Vr
26. Seismic Site Classification
Required by Seismic Provisions in Building CodesRequired by Seismic Provisions in Building Codes
IBC (2009) ASCE 7-05
27. IBC & ASCE Codes – Seismic Site Classification
Vs N SuSite Class: A - F
> 1 500 m/s> 1,500 m/s
760 – 1,500 m/s
360 – 760 m/s
180 360 /180 – 360 m/s
< 180 m/s
V i f d b it i di tl l t d t th
ASCE 7-05
Vs is preferred because it is directly related to the
shear stiffness of the soil deposit (G = Vs
2)
28. Preview Importance of Seismic Site Classification
IBC and ASCE Code – Design Response Spectra
Little Rock, Arkansas
Soft Soil (Site Class E)
AR
( )
Horizontal Earthquake Force
70% of the Structure Weight
Hard Rock (Site Class A)
Horizontal Earthquake Force
25% of the Structure Weight
0.2-sec
(~ 2-story building)
30. Example Sites
Shear Wave Velocity (m/s) Shear Wave Velocity (m/s)
0
5
0
2000150010005000
0
5
0
4003002001000
40
20
10
5
40
20
10
5
60
40
Depth(ft)
20
15
Depth(m)
60
0
Depth(ft)
20
15
Depth(m)
80
25
20
80
25
20
100
80006000400020000
30 100
160012008004000
30
Vs = Vs30 = 1015 m/s Vs = Vs30 = 250 m/s
80006000400020000
Shear Wave Velocity (ft/sec)
160012008004000
Shear Wave Velocity (ft/sec)
Site Class B Site Class D
31. Seismic Site Classification via N
ASCE 7-05
Seismic site classification via blow count (N) is
possible, but classification via Vs is preferred
because Vs is a material property that stronglybecause Vs is a material property that strongly
influences ground motions