This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles
for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D8295 − 19
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Shear Wave Velocity and Initial Shear
Modulus in Soil Specimens using Bender Elements1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D8295; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the laboratory use of piezo-
ceramic bender elements to determine the shear wave velocity
in soil specimens. A shear wave is generated at one boundary
of a soil specimen and then received at an opposite boundary.
The shear wave travel time is measured, which over a known
travel distance yields the shear wave velocity. From this shear
wave velocity and the density of the soil specimen the initial
shear modulus (Gmax) can be determined, which is the result of
primary interest from bender element tests.
1.2 This shear wave velocity determination involves very
small strains and is non-destructive to a test specimen. As such,
bender element shear wave velocity determinations can be
made at any time and any number of times during a laboratory
test.
1.3 This test method describes the use of bender elements in
a triaxial type test (for example, Test Methods D3999, D4767,
D5311, or D7181), but a similar procedure may be used for
other laboratory applications, like in Direct Simple Shear (Test
Method D6528) or oedometer tests (for example, Test Methods
D2435 and D4186). Shear wave velocity can also be deter-
mined in unconfined soil specimens held together by matrix
suction.
1.4 Shear wave velocity can be determined in different
directions in a triaxial test, for example vertically and horizon-
tally. Shear waves generated to determine shear wave velocity
can also be polarized in different directions, for example a
horizontally propagating shear wave with either vertical or
horizontal polarization. This test method describes the use of
bender elements mounted in the top platen and base pedestal of
a triaxial test specimen to measure shear wave velocity in the
vertical direction. With additional bender elements mounted on
opposite sides of a triaxial specimen, a similar procedure may
be used to determine horizontal shear wave velocity.
1.5 A variety of different interpretation methods to evaluate
the shear wave travel time in a soil specimen have been
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.09 on Cyclic and
Dynamic Properties of Soils.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2019. Published December 2019. DOI:
10.1520/D8295-19
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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proposed and used. This test method only describes two of
these, Start to Start and Peak to Peak using a single sine wave
signal sent to the transmitter bender element. Other interpre-
tation methods producing similar results may also be used.
1.6 Bender element measurements may not work very well
in some situations, like in extremely stiff soils where the
generated shear wave amplitude may be exceedingly small.
1.7 This test method does not cover the determination of
compressional wave velocity in soil specimens. This measure-
ment requires a different type of piezo-ceramic element
configuration, and such determinations are generally not useful
in saturated soft soil specimens as the earliest identifiable
compressional wave arrival at the receiver end of a saturated
specimen will likely have been transmitted through the (rela-
tively incompressible) specimen pore water rather than the
(compressible) soil skeleton.
1.8 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded
as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
standard.
1.9 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
Practice D6026, unless superseded by this test method.
1.9.1 The procedures used to specify how data are collected/
recorded and calculated in the standard are regarded as the
industry standard. In addition, they are representative of the
significant digits that generally should be retained. The proce-
dures used do not consider material variation, purpose for
obtaining the data, special purpose studies, or any consider-
ations for the user’s objectives; and it is common practice to
increase or reduce significant digits of reported data to be
commensurate with these considerations. It is beyond the scope
of these test methods to consider significant digits used in
analysis methods for engineering data.
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.11 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
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 D8295 − 19
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:2
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
Fluids
D2216 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Water
(Moisture) Content of Soil and Rock by Mass
D2435 Test Methods for One-Dimensional Consolidation
Properties of Soils Using Incremental Loading
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
Used in Engineering Design and Construction
D3999 Test Methods for the Determination of the Modulus
and Damping Properties of Soils Using the Cyclic Triaxial
Apparatus
D4015 Test Methods for Modulus and Damping of Soils by
Fixed-Base Resonant Column Devices
D4186 Test Method for One-Dimensional Consolidation
Properties of Saturated Cohesive Soils Using Controlled-
Strain Loading
D4767 Test Method for Consolidated Undrained Triaxial
Compression Test for Cohesive Soils
D5311 Test Method for Load Controlled Cyclic Triaxial
Strength of Soil
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Geotechnical
Data
D6528 Test Method for Consolidated Undrained Direct
Simple Shear Testing of Fine Grain Soils
D7181 Test Method for Consolidated Drained Triaxial Com-
pression Test for Soils
D7263 Test Methods for Laboratory Determination of Den-
sity (Unit Weight) of Soil Specimens
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of common technical terms used in this
standard, refer to Terminology D653.
