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CROSSHOLE/
DOWNHOLE
SEISMIC TEST
Cengrs Geotechnica Pvt
Ltd By Mr.Sorabh Gupta
A‐100, Sector 63, Noida, Workshop cum Demo Session
UP‐201309
Tel:+01204206771
Fax:+01204206775
11/23/2013
C R O S S H O L E / D O W N H O L E S E I S M I C
WELCOME NOTE
On behalf of IGS Delhi Chapter and CENGRS, we have great pleasure in welcoming you to our Workshop
on the use of latest seismic techniques in in‐situ ground characterization.
The Indian Geotechnical Society (IGS), Delhi Chapter is an active association of academicians and
professions interested in, or involved with, Geotechnical Engineering. One of the main objectives of the
Society is to promote healthy technical‐social interaction between the members, catalyze information
exchange, and contribute to the growth of Geotechnical Engineering in the country. For those of us who
are not yet members of IGS Delhi Chapter, we urge you to sign up for the same by downloading the
membership form from the following website: http://igsdelhichapter.com/
The current elected Executive Committee, led by Dr. A.K. Nanda, has decided to conduct a series of
Practical Workshops / Demonstrations in the term 2013‐14, aimed at encouraging hands‐on engineering
and fun interactions. We are proud to be associated with the first such activity.
The Workshop is being conducted by the team at CENGRS, which is a leading consultancy firm in the
field of Geotechnical Engineering, based in Delhi NCR. CENGRS has vast experience in the field of
Geotechnical Engineering, with a repertoire of more than 4000 projects successfully executed across
India and abroad since 1990. The team at CENGRS has conducted over 150 cross‐hole / down‐hole tests
at various project locations up to a maximum depth of 100 m.
We hope that you shall enjoy the Workshop. Please feel free to ask questions and initiate discussions
during the course of the presentations.
In case you require any further technical clarifications on the subject even after the Workshop, you may
contact the undersigned at the contact details given below.
Warm Regards,
Sorabh Gupta
Sr. Project Engineer, CENGRS
Executive Committee Member (2013‐14), IGS Delhi Chapter
Cengrs House, A‐100, Sector‐63, Noida (U.P.)‐201309
t: +91 120 420 6771 | f: +91 120 420 6775 | m: +91 99108 61118 | cengrs@gmail.com
C R O S S H O L E / D O W N H O L E S E I S M I C
TECHNICAL NOTE ON DOWN‐HOLE SEISMIC TESTING (DST)
1.0 Introduction
Construction of foundation systems for civil structures often requires detailed information of the site
soil properties. Bore logs provide soil samples for soil type classification and laboratory testing to
determine strength and consolidation parameters (among other properties) with respect to depth. A
number of soil‐boring related in‐situ tests have also been correlated with soil strength (e.g. standard
penetration test, cone penetration test), etc. However, in the interest of accuracy, it is certainly
advantageous to measure an in‐situ soil property directly related to soil modulus. Shear wave velocity
(Vs) has become the standard property from which in‐situ soil modulus is determined, due to its direct
relationship with modulus via the soil mass density (which can be assumed with little error or easily
measured from soil samples), as well as its relative ease of measurement, due to the advancement of
seismic techniques.
2.0 Benefits of DST in Geotechnical Engineering
The utilization of DST in estimating in‐situ wave velocities and the corresponding elastic soil parameters
is of considerable benefit to the Geotechnical Engineer.
• Static and dynamic soil analysis
• Pile and Footing Foundation Design for Vibrating Loads
o Calculate Constrained Modulus (M), Shear Modulus (G), and Poisson’s Ratio from local
seismic velocities
o Calculate dynamic spring constants
• Liquefaction assessment
• Input for near‐surface seismological models
• Evaluation of soil improvement from blasting
• Assessment of the regulatory requirements such as those included in the Uniform Building Code.
