Capability of seismic CPTu and DMT in assessing propagation velocity of body waves: A comparative study

The paper shows the geotechnical characterization of a soft clay test site by means of laboratory testing. Such a test site was established in the campus of the Department of Biology of the University of Pisa at about 1.6 km from the Leaning Tower square. The main (but not exhaustive) scope of the present research activity was to compare the propagation velocity of body waves as obtained from various seismic techniques. A preliminary site characterization, based on both laboratory and in situ tests, was carried out. In situ testing consisted of a preliminary CPTu, three boreholes with four high quality Osterberg-type undisturbed sampling, cross-hole, surface seismic reflection test named Multichannel Analysis of Reflection Waves (MARW). Laboratory tests consisted of soil classification (Atterberg Limits and grain size distribution), incremental loading oedometer tests (OE), direct shear tests (DS) and resonant column tests (RC). Moreover, Pagani seismic piezocone and Marchetti seismic dilatometer were used for the assessment of the propagation velocity of body waves.