3.1.2 initial shear modulus, Gmax or Go, n—the shear
modulus for soils determined at very small strain amplitude
(for example, a shear strain of 10–3 % and below) at a
particular stress condition and time, where the shear modulus
seems to be constant plotted against the logarithm of strain.
3.1.3 travel time, n—in propagating waves, the time interval
it takes for a shear wave to propagate through soil from a
source to a receiver.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 bender element, n—an electro-mechanical transducer
consisting of two thin piezo-ceramic plates with conducting
surfaces sandwiched between them and on the outside.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
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3.2.2 receiver bender element, n—a series-connected bender
element used to detect the arrival of a shear wave propagating
through the soil specimen.
3.2.3 transmitter bender element, n—a parallel-connected
bender element used to generate a shear wave through the soil
specimen.
3.2.3.1 Discussion—The receiver bender element can be
used as a shear wave transmitter and the transmitter bender
element as a shear wave receiver, but they will function less
efficiently (i.e., the receiver signal amplitude will be smaller).
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 The test specimen and triaxial equipment are prepared
and assembled as for a triaxial test. The specified back
pressure, confining pressure and deviator stress are then
applied to the triaxial test specimen.
4.2 For any bender element measurement, a shear wave is
generated by the transmitter bender element at one specimen
boundary, that propagates through the soil specimen and is
picked up by the receiver bender element at the opposite
specimen boundary. The known shear wave travel length
(bender element tip-to-tip distance) divided by the shear wave
travel time (measured on the recorded transmitter and receiver
bender element traces) is the resulting shear wave velocity. The
small-strain initial shear modulus, Gmax, of the soil specimen is
determined from the measured shear wave velocity and speci-
men bulk density.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The initial shear modulus (Gmax) of a soil specimen
under particular stress and time conditions is an important
parameter in small-strain dynamic analyses such as those to
predict soil behavior or soil-structure interaction during
earthquakes, explosions, and machine or traffic vibrations.
Gmax can be equally important for small-strain cyclic situations
such as those caused by wind or wave loading. Small-strain
Gmax is also vital for non-linear analyses of large strain
situations, where the larger strain soil stiffness results could
come from torsional shear tests, for example. Shear wave
velocity and Gmax can be used to compare different soil
specimens in a laboratory testing program, and also for
comparing laboratory and field measurements of these param-
eters.
5.2 Torsional resonant column tests (Test Method D4015)
are often used to determine properties of a soil specimen at
small shear strains up to and possibly slightly beyond 0.01%.
Resonant column test results can include Gmax versus time,
shear modulus versus strain, damping ratio versus time and
damping ratio versus strain. Bender element tests can only
provide the first of these, Gmax versus time. The strain level in
bender element tests is small (constant Gmax strain levels), but
the strain magnitude is not known and the strain is not constant
along the shear wave travel path due to material and geometric
damping. Bender elements can therefore not be used to
evaluate shear modulus versus strain and do not provide
information about damping ratio. However, bender elements
can be incorporated in a variety of different laboratory testing
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 D8295 − 19
devices, allowing the measurement of small-strain and large-
strain stiffness on the same specimen at the particular condi-
tions of the test and possibly eliminating the need for additional
resonant column tests.
NOTE 1—The quality of the result produced by this standard is
dependent on the competence of the personnel performing it, and the
suitability of the equipment and facilities used. Agencies that meet the
criteria of Practice D3740 are generally considered capable of competent
and objective testing/sampling/inspection/etc. Users of this standard are
cautioned that compliance with Practice D3740 does not in itself assure
reliable results. Reliable results depend on many factors; Practice D3740
provides a means of evaluating some of those factors.

6. Apparatus
6.1 Triaxial Testing Equipment—The triaxial equipment and
ancillary equipment is the same as in the triaxial standard
method being followed.
