Abstract
In the bender element (BE), the variations in the recommended Ltt/λ (wave path length, Ltt and the wavelength, λ) raise questions about the effect of these ratios in the near-field effect. The objectives of this study were sought to verify the efficiency of the Ltt/λ on the near-field effects as well as filling the gap associated with the assessment boundary conditions in both free/flexible and rigid boundaries. To achieve these objectives, the BE technique was implemented in uniform material (polystyrene) to assess both effects using various excitation frequencies, thicknesses, ratios of specimen width (D) to wave path length (Ltt), Ltt/λ, and time-domain interpretation methods. The results showed that both free/flexible and rigid boundary had no significant effects on compression wave velocity while the shear wave velocity was subjected to variation at D/Ltt < 1.15 and D/Ltt < 0.77 in free/flexible and rigid boundary respectively. At the rigid boundary, the reflected compression wave obscured the first-peak of direct shear wave at D/Ltt < 0.77. The outcomes from this study and the variations in the suggested Ltt/λ from previous researchers using different materials indicated that the near-field effects do not entirely depend on Ltt/λ. Nevertheless, the detection of the arrival time is affected by the variation in the frequency. Conclusively, to avoid the effect of boundary conditions, no measurements should be conducted via BE if the D/Ltt is less than 0.77. The first-peak method (using the conditions of Ltt/λ ≥ 5) was recommended to reduce the variations in the results as well as near-field effects. The longer the wave path, the lower the variation in the analysis of the wave velocity.
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Abbreviations
- D:
-
Specimen width
- f :
-
Excitation frequency
- Ltt :
-
Wave path length from the tip of the transmitter to the tip of the receiver
- t:
-
Travel time
- V:
-
Wave velocity
- VP :
-
Compression wave velocity
- VP(D-D) :
-
Compression wave velocity from first-peak methods (D-D)
- VP2 :
-
Compression wave velocity from the second wave cycle
- VP2(D-D*) :
-
Compression wave velocity from second peak methods (D-D*)
- VPR :
-
Reflected compression wave velocity
- VS :
-
Shear wave velocity
- VS(C-A) :
-
Shear wave velocity from first-deflection methods at near-field zone (C-A)
- VS(C-C) :
-
Shear wave velocity from first-deflection methods (C-C)
- VS(D-D) :
-
Shear wave velocity from first-peak methods (D-D)
- VS(F-F) :
-
Shear wave velocity from the first-trough method (F-F)
- λ:
-
Wavelength
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Alshameri, B. Investigate and Analysis the Efficiency of Existing Recommendations of Near-Field Effect and Boundary Conditions on Bender Element Technique. Pure Appl. Geophys. 180, 3769–3785 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-023-03347-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-023-03347-2