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Evaluation of geotechnical parameters for urban site in southern Khamis Mushait city, southwest Saudi Arabia, using seismic refraction method

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Abstract

This study includes the determination of the engineering physical parameters of a proposed urban expansion site at Khamis Mushait city, SW Saudi Arabia. The seismic refraction survey as a noninvasive seismic technique was used to determine the P wave velocity profile of the soil section in the studied site. This method provides a simplified characterization of subsurface in two-dimensional depth-velocity profiles. Seismic records obtained were processed and analyzed by SeisImager software to obtain one-dimensional P wave velocity (Vp) distribution. The measured P wave velocities were used to estimate relative density, N value, modulus of elasticity, uniaxial compression strength, ultimate tensile strength, ultimate bearing capacity, allowable bearing capacity, Poisson’s ratio, and rock quality designation. The results indicate that the investigated site is composed mainly of two soil layers. The top layer is interpreted as loose incompetent soil sediments (alluvial sediments) to the depth of 5 m with V p ranging between 300 and 880 m/s. This layer is underlain by the second competent soil layer with thickness reaching 18 m and V p ranging between 1,097 and 2,626 m/s. The second layer is considered as the foundation layer, and its determined engineering physical parameters are vital information for the engineers in construction and urban development of this site.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at king Saud University for funding this Research group No. RG -1435-035.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geology and Geophysics Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA, Saudi Arabia

    Sattam Almadani, Abdullah Al-Amri, Mohamed Fnais, Kamal Abdelrahman, Elkhedr Ibrahim & Essam Abd El-Motaal

  2. Seismology Department, National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt

    Kamal Abdelrahman

  3. Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

    Elkhedr Ibrahim

  4. Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

    Essam Abd El-Motaal

Authors
  1. Sattam Almadani
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  2. Abdullah Al-Amri
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  3. Mohamed Fnais
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  4. Kamal Abdelrahman
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  5. Elkhedr Ibrahim
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  6. Essam Abd El-Motaal
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Correspondence to Sattam Almadani.

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Almadani, S., Al-Amri, A., Fnais, M. et al. Evaluation of geotechnical parameters for urban site in southern Khamis Mushait city, southwest Saudi Arabia, using seismic refraction method. Arab J Geosci 8, 6225–6236 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-014-1615-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-014-1615-4

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