6.2 Transmitter Bender Element—A parallel-connected
bender element having a wire connected to both outer surface
electrodes and another wire is connected to the center elec-
trode. The polarizations of the two ceramic plates in this bender
element (sandwiched between the three electrode surfaces) are
in the same direction, towards one side. The transmitter bender
element is permanently mounted in the end platen opposite of
the receiver bender element. The wires and connections to the
transmitter bender element should be shielded to reduce any
ambient electrical noise that could be included in the driving
signal sent to the transmitter element.
6.3 Receiver Bender Element—A series-connected bender
element having a wire connected to one outer surface electrode
and another wire connected to the opposite outer surface
electrode. The polarizations of the two ceramic plates in this
bender element (sandwiched between the three electrode sur-
faces) are in opposite directions, towards the center electrode.
The wires and connections to the receiver bender element FIG. 1 Receiver Bender Element Mounted in a Triaxial Cell Pedes-
tal
should be shielded to reduce any ambient electrical noise that
could be picked up in the recorded receiver signal.
6.3.1 Fig. 1 shows an example of a receiver bender element function in the recording equipment. The time delay should be
permanently mounted in a triaxial cell pedestal. Approximately long enough for all the movements in the receiver bender
one third of its length is rigidly glued into a slot in the pedestal, element from the previous shear wave pulse to have completely
one third passes through a clear slot filled with soft silicone in died out. For typical triaxial testing, a conservative time delay
the filter stone, and one third protrudes into the soil specimen. could be about 0.1 second.
Other bender element configurations may be used.
6.5 Data Recorder—Either a stand-alone digital storage
6.3.2 It can be advantageous to have the receiver bender oscilloscope or an oscilloscope interface connected to a com-
element mounted in the end platen with least mechanical puter. It must have two input channels, one for each of the
vibrations (most stationary). With an actuator situated in the bender element cables. Single-ended (common ground) de-
top of a load frame connected to the triaxial piston and top vices are often used, but there can be instances where differ-
platen, the receiver bender element would preferably be ential inputs are advantageous. For typical measurements on
mounted in the base platen (pedestal) of the triaxial cell. triaxial specimens, the unit must have a time resolution of at
6.4 Function Generator—A device used to generate a driv- least one microsecond (1 µs = 10–6 s) and an amplitude
ing signal to the transmitter bender element. It must be able to resolution of at least ten microvolt (10–5 V) for the receiver
generate a single-period sine wave pulse with an adjustable signal. The unit must be able to display the superimposed time
frequency typically within the range from 1 kHz to 50 kHz. traces from both bender elements as a measurement is taken,
The amplitude of the generated sine wave should be sufficient and preferably have movable cursors in order to interpret the
that a clearly recognizable received signal is apparent. It is measured shear wave travel time. The unit should have a
advantageous if this function generator can be programmed to delayed trigger function, such that the very start of the
automatically send single-period sine wave pulses with a transmitter signal is recorded. The unit should preferably have
specified time delay between them in order to use an averaging an averaging function, where the measurements from several

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 D8295 − 19
consecutive shear wave pulses can be averaged in order to
remove random noise components from the receiver signal.
6.6 Additional Power Amplifiers and Signal Filters—Such
units should be avoided in the connections between the bender
elements and the data recorder, as they can distort the signals
and introduce errors in the shear wave travel time measure-
ments. If a power amplifier is absolutely necessary between the
function generator and the transmitter bender element, it
should be placed prior to the connection to the data recorder. If
the receiver signal contains excessive random electrical noise
making interpretation difficult, it is preferable to eliminate this
noise by using the averaging function of the data recorder
instead of using a separate signal filter that could adversely
affect the measurements.
7. Preparation of Apparatus
7.1 The preparation of the triaxial equipment is the same as
in the standard method being followed.
7.2 A function check of both the transmitter and receiver
bender elements should be performed before each use. This can
be done by sending a square wave signal to either bender
element while holding this close to one’s ear. If functioning
properly, a slight clicking sound should be heard. Alternatively,
both bender elements can be tapped lightly on the sides, for
example with a finger or pencil. If functioning properly, the
signals on the recording device should show responses each
time the bender elements are tapped.
