Estimation of Cavities beneath Plate Structures Using a Microphone: Laboratory Model Tests.

The objective of this study is to detect a cavity and estimate its size using sound waves in a laboratory model chamber filled with dry sand. One side of the chamber is covered with an acrylic plate, and a cavity is placed between the plate and sand. Sound waves are generated by impacting the plate with an instrumented hammer, and are measured using a microphone. The measured sound waves are analyzed with four comprehensive analyses including the measured area under the rectified signal envelope (MARSE) energy, flexibility, peak magnitude of wavelet transform, and frequency corresponding to the peak magnitude. The test results show that the accuracy of cavity detection using the MARSE energy is higher for thicker plates, whereas that using flexibility is higher for thinner plates. The accuracies of cavity detection using the peak magnitude of wavelet transform, and frequency corresponding to the peak magnitude are consistently high regardless of the plate thickness. Moreover, the cavity size may be under- or overestimated depending on the plate thickness and the selected analysis method. The average of the cavity sizes estimated by these methods, however, is slightly larger than the actual cavity size regardless of the plate thickness. This study demonstrates that microphones may be effectively used for the identification of a cavity and the estimation of its size.

Piezoelectric Ring Bender for Characterization of Shear Waves in Compacted Sandy Soils.

Shear wave velocity and small-strain shear modulus are widely used as the mechanical properties of soil. The objective of this study is to develop a new shear wave monitoring system using a pair of piezoelectric ring benders (RBs) and to evaluate the suitability of RB in compacted soils compared with the bender element and ultrasonic transducer. The RB is a multilayered piezoelectric actuator, which can generate shear waves without disturbing soils. For five compacted soil specimens, the shear waves are monitored by using three different piezoelectric transducers. Results of time-domain response show that the output signals measured from the RB vary according to the water content of the specimen and the frequency of the input signal. Except at the water content of 9.3%, the difference in the resonant frequencies between the three transducers is not significant. The shear wave velocities for the RB are slightly greater than those for the other transducers. For the RB, the exponential relationship between the shear wave velocity and dry unit weight is better established compared with that of the other transducers. The newly proposed piezoelectric transducer RB may be useful for the evaluation of the shear wave velocity and small-strain shear modulus of compacted soils.

Horizontally Elongated Time Domain Reflectometry System for Evaluation of Soil Moisture Distribution.

The objective of this study was to develop a horizontally elongated time domain reflectometry (HETDR) system to evaluate the water content in nonuniformly wetted soils. The HETDR probe consists of three rods of stainless steel and a cuboid head: A center electrode and two outer electrodes are connected to the inner and outer conductors of a coaxial cable, respectively. An acrylic container divided into several segments was used to prepare nonuniformly wetted soils with different water contents for a series of model tests. The HETDR probe was placed horizontally at the middle height of each soil specimen, while a conventional time domain reflectometry (TDR) probe was applied vertically on the surface of the specimen. The experimental results show that as the soil water content (SWC) at a segment increases, the average amplitude decreases and the duration increases. The estimated SWC increases with the measured SWC, and especially, the difference between actual segment length and the segment length estimated from the HETDR probes is significant under dry conditions. This study demonstrates that HETDR may be a promising field-testing method for evaluating the average water content in nonuniformly wetted soils.

Variations in Velocity and Sensitivity of Electromagnetic Waves in Transmission Lines Configured in Model Piles with Necking Defects Containing Soils.

This study investigates variations in the velocity and sensitivity of electromagnetic waves in transmission lines configured in defective model piles for the detection of necking defects containing soil. Experiments are performed with model piles containing defects filled with different materials, such as air, sands, and clay. Five different types of transmission lines are configured in model piles. The electromagnetic waves are generated and detected using a time domain reflectometer. The velocity of electromagnetic waves is highest when the defect is filled with air, and it decreases with an increase in the water content. The velocity is lowest when the defect is filled with clay. The sensitivity of transmission lines for detecting defects decreases with an increase in soil water contents. The transmission line with a single electrical wire and epoxy-coated rebar exhibits the highest sensitivity, followed by that with three and two parallel electrical wires. Transmission lines with a single electrical wire and uncoated rebar and those with two parallel electrical wires wrapped with a sheath exhibit poor sensitivity when the defect is filled with clay. This study demonstrates that electromagnetic waves can be effective tools for detecting necking defects with wet and conductive soils in bored piles.

