Publications
Almukashfi A, Castellanza R, Gomes Correia A, Arroyo M, Zuretti C, Bendea ED, Moldovan ID – A novel Rowe cell with bender elements for dynamic testing of soils and interfaces, 18th ECSMGE, Lisbon, 2024
The expansion of construction projects in seismic regions with poor soil conditions and the vast legal and financial implications of faulty geotechnical information have led stakeholders to call for faster, cheaper and more reliable characterization of geomaterials under dynamic conditions. A popular approach to dynamic testing of geomaterials involves piezoelectric transducers called bender elements. Despite their widespread use, bender element measurements are still hampered by considerable uncertainty in the interpretation of the output signal. Aspects such as wave directivity, apparatus-induced size effects, and boundary reflectivity are still poorly understood and accounted for.
This communication presents a modified Rowe cell apparatus, designed to obtain experimental data to better understand these effects. Besides offering all advantages of a conventional Rowe cell (controllable state conditions, hydraulic loading), the device is fitted with bender elements, and features a larger diameter (200mm), adjustable height (20-100mm) and controllable boundary conditions (rigid, semi-rigid or flexible). The cell offers eight insertion slots where bender elements can be housed with distinct orientations. The bender elements operate in echo mode as the insertion slots are located on the same side of the sample. A reliability study of the new Rowe cell is presented, along with some illustrative examples of its potential use.