7.3 The shear wave travel distance is the tip-to-tip distance
between the transmitter and receiver bender elements within
the soil specimen. Because the lengths of each bender element
protrudes into the specimen, this must be subtracted from the
height of the soil specimen. Measure and record several lengths
using a caliper along and to either side of the bender elements.
Average the readings for each bender element and add them to
determine the total bender element protrusion, Hb.
7.4 The transmitter and receiver bender elements must be
parallel to each other to function properly. Alignment marks
FIG. 2 Schematic Diagram of Bender Element Test Setup
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can be made on the triaxial top platen and base pedestal to
assist in orienting them correctly during equipment assembly.
7.4.1 Bender element measurements in the form of plots
(time traces seen on the screen of the data recording device) are
usually presented with the same polarity. For example, if the
transmitter trace first starts in the upwards direction (positive
voltage), the first significant movement of the receiver trace is
also upward. The alignment marks in 7.3 are made such that
the top platen orientation relative to the base pedestal will
produce the same polarity in the resulting bender element
traces. Otherwise, if one of the bender elements happens to be
oriented 180° from this, the recording equipment may have a
function by which one of the traces can be inverted to get
similar polarity in the two traces.
7.5 Fig. 2 shows an example of how the bender elements
and electronics are connected for taking shear wave velocity
determinations. The function generator sends a driving signal
(also called the transmitter signal) to the transmitter bender
element and one channel of the data recorder. This driving
signal causes the transmitter bender element to move, which
generates a shear wave. The cable from the receiver bender
element is connected to a second input channel of the data
recorder. The receiver signal is generated by the receiver
bender element and is proportional to the movement it expe-
riences upon arrival of the shear wave.
8. Calibration
8.1 The bender elements themselves may have a time delay,
Tc, that should be corrected for in the measured shear wave
travel time. Such a time delay is usually very small, but can be
important when measuring shear wave travel time over short
distances in a soil. Using exactly the same test equipment and
electronics that will be used to measure shear wave travel time
in a soil specimen, place the tips of the transmitter and receiver
bender elements in direct contact with each other (no soil
specimen). The bender element tips are held together with light
pressure by hand or by the test equipment itself (for example,
top platen attached to the triaxial piston). Take readings as in
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Section 9, but using a transmitter signal with a very sharp rise
from zero, like a square wave or a single-period sine wave of
very high frequency. Measure the time delay by interpreting
these measurements by the Start to Start method in 10.1.2.
8.2 There should be no time delay between the transmitter
and receiver signals due to the electronics and recording
equipment used. This is verified by interchanging the transmit-
ter and receiver signal connections to the two input channels of
the recording equipment. In repeating the test in 8.1, the same
result must be obtained.
9. Procedure
9.1 The triaxial test specimen, either intact or reconstituted,
is prepared as described in the triaxial test method followed.
The initial specimen height, Hi, volume, Vi, and mass, Mi, must
be measured and recorded.
9.2 In assembling the specimen and triaxial end platens, it is
important that the sides of the bender elements have good
physical contact with the specimen material. The bender
elements must be penetrated into the specimen linearly (with-
out twisting), and only be done once. If a bender element needs
to be reinstalled, the end surface of the test specimen must be
trimmed or repaired first.
NOTE 2—Bender elements generally penetrate easily into softer fine-
grained soil specimens. If the test specimen is very stiff or cemented, it
may be difficult to penetrate the bender elements into the soil without
damaging the specimen or bender elements. In this case, the location of
the bender element may first be marked on the specimen surface, and then
a scalpel used to make a single narrow cut in the specimen slightly smaller
in depth and length than the bender element. The larger bender element
will then more easily penetrate into the specimen with good physical
contact to the soil. For extremely stiff specimens, a slot with approxi-
mately the dimensions of the bender elements may be cut in the specimen
surface. This slot should be filled with some material (soil particles, grout,
and the like with similar stiffness to the test specimen) before inserting the
bender elements to make sure good physical contact is made with the soil.