C R O S S H O L E / D O W N H O L E S E I S M I C
3.0 Choice between CS and DS Seismic Testing
Crosshole Method Downhole Method
y Constant Travel Paths y One Borehole
y Negligible Borehole Effects y No Verticality Measurements
y Receivers Properly Aligned for SV‐Waves y Simple Surface Source
y High Signal‐to‐Noise Ratio at All Depths y Minimum Refraction Problems
y Detailed Profile y Less Expensive
y Workable in Limited Space y Generate P‐ and SH‐Waves
y Accuracy Independent on the y Reversible Source
Measurement Depth y Travel Path Increases with Depth
y Two or More Boreholes y Possible Borehole Effects
y Simple Borehole Source y Control of Receiver Alignment Preferable
y Predominantly P‐ and SV‐ Waves, but SH‐waves y Signal‐to‐Noise Ratio Decreases with
Also Possible Depth
y Reversible Source y Detect Low‐Velocity Layers
y Measure Borehole Verticality y More Average Profile
y Detect Low‐Velocity Layers y Useable in Noisy Areas
y Possible Refraction Problems y Workable in Limited Space
y Useable in Noisy Areas y Accuracy dependent on the
y More Expensive measurement depth
4.0 Calculation of Dynamic Soil Parameters
The calculations of dynamic soil parameters are based on the relationships given in IS: 5249‐
1992.
The Poisson’s Ratio is determined directly from the compression (P) wave and shear (S) wave
data. It is expressed by the ratio of transverse strain to longitudinal strain.
Young’s Modulus E is the uniaxial stress‐strain ratio. Its dynamic value is expressed by the
following equation:
(1+ μ ) (1− 2μ )
E = ρ Vp 2
1− μ
where:
ρ = mass density of soil = (γ/g)
γ = bulk density of soil
Vp = P‐wave velocity
μ = Poisson’s ratio
C R O S S H O L E / D O W N H O L E S E I S M I C
The shear modulus G is the stress‐strain ratio for simple shear. Its dynamic value is
obtained by the following:
E
G = = ρVs 2
2 (1 + μ )
Coefficients of elastic uniform compression (cu), elastic uniform shear (cτ), elastic non‐
uniform compression (cφ) and the coefficient of elastic non‐uniform shear (cΨ) are given by the
following relationships:
E 1
cu = 1.13 × [A = Standard foundation area, taken as 10 m2]
1− μ 2 A
cτ = 0.67 to 0.5 cu (for design purpose, cτ may be taken equal to 0.6 cu)
cφ = 3.46 cτ
cΨ = 1.5 cτ
5.0 Selection of Dynamic Parameters for Design
Since the cross‐hole seismic tests completed on site are low‐strain methods, the
dynamic soil parameters computed here correspond to very low strains. However, actual design
strains on the site are usually much higher (often in the range of 2~3%); particularly for
earthquake conditions. Hence, the design dynamic parameters should be selected carefully as
per the anticipated strain levels(1).
The selection of dynamic parameters must be done based on the project specifications,
as well as the general guideline given in IS 5249:1992.
As per IS 5249:1992 (Clause 9.0), the value of dynamic shear modulus, G, is affected by
a number of parameters; out of which confining pressure, shear strain amplitude, and relative
density are most important. In the range of strains associated with properly designed machine
foundations, the effect of variation in strain on shear modulus is small and the values of G for
design purposes may be determined from the in‐situ test values using the relation given below:
G1 σ 01 m
=( )
G σ0
(1)
Steven L. Kramer (1996), “Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering”, Pearson Education, Inc.,
Section 6.4, pp. 232-238.
C R O S S H O L E / D O W N H O L E S E I S M I C
where:
G1 and G = Dynamic shear modulus for the prototype and from field test, respectively
σ01 and σ0 = Mean effective confining pressure, associated with the prototype foundation and
the in‐situ test, respectively, and
m = Constant depending upon the type of soil, shape of grains, etc. Their value has
been found to vary from 0.3 to 0.7 and may on the average be taken as 0.5.
