Dynamic monitoring of saturated stiff clay soil foundation structure by falling weight deflectometer system under impact loads sensors effect

Abstract

Experiments research is done to determine how saturated stiff clayey soil responds to a single impulsive load. Models made of saturated, stiff clay were investigated. To supply the single pulse energy, various falling weights from various heights were tested using the falling weight deflectometer (FWD). Dynamic effects can range from the major failure of a sensitive sensor or system to the apparent destruction of structures. This study examines the response of saturated stiff clay soil to a single impulsive load (vertical displacement at the soil surface below and beside the bearing plates). Such reactions consist of displacements, velocities, and accelerations caused by the impact occurring at the surface depth induced by the impact loads and then recorded using the multi-recorder sensors. Using different factors, including soil surface, and the applied energies, the behavior of saturated stiff clay soil was investigated. Under the same impact loads (5 Kg) for both dropping elevations (250.00 mm and 500.00 mm), at soil surface level the average percent of change in the maximum impact forces generated in the contact surface increased by 41%, which resulted in a reduction of 34% in the maximum displacement reaction of the clay soil model.

Keywords

• Impact loads
• Stiff clay soil
• Falling weight deflectometer (FWD)
• Vertical displacement
• Shallow foundations