Analysis of Bender Element Tests

Abstract A study is presented of potential errors in, and methods of interpreting, the results of cantilever-type, piezoceramic bender element tests for measuring the shear wave velocity of laboratory soil specimens. Interpretations based on the first direct arrival in the output signal are often masked by near-field effects and may be difficult to define reliably. Interpretations based on characteristic points or cross-correlation between the input and output signals are shown to be theoretically incorrect in most cases because of: (1) the effects of wave interference at the boundaries; (2) the phase lag between the physical wave forms and the measured electrical signals; and (3) non-one-dimensional wave travel and near-field effects. Interpretations based on the second arrival in the output signal are theoretically subject to errors from non-one-dimensional wave travel and near-field effects. Differences in Vs values obtained by the different interpretation methods are illustrated analytically and experimentally.