Strength Characteristics of Sand-Silt Mixtures Subjected to Cyclic Freezing-Thawing-Repetitive Loading.

Daily freezing-thawing-repetitive loading is a critical factor affecting soil stability. This study assesses the strength of sand-silt mixtures with various silt fractions (SFs) subjected to cyclic freezing-thawing-repetitive loading. Specimens with SF of 0-100% were prepared with a fixed relative density of 60%. The number of repetitive loadings (N) was 1, 100, and 1000 for each specimen with different SFs. After three cycles of freezing-thawing-repetitive loading, the specimens were frozen at -5 °C for the uniaxial compression test. Test results show that the change in relative density (∆Dr) increases with the increase in SF up to 30% and decreases as SF increases beyond 30% owing to the change in the void ratio. The volumetric unfrozen water content (θu) increases with the increase in both SF and N owing to the effect of the physicochemical characteristics of soils on small voids. Unconfined compressive strength of sand-dominant mixtures (SF ≤ 30%) is reinforced by ∆Dr. By contrast, for silt-dominant mixtures (SF > 30%), the unconfined compressive strength decreases with the increase in θu and N due to lubricant role and sands dispersion. Thus, the effects of SF and N should be considered for sand-silt mixtures that have a probability to undergo cyclic freezing-thawing-repetitive loading.

Smart Sensing Using Electromagnetic Waves for Inspection of Defects in Rock Bolts.

The stability of tunnels and rock slopes is adversely affected by defects in rock bolts. This study investigates the suitability of the smart sensing method using electromagnetic waves for inspecting defects in rock bolts. Experiments were performed with one fully grouted and eight defective rock bolts, out of which five have non-grouted parts at the ends with different non-grouted ratios, and three have different types of voids. Electromagnetic waves were generated and detected using a time domain reflectometer by configuring two-conductor transmission lines in the rock bolts. Results show that electromagnetic waves are reflected both at defects and ends of rock bolts. The electromagnetic wave velocity increases with an increase in the non-grouted ratio and decreases when rock bolts are embedded in a concrete block simulating rock mass. The estimated locations of defects found by electromagnetic waves are in good agreement with actual defect locations. This study demonstrates that smart sensing using electromagnetic waves is an effective method for inspecting and determining defect locations and the non-grouted ratio of rock bolts.

Dynamic Cone Penetrometer Incorporated with Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) Sensors for the Evaluation of Water Contents in Sandy Soils.

Ground moisture content and strength properties are the most important factors for a proper assessment of ground stability. This study developed a dynamic cone penetrometer incorporated with time domain reflectometry (TDR) sensors (TDCP). The TDCP is composed of an anvil, a driving rod, and a TDCP probe. Three wave guides and a K-type thermocouple are installed on the TDCP probe. For utilization of TDCP, relationships between relative permittivities measured by TDCP and those measured by standard TDR probe, temperature, and volumetric water content of the soils were investigated. In addition, the relationship between penetration indices by TDCP (TPI) and by standard dynamic cone penetrometer was established. In the field application test, relative permittivity, ground temperature, and TPI were measured along the depth. Moreover, gravimetric water contents were also measured for comparison. The experimental results showed that volumetric water contents compensated by ground temperature showed good agreement with the volumetric water contents estimated from the gravimetric water contents of the soil samples and TPI. This study suggests that the TDCP may be effectively used for the evaluation moisture contents and for the strength characterization of the subsurface.