Acoustic emission generated by granular soil-steel structure interaction

This study has established quantitative interpretation of acoustic emission (AE) generated by granular soil/steel structure interaction. This new knowledge will enable the evolution of soil/structure interaction behaviour to be interpreted from AE measurements. AE monitoring could now provide early warning of soil/structure system (e.g. buried pipelines, pile foundations and retaining structures) limit state failures in the field and enhance insights into element and physical model tests in the laboratory. Results from a programme of large direct-shear tests performed on granular soil/steel interfaces show that AE generation is influenced by the normal effective stress, mobilised shearing resistance and shearing velocity. Compression-induced AE activity in granular soil/steel systems is negligible until the current stress conditions exceed the maximum that has been experienced in the past. Relationships have been quantified between AE and normal effective stress, mobilised shearing resistance and shearing velocity, enabling quantitative interpretation of cyclic and accelerating soil/structure interaction behaviour from AE measurements.