9.3 The remaining triaxial equipment is assembled, and the
specified back pressure and consolidation stresses are applied
to the test specimen. The test setup must be able to measure the
specimen height and volume changes throughout the test.
9.4 Program the function generator to provide a single sine
wave signal sent to the transmitter bender element with a
suitable amplitude and frequency (like 10 V and 5 kHz, for
example). If the function generator can be programmed to
provide a sequence of single sine waves at a specified time
interval (enough time for the receiver signal from the previous
measurement to die out), then this can be used to more easily
average several recorded measurements.
9.5 Set the recording device to trigger on the initial rise of
the transmitter signal. Use the normal trigger setting so that the
recording device automatically starts recording when the
trigger is activated. Set a pre-trigger function so that some
signal prior to the start of the transmitter sine wave is recorded
and displayed.
9.6 Set the separate gains on the recording device for the
transmitter and receiver channels such that each signal has
maximum vertical resolution while still being within the
vertical limits of the display. Set the time resolution such that
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both transmitter and receiver signals are seen on the same
display, and the shear wave travel time can be read with
sufficient resolution within the width of the display.
9.7 Disable the averaging function (oversampling) on the
recording device, or set it to average over only a few (2 to 5)
measurements.
9.8 Start the function generator and record a trial bender
element measurement. If no receiver bender element signal is
seen on the recording device, go to 9.13. The frequency of the
sine wave transmitter signal and the main part of the receiver
signal should be about the same, without higher frequency
undulations superimposed on the receiver signal. Adjust the
frequency of the function generator (transmitter signal) as
needed to achieve this. An appropriate transmitter signal
frequency usually produces a receiver signal that is easiest to
read, being at or near the maximum attainable receiver signal
amplitude.
9.9 If the receiver signal contains superimposed random
electrical noise making identification of the trace difficult, a
time domain averaging function on the recording device may
be used to provide a more distinct receiver signal trace.
Averaging 10 to 100 records is usually sufficient to eliminate
most of the random noise.
9.10 Save this recorded file or print out the traces from this
record.
9.11 Measure and record the specimen height change, ∆Hc,
and volume change, ∆Vc, associated with the bender element
measurement, along with the stresses applied to the specimen.
Record the date, time and the elapsed time of the measurement
within the duration of the consolidation stress increment.
9.12 The shear wave velocity and Gmax determinations of
main interest are those at the end of the final consolidation
stress increment, after primary consolidation of the test speci-
men is complete and well into secondary compression. This
could be at or about one day after the consolidation stress
increment was applied, but this is dependent on the consolida-
tion characteristics of the test specimen. Additional determina-
tions can also be made at other times during any consolidation
increment in order to show the development of shear wave
velocity and Gmax for the soil specimen with time. Shear wave
velocity determinations can be made during or after other test
phases as well, like the shearing phase.
NOTE 3—The shear wave velocity of a laboratory soil specimen
generally increases with time during secondary compression at constant
effective stress. The shear wave velocity typically increases at a lower rate
for sands and at a much higher rate for normally consolidated plastic
clays.
9.13 Provided all electrical connections outside the triaxial
cell are properly made and with appropriate settings on all the
electronics, if no receiver bender element signal is seen on the
recording device during a measurement, the following trouble-
shooting procedure can be carried out.
9.13.1 Set the amplifier on the recording device for the
transmitter bender element input channel to a high-resolution
setting, similar to the setting for the receiver bender element.
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9.13.2 Carefully tap the side of the triaxial cell, the triaxial
load frame, the workbench or something in physical contact
with the triaxial cell.
9.13.3 Observe the signals on the recording device for both
the transmitter and receiver bender elements.
9.13.4 If either or both of the bender elements do not show
signals on the recording device, there is probably an electrical
problem. The wire leads or the bender elements themselves can
be short-circuited or broken. No shear wave velocity determi-
nations can be made, and the equipment will require repair or
replacement.
