DETECTION OF SHEARING IN SOFT SOILS WITH COMPLIANTLY GROUTED TDR CABLES

This article presents field and laboratory data that support the use of TDR cable deformity to monitor deformation in soil.  While TDR has been employed successfully in rock with 100’s of installations world wide, it has yet to be shown convincingly to be operable in soft soils.  This article is a first step to over come that deficiency.  Two case histories are presented herein to illustrate proper installation procedures in soft soils.  Force equilibrium and force-deformation analyses of the installed cable-grout composites are employed to quantitatively describe observed behavior as well as provide methods to configure cable-grout composites in other geologies.  Optimal combinations of flexible cables and compliant grouts are described to assist in future installations.


Charles Dowding
Department of Civil Engineering
Northwestern University