Author(s)

K. H. Stokoe II, P.J.Axtell, E.M. Rathje

Abstract

Development of an in situ method to measure nonlinear soil behavior K.H. Stokoe 11% PJ. Axtell* & E.M. Rathje* * Department of Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, United States *Fugro South, Inc., Houston, Texas, United States Abstract One of the key variables in evaluating the response of geotechnical materials during strong earthquake shaking is their nonlinear behavior. This behavior is often expressed in terms of the nonlinear reduction in shear and constrained moduli with increasing strain and the corresponding nonlinear increase in material damping in shear and constrained compression. Currently, there is total dependency on laboratory testing to evaluate these nonlinear properties. High- quality intact samples are often tested. Even with these samples, there is concern about the accuracy with which the laboratory results represent the in situ conditions. To begin to measure nonlinear soil properties in situ, a generalized test method is under development a

Keywords