9.13.5 If signals are seen on both the transmitter and
receiver bender element traces and the specimen is known to be
soft, one or both of the bender elements may have poor
physical contact with the specimen. A void can be created from
improper penetration of the bender element into the specimen,
such as an inadvertent twist or horizontal movement of an end
platen during penetration. This could also apply to a brittle
specimen that has spalled as the bender elements were pen-
etrated. A shear wave travel time measurement while using the
receiver bender element as a transmitter and the transmitter
bender element as a receiver can be attempted (shear wave
propagating in the opposite direction), in case the physical
contact is better at the transmitter bender element. However, it
is unlikely that this will improve the situation as the bender
elements are less efficient when used this (opposite) way.
9.13.6 If no shear wave signals are seen on the receiver
bender element trace when attempting to take a measurement,
FIG. 3 Bender Element Traces and Interpretation of Shear Wave Travel Time
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and the test specimen is known to be stiff, the soil may be too
stiff for the bender elements to effectively generate and sense a
shear wave in the specimen. A larger amplitude driving signal
to the transmitter bender element can be attempted during a
shear wave travel time measurement, but this may damage or
shorten the life of the bender element.
10. Time Domain Interpretations of Shear Wave Travel
Time
10.1 Fig. 3 shows an actual bender element measurement
made on a reconstituted sand triaxial test specimen. The
amplitude of the transmitter bender element signal corresponds
to the primary vertical axis and the receiver bender element
signal to the secondary vertical axis. The horizontal axis
corresponds to both traces, with zero time being at some
arbitrary point before the start of the transmitter signal. Two
basic time domain methods of interpreting the shear wave
travel time, Ts, are shown in this test method: Start to Start and
Peak to Peak.
10.1.1 Peak to Peak—With the frequencies of the transmit-
ter and receiver bender element traces being similar, the shear
wave travel time can be measured from the first peak in the
transmitter signal to the first peak in the receiver signal. The
Peak to Peak time is interpreted to be 468 microseconds for the
example in Fig. 3. The Peak to Peak method is often the
preferred time-based method for bender element measurements
of shear wave travel times in soil specimens, as this method is
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generally less susceptible to uncertainties stemming from
near-field effects in the receiver signal.
10.1.2 Start to Start—After the initiation of the transmitter
signal, the receiver bender element signal retains a horizontal
trend for some time before it drops down somewhat and
reverses upward. This initial drop in the signal is considered a
near-field effect, prior to the arrival of the shear wave. The
initial horizontal receiver signal trend can be extrapolated
across the near-field effect to where this crosses the receiver
signal trace. The shear wave travel time is measured from the
start of the transmitter signal to the horizontal intersection on
the receiver signal, which in the example in Fig. 3 is 471
microseconds. This is quite similar to the 468 microseconds
measured by the Peak to Peak method above. This Start to Start
method is best for measuring the time delay correction in 8.1.
This method may also be useful as a check for other interpre-
tation methods used to measure the shear wave travel time in
a soil specimen. However, the Start to Start method may not be
the preferred choice for measuring shear wave travel time
because of the potential confusion and uncertainty introduced
by near-field effects in the receiver signal.
NOTE 4—In tests on other specimens with different testing conditions,
the near-field effects seen on the receiver bender element trace can be
different in shape and more or less pronounced than the example shown in
Fig. 3.
10.2 Other shear wave travel time interpretation methods
may be used, provided they have been shown to provide
reliable results. Alternative interpretations could include fre-
quency domain methods.
11. Calculations
11.1 Shear Wave Velocity—The shear wave velocity is
determined from the bender element measurements by the
following equation:
vs 5 S H i 2 ∆H c 2 H b
Ts 2 Tc
where:
vs = shear wave velocity, m/s,
Hi = initial soil specimen height, m,
∆Hc = specimen height change at the time of the bender
element measurement, m,
Hb = total length of both bender elements protruding into
the specimen, m,
Ts = shear wave travel time, s, and
Tc = time delay correction, s.
11.2 Soil Specimen Density—In order to determine Gmax for
a soil specimen based on the bender element vs measurements,
the density of the soil specimen must be known. Determination
of density of a saturated soil specimen at the time of the bender
element measurement is based on Test Method D7263 Method
B-Direct Measurement, Cylindrical Shape by the following
equation:
ρ5 S M i 2 ~ ∆V c !~ ρ w !
