Engineering Site Investigations using Surface Seismic Refraction Technique

Abstract

Abstract In this study, surface seismic refraction method together with cone penetration test were used to provide 2-dimensional (2D) information of the subsurface geological features. This approach simplified the characterization of the subsurface condition of a relatively large area of land especially when it is required for engineering construction purposes. The results of the seismic refraction method disclosed two geologic layers with seismic velocity ranging between 258 and 3544 m/s. Similarly, the cone penetration test revealed the topsoil to a depth of 6 m as soft and highly compressible formation, which is suspected to be Alluvium. Moreover, at depth between 7 and 10 m into the subsurface, a geomaterial with good geotechnical formation and low compressibility potential was encountered. This geologic formation is suspected to be sandy clay. The results of the two methods were correlated, it was revealed that the depth to the most competent layer in the study area is between 7 and 10 m depth.