A generalized relationship for estimating shear wave velocity in soils

Shear wave velocity, V-s, is a useful parameter of the soil for determining low strain elastic modulus, which can be used in many static as well as dynamic applications, and its characterization. In the recent past, researchers have tried to correlate V-s with the basic and engineering properties of the coarse-and fine-grained soils. However, most of these correlations are soil-and site-specific. This calls for development of the correlations that would yield V-s of the soil mass just by inputting its basic and index properties, and are generalized in nature as well. With this in view, different types of coarse-and fine-grained soils were characterized and V-s in their remolded and undisturbed samples was measured with the help of piezoceramic (bender) elements. These results have been employed to develop a generalized relationship that has been shown to be useful in predicting V-s of a soil mass if its basic characteristics are known. It is believed that this relationship would also help in determining geotechnical parameters of the soil that are essential for preliminary design and execution of projects related with infrastructure development, quickly and easily.