V i 2 ∆V c
where:
ρ = total (moist) density of the soil specimen, kg/m3,
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D8295 − 19
D (1)
D (2)
Mi = initial total (moist) soil specimen mass, kg,
∆Vc = specimen volume change at the time of the bender
element measurement, m3,
ρw = density of the pore fluid within the soil specimen,
kg/m3, and
Vi = initial volume of the cylindrical soil specimen, m3.
11.2.1 When testing a dry soil specimen, Eq 2 can be used
to determine the soil specimen density by setting ρw = 0. The
specimen volume change at the time of the bender element
measurement, ∆Vc, must be determined by some other method
than by the extruded pore fluid volume for a saturated triaxial
soil specimen.
11.2.2 For partially saturated soil specimens, other density
calculations must be used.
11.3 Initial Shear Modulus—The Gmax for the soil specimen
based on the bender element measurements is determined by
the following equation:
G max 5 ~ ρ !~ v 2s ! ⁄106 (3)
where:
Gmax = the initial shear modulus of the soil specimen, MPa,
ρ = density of the soil specimen, kg/m3, and
vs = shear wave velocity, m/s.
12. Report: Test Data Sheet(s)/Form(s)
12.1 The methodology used to specify how data are re-
corded on the test data sheet(s)/form(s), as given below, is
covered in 1.9 and Practice D6026.
12.2 Record as a minimum the following general informa-
tion (data):
12.2.1 Identification of the material being tested, such as the
project identification, boring number, sample number, and
depth.
12.2.2 Test number, if any, testing dates and the initials of
the person(s) who performed the test.
12.2.3 The data as listed in the report section of the triaxial
test method being followed.
12.3 Record as a minimum the following test specimen data
for the test phases where readings were taken:
12.3.1 Initial specimen height to the nearest 0.1 mm,
12.3.2 Initial specimen volume to the nearest 0.0000001 m3,
12.3.3 Initial specimen mass to the nearest 0.01 g,
12.3.4 Initial specimen water content by Test Method
D2216, if applicable,
12.3.5 Density of the specimen pore water in kg/m3 to the
nearest whole number,
12.3.6 Bender element protrusion to the nearest 0.1 mm,
12.3.7 Travel time correction to the nearest 0.000001 s,
12.3.8 Height change of the specimen at the time of each
bender element reading to the nearest 0.1 mm,
12.3.9 Volume change of the specimen at the time of each
reading to the nearest 0.0000001 m3,
12.3.10 Moist/total density of the soil specimen at the time
of each reading in kg/m3 to the nearest whole number,
12.3.11 The travel time interpretation method used, with
reference to verification if a different interpretation method
than those shown in this test method is used,
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12.3.12 Interpreted travel time of the shear wave through
the specimen for each reading to the nearest 0.000001 s,
12.3.13 Shear wave velocity for each reading in m/s to three
significant digits,
12.3.14 Initial shear modulus, Gmax, for each reading in
MPa to three significant digits,
12.3.15 Total (or effective) stresses applied to the specimen
for each reading to the nearest 0.5 kPa,
12.3.16 Date, time and elapsed time within a particular
consolidation stress increment for each bender element reading
to the nearest whole minute,
12.3.17 Data file or printed time traces of the transmitter and
receiver bender element signals for each reading,
12.3.18 Plot of Gmax versus logarithm of time for a particu-
lar consolidation stress increment, if measurements were taken
at different times.
13. Precision and Bias
13.1 Precision—Test data on precision is not presented due
to the nature of the soil materials tested by this test method. It
is either not feasible or too costly at this time to have ten or
more laboratories participate in a round robin testing program.
Also, it is either not feasible or too costly to produce multiple
specimens that have uniform physical properties. Any variation
observed in the data is just as likely to be due to specimen
variation as to operator or laboratory testing variation.
13.1.1 The subcommittee D18.09 is seeking any data from
the users of this test method that might be used to make a
limited statement on precision.
13.2 Bias—There is no accepted reference value for this test
method, therefore, bias cannot be determined.
14. Keywords
14.1 bender elements; Gmax; Go; initial shear modulus;
shear wave velocity; triaxial test

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