Abstract
A crucial aspect of physical geotechnical model tests (under both 1-g and n-g conditions) is the evaluation of the initial (low-strain) stiffness of the soil layers of the sample test deposit, especially in the case of coarse materials. While for uniform soil deposits this issue can be addressed in a straightforward manner, e.g. by determining the fundamental frequency through the transfer function of an applied white-noise excitation, the problem becomes cumbersome for multi-layered deposits. After reviewing a number of available theoretical solutions, this paper illustrates a simplified yet reliable analytical procedure for determining the shear wave velocity profile (Vs) in a single or bi-layer deposit, taking into account the inhomogeneity of the individual soil layers, under the hypothesis of vanishing shear modulus at ground surface. The fundamental natural frequency of the inhomogeneous bi-layer deposit is analysed using the Rayleigh quotient procedure. The associated shape function is evaluated by considering the equilibrium of the soil column under a pseudo-static lateral inertial excitation imposed at its base, accounting for both layering and inhomogeneity. A validation of the proposed method is provided by comparing numerical results obtained from both time- and frequency- domain analyses against experimental data on Leighton Buzzard sand, from a recently-completed research project conducted on the shaking table facility at BLADE Laboratory, University of Bristol (UK).
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 44-54 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering |
Volume | 75 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2015 |
Keywords
- Free field response
- Initial shear wave velocity
- Numerical simulation
- Shaking table test
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Dr Dimitris K Karamitros
- School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering - Senior Lecturer in Civil Engineering
- Earthquake and Geotechnical Engineering
Person: Academic , Member