IS: 5249 states that in situations where high strain levels are associated (as in the case of
analysis for earthquake conditions), the effect of strain level shall be considered along with that
of confining pressure. In such a case, the values of G from different field tests may first be
reduced to the same confining pressure (expected below the footing) and their variation with
strain levels may be studied to arrive at an appropriate value corresponding to the expected
strain level.
The four parameters (Cu, C τ , C φ and CΨ) are highly dependent on strain levels. Keeping
this in view, we suggest that a range of ± 20 percent of the above values be used for design. The
higher values of these coefficients may be used for machines having an operating frequency
higher than that of the machine‐foundation‐soil system. Similarly, the lower values of the
coefficients may be used for machines operating at frequency that is lower than that of the
system.
C R O S S H O L E / D O W N H O L E S E I S M I C
The D OWNHOLE S EISMIC (DS)
investigations are similar to CS
investigations, but require only one
borehole to provide shear and
compressional velocity wave
profiles. The DS method uses a
hammer source at the surface to
impact a wood plank and generate
shear and compressional waves.
This is typically accomplished by
coupling a plank to the ground near
the borehole and then impacting
the plank in the vertical and
horizontal directions. The energy
from these impacts is then received
by a pair of matching three
component geophone receivers,
which have been lowered
downhole and are spaced 5 to 10 ft
(1.5 to 3 m) apart.
Features:
■ DS method is cheaper than CS, since only one borehole is required for testing.
■ Real-time waveform display while testing
■ Thin layers, which are often invisible to surface methods, can be detected with CS/DS
investigations
■ Accuracy and resolution for CS/DS methods are constant for all test depths, whereas the
accuracy and resolution of the surface methods decreases with depth
■ Acquisition and processing software are easy to use yielding fast and accurate results
■ Triaxial geophones (receivers) can be oriented with inclinometer casing dummy probes
STANDARDS
(1) IS: 13372 (Part 1): 1992, “Seismic Testing of Rock Mass‐ Code of Practice‐ Part 1: Within A Borehole”,
Bureau of Indian Standards, Delhi.
(2) ASTM D7400‐ 08, “Standard Test Methods for Downhole Seismic Testing,” American Society for
Testing and Materials.
C R O S S H O L E / D O W N H O L E S E I S M I C
C ROSSHOLE / D OWNHOLE S EISMIC
SCOPE OF WORK
Details of the tests completed on site are summarized and tabulated below:
UTM Co-ordinates, m
(Zone-43 R) Test Depth Maximum Test
Test
Interval, m Depth, m
Easting Northing
Cross hole seismic test 737883 3166886 1.5 30
Pressuremeter test 737900 3166848 3.0 30
SITE LOCATION
C ROSSHOLE / D OWNHOLE S EISMIC
a. The strata at the site classifies as very soft soil (SE) to about 1.5 m depth, as per the Uniform
Building Code (1997). Below this, the strata typically classifies as stiff to very dense soil (S D &
Sc) to the maximum explored depth of 30 m.
b. The measured shear wave velocity (V s) at the test location generally ranges from 217-350 m/s (i.e.
SD: stiff soil) to about 28.5 m depth and 380 m/s (i.e Sc.: very dense soil) at final tested depth of 30
m. However topmost layer of 1.5 m shows lower velocity of 152 m/s (i.e. SE: Very soft soil).
c. There is no significant variation in the velocity of shear waves with depth to the maximum tested
depth of 30 m.
d. The measured compression wave velocities (Vp) below about 1.5 m depth are generally in the range
of 1764-1875 m/s (in the range of fluid wave velocity, possibly due to the saturation of strata owing
to the shallow groundwater table at the site .
Based on the measured shear wave velocity, the strata may be classified into different
categories as per the UBC Code (1997):