Resonant Column Testing Challenges

Adolfo Cavallari

Abstract

The standard procedure to determine dynamic parameter of soils in the laboratory is the Resonant-Column test (ASTM D-4015). The objective of the present work is to overview alternative testing and interpretation methods based on small-strain measurements using continuous sinusoidal, pulse signals or random noise. The use of unconventional excitation signals and frequency domain methods extends the possibilities of testing. A technique, already applied to the analysis of nonlinear systems, combines sinusoidal signals and random noise showing a good potential for a quick evaluation of the dynamic properties of soils. Starting from this technique, we propose a procedure devoted to soil testing combining chirp with strain amplitude control and random noise. The aim is to improve the quality and to reduce the testing time for the evaluation of the dynamic properties of soils vs. frequency. The use of a dynamic simulator allows a quick testing of new analysis software devoted to RC testing systems giving greater confidence in the quality of work done to face this challenging test.

Keywords

Resonant, Column, Soil Testing, RC

Download

IMEKO-TC4-GEO-2016-25.pdf

DOI

-

IMEKO TC

TC4 - Measurement of Electrical Quantities

Back to the proceedings