Comparing seismic piezocone and seismic dilatometer test results for the characterization of a coastal silt deposit from Finland

Sara Amoroso; Mohammad Sadegh Farhadi; Marco D'Ignazio; Paola Monaco; Diego Marchetti; Tim Länsivaara; Sara Amoroso; Mohammad Sadegh Farhadi; Marco D'Ignazio; Paola Monaco; Diego Marchetti; Tim Länsivaara

doi:10.3934/geosci.2025036

AIMS Geosciences

2025, Volume 11, Issue 4: 846-866. doi: 10.3934/geosci.2025036

Previous Article Next Article

Research article Special Issues

Comparing seismic piezocone and seismic dilatometer test results for the characterization of a coastal silt deposit from Finland

1.
Department of Engineering and Geology, University of Chieti-Pescara, Viale Pindaro 42, 65127 Pescara, Italy
2.
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Viale Crispi 43, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
3.
Terra Research Centre, Tampere University, Korkeakoulunkatu 5, 33720 Tampere, Finland
4.
Department of Civil, Construction-Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila, Piazzale Ernesto Pontieri 1—Monteluco di Roio, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
5.
Studio Prof. Marchetti, Via Cassia 990, 00189 Roma, Italy

Received: 07 May 2025 Revised: 11 August 2025 Accepted: 09 September 2025 Published: 21 October 2025

This paper focused on the performance comparison of in situ testing methods for geotechnical characterization of a silt deposit at Haistila, in western Finland, in the vicinity of the coastal city of Pori. Soil conditions comprise a homogeneous, up to 9 m thick, slightly overconsolidated silt deposit. The Haistila test site is part of the ongoing FINCONE Ⅱ research project funded by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (FTIA, Väylävirasto) and carried out by Tampere University. Testing included piezocone along with in situ measurements of shear wave velocity (SCPTU), in addition to laboratory testing, including index and consolidation tests, among others. Furthermore, seismic dilatometer testing (SDMT), using the novel Medusa SDMT equipment and technology, was carried out at Haistila. This work documents the first known application of the flat dilatometer test (DMT) in geotechnical investigations carried out in Finland. The paper critically compares the SCPTU and Medusa SDMT outcomes and their applicability in the determination of site-specific engineering properties of Haistila silt. SCPTU and Medusa SDMT provide a similar interpretation in terms of soil stratigraphy, drainage, constrained modulus, and hydraulic properties of the soil deposits, while some discrepancies can be noted for stress history and strength, probably in relation to the availability of site-specific correlations only for SCPTU. Finally, remarkable differences are notable for shear wave velocity data due to the use of the 1-receiver configuration for SCPTU and the 2-receiver configuration for Medusa SDMT.
- silt,
- in situ testing,
- piezocone,
- seismic dilatometer,
- geotechnical testing
Citation: Sara Amoroso, Mohammad Sadegh Farhadi, Marco D'Ignazio, Paola Monaco, Diego Marchetti, Tim Länsivaara. Comparing seismic piezocone and seismic dilatometer test results for the characterization of a coastal silt deposit from Finland[J]. AIMS Geosciences, 2025, 11(4): 846-866. doi: 10.3934/geosci.2025036

Related Papers:

Abstract

This paper focused on the performance comparison of in situ testing methods for geotechnical characterization of a silt deposit at Haistila, in western Finland, in the vicinity of the coastal city of Pori. Soil conditions comprise a homogeneous, up to 9 m thick, slightly overconsolidated silt deposit. The Haistila test site is part of the ongoing FINCONE Ⅱ research project funded by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency (FTIA, Väylävirasto) and carried out by Tampere University. Testing included piezocone along with in situ measurements of shear wave velocity (SCPTU), in addition to laboratory testing, including index and consolidation tests, among others. Furthermore, seismic dilatometer testing (SDMT), using the novel Medusa SDMT equipment and technology, was carried out at Haistila. This work documents the first known application of the flat dilatometer test (DMT) in geotechnical investigations carried out in Finland. The paper critically compares the SCPTU and Medusa SDMT outcomes and their applicability in the determination of site-specific engineering properties of Haistila silt. SCPTU and Medusa SDMT provide a similar interpretation in terms of soil stratigraphy, drainage, constrained modulus, and hydraulic properties of the soil deposits, while some discrepancies can be noted for stress history and strength, probably in relation to the availability of site-specific correlations only for SCPTU. Finally, remarkable differences are notable for shear wave velocity data due to the use of the 1-receiver configuration for SCPTU and the 2-receiver configuration for Medusa SDMT.

