Bender Elements: Performance and Signal Interpretation

Bender elements are convenient shear wave transducers for instrumenting soil cells due to optimal soil–transducer coupling and compatible operating frequency. Experimental and analytical methods are implemented in this study to explore various aspects of bender element installations including: electromagnetic coupling prevention, directivity, resonant frequency, detection of first arrival, and near field effects. It is shown that electromagnetic coupling effects are critical in soils with high electrical conductivity and can be minimized by shielding and grounding, or by using parallel-type bender elements. Bender elements generate both P- and S-waves. The in-plane S-wave directivity is quasicircular. The…

• UO
  University of California, Davis
• GB
  Goizueta Business School, Emory University