Advanced Cyclic Triaxial and Bender Element

Testing
Christian Karg

Supervisor: Wim Haegeman

by the mentioned vibration sources have to be examined.

Abstract Vibrations in soil are a matter of growing interest Dynamic parameters of soil are determined in order to predict
especially in densely populated areas. Many vibration sources as soil behavior under dynamic excitations (see Figure 1).
earthquakes, blasting, construction works, but also road or For this purpose cyclic triaxial testing device CTTD is
railway traffic may be defined. The question is: How do these installed at the KHBO, Department of Industrial Science, to
vibrations affect built environment? Do we have to expect investigate cylindrical soil samples on their dynamic
settlements or even damages of buildings? To investigate this
properties. With the equipment it is possible to apply dynamic
problem it is of crucial importance to gather knowledge of
dynamic properties of soil. On this account advanced cyclic stress conditions to the sample through axial cyclic loading in
triaxial and bender element test equipment is installed to vertical direction. In combination bender element tests are
investigate cylindrical soil samples. The highly automated testing performed on the same sample allowing the analysis of results
apparatus includes the possibility of local strain measurements from two different tests on the same sample under identical
and combination of cyclic triaxial and bender element tests. test conditions.
Analysis tools for test results are programmed. Based on the Objective of this paper is to present the general setup of the
analysis of test series performed with this equipment a prediction testing device and to give an idea on the test procedure as well
model will be developed to estimate settlements caused by low as the data analysis (see also [1]). The future work related to
level vibrations in the soil.
this research is outlined.
Keywords cyclic triaxial test, bender element test, advanced
soil testing, explicit modeling II. TEST EQUIPMENT

I. INTRODUCTION A. Cyclic Triaxial Testing Device

Vibrations in the built environment are a matter of growing Triaxial tests are performed to determine the shear
engineering concern, especially in densely populated areas. characteristics of soil. After saturation and respectively
Increasing dynamic impacts of different nature combined with isotropic or anisotropic consolidation to the required stress, in
a growing environmental concern and the enhancement of a common triaxial tests the sample is sheared by increasing the
sustainable development policy, have resulted in an increased vertical load until failure. Using CTTD the option of cyclic
interest and awareness for the problem of vibrations in the loading in vertical direction is added. The used apparatus has
built environment among the population and public a very wide range of loading options, namely in axial
authorities. Besides traffic induced vibrations, vibrations due deformation (0.01%...10%), cyclic load (+/- 5 kN), loading
to construction and industrial activities are a growing matter frequency (0…70Hz), waveshapes, drained or undrained
of concern. Even vibrations caused by blast loading, for testing, the number of applied cycles, and standard and non-
example, due to the controlled explosion of mines, are a standard testing, respectively. Therewith the dynamic
potential threat for nearby buildings. behavior of soil samples can be investigated under numerous
Of major interest for the investigation of effects of such low cyclic loading conditions.
level vibrations on built environment is the observation of
cyclic behavior of soils. Effects like permanent settlements, B. Local Strain Measurements
densification and loss of strength under cyclic loading caused To measure local strains an on-specimen transducer set

Vibration Sources Built Structure Soil Sample Laboratory Investigations

Dynamic
Properties?
Dynamic
Vibrations Excitations

Figure 1 Vibrations in the Soil

C. Karg is with the Civil Engineering Department, Ghent University
(UGent), Gent, Belgium. E-mail: [email protected].
(LVDT’s) is used. Simple external deformation measurements IV. DATA ANALYSIS
may be influenced by clearance of the loading device. Also During the whole test procedure enormous amount of data
deviations at the edge of the soil sample are supposed to be is recorded. Much effort is done to program analysis tools
minimized using these local strain measurements. One further especially for the cyclic part of the test, namely the analysis of
advantage is the possibility of measuring radial deformations recorded hysteresis loops for determination of damping ratio
directly at the soil sample. The application of on-specimen and shear modulus. Further work is needed to analyze non-
transducers improves the accuracy of measurements in axial standard long term tests in a more automated way.
direction compared to the single application of external
deformation measurements. V. EXPLICIT ACCUMULATION MODEL
C. Bender Element Testing A thorough literature study is done on modeling
constitutive soil behavior. Hysteretic constitutive models have
Vertical arrival time bender element (BE) tests are
been studied to a great extend. Later on it is seen that so
performed with separate equipment. A single sinusoidal
called explicit accumulation models fit the requirements of the
electrical signal, generated by using the soundcard of a PC,
research topic better. Explicit models describe the
causes bending of the top cap BE. This bending generates a
accumulation of deformation (say settlements) in terms of the
shear wave propagating towards the bottom of the sample
applied load cycles (for example passages of a truck) in
where the arriving wave generates bending of the bottom BE.
dependency of several parameters [5]. These model
The resulting electrical signal is recorded with a PC-
parameters will be determined performing series of laboratory
oscilloscope. The time delay between sender and receiver
tests described in previous sections of this paper.
signal allows calculating shear wave velocity and shear
modulus of the specimen.
VI. CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER WORK
III. TEST PROCEDURE A highly automated advanced CTTD is set up to investigate
cylindrical soil samples on their dynamic properties and long
Every test contains several test phases outlined in the
term behavior (high number of loading cycles), respectively.
following. Tests are performed on reconstituted sand samples
Therefor local strain measurements and BE tests are employed
at different loading conditions to investigate the dynamic
in combination with a very wide range of cyclic loading
parameters (damping ratio and shear modulus) as well as the
options. Data analysis tools are programmed for standardized
long term behavior of the soil (accumulation of residual
cyclic triaxial tests to determine shear modulus and damping
deformation).
ratio [3]. An extensive program of non-standard long term
Sample Reconstitution and Installation — Reconstitution tests is defined. Data analysis tools for these tests will be
of samples is done according to the recommendations of [2]. deve-loped in the near future. From these test results
For installation standard [3] is followed. parameters of an explicit accumulation model will be
Saturation — During saturation all air inside voids of the determined to adapt the model to the tested soil. The model
soil is replaced by deaired water or driven into solution. will be implemented in numerical calculations and used for
Therefor a flushing procedure is applied to the sample by prediction of test results. In a further step prediction of
letting deaired water passing from the bottom to the top of the settlements caused by low level vibrations will be possible
sample. While most of the void air is replaced by water during using the found constitutive laws.
this procedure, eventually remaining air is driven into solution
applying back pressure to the sample subsequently. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Consolidation — During consolidation the sample is set to
the required stress conditions (according to the field The work presented in this paper is obtained within the
conditions being simulated) applying confining pressure in frame of the SBO project IWT 03175 ‘Structural damage due
axial and lateral direction. Both, isotropic (lateral = axial to dynamic excitations: a multi-disciplinary approach’. The
pressure) and anisotropic (lateral ≠ axial pressure) financial support of the Flemish Community is gratefully
consolidation is possible. Once the sample is set to the acknowledged.
requested test conditions, BE test and/or cyclic loading is
applied. REFERENCES
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(ed.), Lisbon, Portugal, July 11-14, 2005
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widen the range of applications for example in the field of Geotechnical Testing Journal, Vol.1, No.1
long term testing, where the accumulation of strain in [3] ASTM D3999-91, Standard test methods for the determination of the
dependence of different parameters may be investigated. This modulus and damping properties of soils using the cyclic triaxial
apparatus
subject is purpose of the current research [5]. [4] ASTM D5311-92, Standard test method for load controlled cyclic
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2005
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