References

[1]	Schnaid F, Lehane BM, Fahey M (2004) In situ test characterisation on geomaterials, Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Site Characterization, 49–74.
[2]	Tonni L, Gottardi G (2010) Interpretation of Piezocone Tests in Venetian Silty Soils and the Issue of Partial Drainage. Deep Foundations and Geotechnical in Situ Testing, American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA, 367–374.
[3]	Randolph M, Hope S (2004) Effect of cone velocity on cone resistance and excess pore pressures. In: Matsui T, Tanaka Y, Mimura M, Eds., Proceedings of the IS Osaka—Engineering Practice and Performance of Soft Deposits, Japan, Yodogawa Kogisha Co. Ltd, 147–152.
[4]	Tonni L, García Martínez MF, Rocchi I (2019) Recent developments in equipment and interpretation of cone penetration test for soil characterization. Rivista Italiana di Geotecnica 53: 71–99. https://dx.doi.org/10.19199/2019.1.0557-1405.071 doi: 10.19199/2019.1.0557-1405.071
[5]	Blaker Ø, Carroll R, Paniagua P, et al. (2019) Halden research site: geotechnical characterization of a post glacial silt. AIMS Geosci 5: 184–234. https://doi.org/10.3934/geosci.2019.2.184 doi: 10.3934/geosci.2019.2.184
[6]	Farhadi M, Pöyry E, Haikola M, et al. (2025) Permeability of coarse silts using dissipation tests in cone penetration test: Case study, Finninmäki testing site. AIMS Geosci. In Press.
[7]	Schnaid F, Odebrecht E, Sosnoski J, et al. (2016) Effects of test procedure on flat dilatometer test (DMT) results in intermediate soils. Can Geotech J 53: 1270–1280. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2015-0463 doi: 10.1139/cgj-2015-0463
[8]	Schnaid F, Belloli MVA, Odebrecht E, et al. (2018) Interpretation of the DMT in Silts. Geotech Test J 41: 868–876.
[9]	Monaco P, Tonni L, Amoroso S, et al. (2021) Use of Medusa DMT in alluvial silty sediments of the Po river valley, 6th International Conference on Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization, ISSMGE.
[10]	Monaco P, Amoroso S, Chiaradonna A, et al. (2024) Characterization of intermediate soils by innovative in-situ testing procedures using Medusa DMT, Geotechnical Engineering Challenges to Meet Current and Emerging Needs of Society, London, CRC Press, 679–682.
[11]	D'Ignazio M, Länsivaara T (2016) Strength increase below an old test embankment in Finland. 17th Nordic Geotechnical Meeting (NGM), Reykjavik, Iceland, Icelandic Geotechnical Society, 357–366.
[12]	D'Ignazio M, Länsivaara T (2015) Shear bands in soft clays: strain-softening behavior in finite element method. Rakenteiden Mekaniikka 48: 83–98.
[13]	Long M, D'Ignazio M (2021) Shear wave velocity as a tool for characterising undrained shear strength of Nordic clays. IOP Conf Ser: Earth Environ Sci 710: 012008. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/710/1/012008 doi: 10.1088/1755-1315/710/1/012008
[14]	D'Ignazio M, Länsivaara T (2024) Undrained shear strength of Finnish soft clays: A database perspective, Databases for Data-Centric Geotechnics, CRC Press, 135–151.
[15]	D'Ignazio M, Di Buò B, Länsivaara T (2015) A study on the behaviour of the weathered crust in the Perniö failure test. XVI European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, XVI ECSMGE, Edinburgh, Scotland.
[16]	Di Buò B, D'Ignazio M, Selänpää J, et al. (2016) Preliminary results from a study aiming to improve ground investigation data. 17th Nordic Geotechnical Meeting, Reykjavik, Iceland, Icelandic Geotechnical Society, 187–197.
[17]	D'Ignazio M, Lunne T, Andersen KH, et al. (2019) Estimation of preconsolidation stress of clays from piezocone by means of high-quality calibration data. AIMS Geosci 5: 104–116. https://doi.org/10.3934/geosci.2019.2.104 doi: 10.3934/geosci.2019.2.104
[18]	Di Buò B, D'Ignazio M, Länsivaara T, et al. (2022) Issues related to piezocone sleeve friction measurement accuracy in soft sensitive clays, Cone Penetration Testing 2022, CRC Press, 133–138.
[19]	Länsivaara T, Di Buò B, Selänpää J, et al. (2022) Fincone: A study on the use of CPT in soft sensitive clays, Cone Penetration Testing 2022, CRC Press, 497–502.
[20]	D'Ignazio M, Di Buò B, Länsivaara T, et al. (2022) Piezocone testing in Nordic soft clays: Comparison of high-quality databases, Cone Penetration Testing 2022, CRC Press, 356–362.
