Seminar - ShiaoHuey Chow - Soil Strength Estimation using Free Falling Penetrometers

Wednesday 6 October 2010, 4.00 pm - 5.00 pm
Civil Engineering Lecture Theatre 1

ShiaoHuey Chow
School of Civil Engineering
University of Sydney

Abstract:
A free falling penetrometer can be a cost effective solution for obtaining soil strength parameters at sites with poor accessibility. This has led to the development of numerous penetrometer systems. For example, these penetrometers (retrievable or expendable) can be deployed from small vessels and be allowed to free-fall into the seabed. However, free falling penetrometer application is not widespread due in part to difficulties in data interpretation. There is a lack of appropriate theory and well controlled experimental data to estimate the rapid penetration resistance of the soil. This presentation therefore investigates the interpretation of undrained shear strength parameters from free falling penetrometer results through a series of laboratory model tests.


Biography
ShiaoHuey Chow obtained her B.Eng (Hons) degree in Civil Engineering from the University Teknologi Malaysia in 2000 and her M.Eng degree in geotechnical engineering from the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore in 2003. She has worked as a structural design engineer and lecturer in civil engineering in Malaysia before pursuing her PhD at the University of Sydney in 2009.