Soil Sampling and Data

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Typically when deep boreholes are drilled, the soil is sampled and geophysically logged next to the target structure to provide in situ measurements of subsurface material properties before installation of surface and downhole three-component seismometers. The geotechnical logging of the UCLA well involved bagging the samples for testing, taking notes on the material cuttings, and collecting in situ undisturbed samples for dynamic lab testing. Five in situ soil samples at different depths were collected to be tested for strain amplitude-dependent modulus and attenuation changes. The samples were retrieved from the borehole during the drilling process in standard 3-inch diameter Shelby tubes. UCLA Engineering Prof. Mladen Vucetic will obtain laboratory estimates of soil non-linearity and attenuation as a function of amplitude at the confining pressures corresponding to the various depths. The soil samples will be tested for cyclic stress-strain response using the UCLA Dual-Specimen Simple-Shear system. The results of the tests will be posted here once they are completed.