Acoustic Emission Behavior of Tropical Residual Soil

Abstract

emission technique has extensively been used for a wide variety of engineering materials, but less attention has yet been paid on the application of this non-destructive technique to investigate the fundamental behaviors of geomaterial. In the present study, acoustic emission method was adopted in conjunction with the conventional stress-strain-time measurement to investigate the mechanical behaviors of a selected tropical residual soil. A systematic acoustic emission instrumentation setup, which was devised in a monotonic triaxial shear apparatus, was evidenced to provide reasonable experimental results. From the isotropic consolidation results, it was realized that the Kaiser’s effect was observable and the pre-stressed level as induced by compaction could be determined through acoustic emission. In undrained shearing, the acoustic emission response was found to be corresponding with the axial strain measurement. Initial soil yielding, which was mobilized at small strain range, was also able to be determined. The acoustic emission response of the studied tropical residual soil also showed good similarity with the reported soils constituting considerable fines content.