Geotechnical Parameters from Seismic Measurements: Two Field Examples from Egypt and Saudi Arabia

Khalil, Mohamed H.; Hanafy, Sherif M.

doi:10.2113/jeeg21.1.13

Cited by 20 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Again from Table 3.1, Euro Code EC08, in the parameters column, it is mentioned that to define the ground type, along with Vs, the standard penetration test (SPT) N-value will help to reinforce the claim of soil type. So the N-value is determined based on Equation (3), proposed by [4]. It is seen that apart from site Dhamdhara I, the rest of the N-values are either >50 or nearer to 50 (Table 2) which almost satisfies the above claim of ground type B listed in Euro Code EC08.…”

Section: Geophysical Site Explorationmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…One of the most popular methods to understand the possible hazards of seismic events on infrastructure development is by using geophysical methods. These methods have been used for several years by researchers and practitioners related to soils and foundations applications [4,5] and highway site investigation [6][7][8][9]. Geophysical methods not only provide means for probing the soil properties, sediments and rock outcrops but also to calculate the dynamic properties of soils like soil compression and shear wave velocities [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Parametric Study of Local Site Response for Bedrock Ground Motion to Earthquake in Phuentsholing, Bhutan

et al. 2020

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Earthquakes, when it comes to natural calamities, are characteristically devastating and pose serious threats to buildings in urban areas. Out of multiple seismic regions in the Himalayas, Bhutan Himalaya is one that reigns prominent. Bhutan has seen several moderate-sized earthquakes in the past century and various recent works show that a major earthquake like the 2015 Nepal earthquake is impending. The southwestern city of Bhutan, Phuentsholing is one of the most populated regions in the country and the present study aims to explore the area using geophysical methods (Multispectral Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW)) for understanding possibilities pertaining to infrastructural development. The work involved a geophysical study on eight different sites in the study region which fall under the local area plan of Phuentsholing City. The geophysical study helps to discern shear wave velocity which indicates the soil profile of a region along with possible seismic hazard during an earthquake event, essential for understanding the withstanding power of the infrastructure foundation. The acquired shear wave velocity by MASW indicates visco-elastic soil profile down to a depth of 22.2 m, and it ranged from 350 to 600 m/s. A site response analysis to understand the correlation of bedrock rigidness to the corresponding depth was conducted using EERA (Equivalent-linear Earthquake Site Response Analysis) software. The amplification factors are presented for each site and maximum amplification factors are highlighted. These results have led to a clear indication of how the bedrock characteristics influence the surface ground motion parameters for the corresponding structure period. The results infer that the future constructional activity in the city should not be limited to two- to five-story buildings as per present practice. Apart from it, a parametric study was initiated to uncover whatever effects rigid bedrock has upon hazard parameters for various depths of soil profile up to 30 m, 40 m, 60 m, 80 m, 100 m, 120 m, 140 m, 160 m, 180 m and 200 m from the ground surface. The overriding purpose of doing said parametric study is centered upon helping the stack holders who can use the data for future development. Such a study is the first of its kind for the Bhutan region, which suffers from the unavailability of national seismic code, and this is a preliminary step towards achieving it.

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Section: Geophysical Site Explorationmentioning

confidence: 73%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parametric Study of Local Site Response for Bedrock Ground Motion to Earthquake in Phuentsholing, Bhutan

et al. 2020

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“…The conventional methods, viz. cone penetration test (CPT), provide required parameters of the soil but are costly and invasive, particularly in hilly terrains [16]. Seismic refraction tomography technique (SRT) as well as the multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW), on the other hand, is time efficient and cost effective.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Over the past years, seismic refraction methods have been used for civil engineering purposes in mountainous terrain [10,14,28]. They have been used to locate faults and in determining the soil parameters [4,16]. The SRT is a geophysical method which uses inversion technique to obtain 2D velocity depth profile [17,22,23] that images the cross-sectional picture along the profile by using the soils' response to the energy from the external source [6,7,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Near-surface seismic refraction tomography and MASW for site characterization in Phuentsholing, Bhutan Himalaya

et al. 2021

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It is essential to understand the soil characteristics of the subsurface layers for any engineering construction. In difficult terrains like hilly areas, conventional methods of investigation are expensive and difficult to conduct. It calls for nondestructive testing methods to get reliable estimates of subsurface properties. In the present study, seismic refraction tomography (SRT) technique and multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) methods were carried out along five selected profiles in Phuentsholing region of Bhutan Himalaya. The profile length ranges from 37 to 81.5 m, and depth of imaging down to 10 m. While the SRT data imaged the P-wave velocity (Vp) structures, the MASW imaged the shear wave velocity (Vs) structures. The P-wave images provide a fair knowledge of geological layers, while the MASW images provide S-wave velocity structures (Vs). These results are useful to estimate soil parameters, like the density, Poisson’s ratio, Young’s modulus, shear modulus, N-value and the ultimate bearing capacity. The seismic images reveal the presence of sand, sandy clay, gravels and shale layers below the selected sites. Bhutan Himalayas being seismically vulnerable, the obtained results in terms of shear wave velocity were accustomed to categorize the sites as per NEHRP site classes, and a ground response analysis was performed to determine the reliable amplification factors. From the study, it is suggested that the engineering construction is feasible at all the sites except in one site, where an indication of saturated soil is observed which is vulnerable for liquefaction, and ground needs to be improved before construction at that site.

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“…Understanding the subsurface rock quality and structure is a recent and strong development in geophysics [1]. Before now, obtaining geotechnical parameters of subsurface soil or rock requires direct measurements from a cone penetrometer (CPT), which measures soil resistance to penetration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Near Surface Seismic Refraction for Geotechnical Parameters in Opolo, Yenagoa of Bayelsa State

Omonefe

Rowland

Oborie

et al. 2019

JERR

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Three surface refraction seismic profiles were conducted in a site targeted for huge construction in an underdeveloped area in Opolo, Yenagoa city to portray some of the subsurface soil engineering characteristics for the purposes of construction. The Generalized Reciprocal Method (GRM) was used to interpret the acquired P and S-wave. Various shallow rock engineering parameters such as Oedometric modulus, Concentration Index, Material Index, Lame’s constant, Density Gradient, Stress Ratio, Shear modulus, Bearing capacity, and N-value were calculated in other to assess the strength of the subsurface from a geophysical and engineering perspective. The values from the seismic velocity and strength parameters indicates that the bedrock layer (layer 3) of the area studied is characterized by more competent rock quality than layer 1 and 2. Hence, the Opolo site is suggested for construction activities with percussive measures.

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Geotechnical Parameters from Seismic Measurements: Two Field Examples from Egypt and Saudi Arabia

Cited by 20 publications

References 44 publications

Parametric Study of Local Site Response for Bedrock Ground Motion to Earthquake in Phuentsholing, Bhutan

Parametric Study of Local Site Response for Bedrock Ground Motion to Earthquake in Phuentsholing, Bhutan

Near-surface seismic refraction tomography and MASW for site characterization in Phuentsholing, Bhutan Himalaya

Analysis of Near Surface Seismic Refraction for Geotechnical Parameters in Opolo, Yenagoa of Bayelsa State

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