Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 3.4
(
Continued
)
Category — Tool or Method
Applications
Limitations
Section
3-D velocity logger
Measures velocity of shear and
Penetrates to shallow
3.5.3
compression waves (
V
s
,
V
p
)
depth in borehole
from which moduli are
computed. Borehole test
Vibration monitor
Measure peak particle velocity,
Surface measurements,
4.2.5
or frequency, acceleration, and
low-energy level
displacement for monitoring
vibrations from blasting, traffic, etc.
TABLE 3.5
SOILS —
In Situ
Testing
Category Test or Method
Applications
Limitations
Section
Basic Properties
Gamma-gamma borehole
Continuous measure of density
Density measurements
2.3.6
probe
Neutron borehole probe
Continuous measure of moisture
Moisture-content measures
2.3.6
content
Sand-cone density
Measure surface density
Density at surface
3.2.3
apparatus
Balloon apparatus
Measure density at surface
Density at surface
3.2.3
Nuclear density moisture
Surface measurements of
Moisture and density at surface
3.2.3
meter
density and moisture
Permeability
Constant-head test
In boreholes or pits to measure
Free-draining soils requires
3.3.4
k
in free-draining soils
ground saturation
Falling-head test
In boreholes in slow-draining
Slow-draining materials
3.3.4
materials, or materials below
or below water table
GWL. Can be performed to
measure
k
mean
,
k
v
, or
k
h
Rising-head test
Similar to falling-head test
Similar to falling-head test
3.3.4
Pumping tests
In wells
T
o measure
k
mean
Results not representative
3.3.4
in saturated uniform soils
in stratified formations
Shear Strength (Direct Methods)
Vane shear apparatus
Measure undrained strength
Not performed in sands or
3.4.4
s
u
and remolded strength
strong cohesive soils affected
s
r
in soft to firm cohesive soils
by soil anisotropy and
in a test boring
construction time-rate
differences
Pocket penetrometer
Measures approximate
U
c
in
Not suitable in granular soils
3.4.4
tube samples, test pits in
cohesive soils
Torvane
Measures
s
a
in tube samples
Not suitable in sands and
3.4.4
and pits
strong cohesive soils
Shear Strength (Indirect Methods)
Static cone penetrometer
Cone penetration resistance is
Not suitable in very strong soils
3.4.5
(CPT)
correlated with
s
a
in clays
and
φ
in sands
(
Continued
)