[21]	Di Buò B, Selänpää J, Länsivaara T, et al. (2018) Evaluation of existing CPTu-based correlations for the deformation properties of Finnish soft clays, Cone Penetration Testing 2018, CRC Press, 185–191.
[22]	Selänpää J, Di Buò B, Länsivaara T, et al. (2017) Problems related to field vane testing in soft soil conditions and improved reliability of measurements using an innovative field vane device, In: Thakur V, L'Heureux JS, Locat A, Eds., Advances in Natural and Technological Hazards Research, Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56487-6_10
[23]	Selänpää J, Di Buò B, Haikola M, et al. (2018) Evaluation of existing CPTu-based correlations for the undrained shear strength of soft Finnish clays, Cone Penetration Testing 2018, CRC Press, 571–577.
[24]	Di Buò B, Selänpää J, Länsivaara TT, et al. (2019) Evaluation of sample quality from different sampling methods in Finnish soft sensitive clays. Can Geotech J 56. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2018-0066 doi: 10.1139/cgj-2018-0066
[25]	Di Buò B, D'Ignazio M, Selänpää J, et al. (2020) Yield stress evaluation of Finnish clays based on analytical piezocone penetration test (CPTU) models. Can Geotech J 57. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2019-0427 doi: 10.1139/cgj-2019-0427
[26]	Di Buò B, D'Ignazio M, Selänpää J, et al. (2019) Investigation and geotechnical characterization of Perniö clay, Finland. AIMS Geosci 5: 591–616. https://doi.org/10.3934/geosci.2019.3.591 doi: 10.3934/geosci.2019.3.591
[27]	D'Ignazio M, Phoon KK, Länsivaara T, et al. (2018) Uncertainties in Modeling Undrained Shear Strength of Sensitive Clays Using Finite-Element Method. ASCE-ASME J Risk Uncertainty Eng Syst Part A Civ Eng 4. https://doi.org/10.1061/AJRUA6.0000959 doi: 10.1061/AJRUA6.0000959
[28]	D'Ignazio M, Länsivaara TT, Jostad HP (2017) Failure in anisotropic sensitive clays: Finite element study of Perniö failure test. Can Geotech J 54. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2015-0313 doi: 10.1139/cgj-2015-0313
[29]	D'Ignazio M, Phoon KK, Tan SA, et al. (2016) Correlations for undrained shear strength of Finnish soft clays. Can Geotech J 53: 1628–1645. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2016-0037 doi: 10.1139/cgj-2016-0037
[30]	D'Ignazio M, Phoon KK, Tan SA, et al. (2017) Reply to the discussion by Mesri and Wang on "Correlations for undrained shear strength of Finnish soft clays". Can Geotech J 54. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2017-0114 doi: 10.1139/cgj-2017-0114
[31]	D'Ignazio M (2016) Undrained shear strength of Finnish clays for stability analyses of embankments, PhD Thesis. Tampere University of Technology.
[32]	Di Buò B (2020) Evaluation of the Preconsolidation Stress and Deformation Characteristics of Finnish Clays based on Piezocone Testing, PhD Thesis. Tampere University.
[33]	Selänpää J (2021) Derivation of CPTu cone factors for undrained shear strength and OCR in Finnish clays, PhD Thesis. Tampere University.
[34]	D'Ignazio M, Sivasithamparam N, Jostad HP (2018) Usability of piezocone test for finite element modelling of long-term deformations in soft soils, Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering IX, CRC Press, 1: 399–406. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429446931
[35]	D'Ignazio M, Lehtonen V (2021) Using SHANSEP for verification of unreliable piezocone data in clays, 18th Nordic Geotechnical Meeting—IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, IOP Publishing Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/710/1/012011
[36]	Väylävirasto, Eurokoodin soveltamisohje—Geotekninen suunnittelu NCCI 7, 2023.
[37]	Suomen Geoteknillinen Yhdistys (Finnish Geotechnical Society), Kairausopas 1 (painokairaus, taerykairaus, heijarikairaus), 1981. Available from: https://sgy.fi/content/uploads/2017/04/kairausopas-1-painokairaus-taerykairaus-heijarikairaus.pdf.
[38]	Pöyry E, Farhadi MS, Haikola M, et al. (2024) Soil plugging in small diameter tube samplers in silty soils, Geotechnical Engineering Challenges to Meet Current and Emerging Needs of Society, CRC Press, 745–749.
[39]	Alhonen P, Huurre M (1991) Satakunnan historia I, 1: Satakunnan luonnon geologinen historia: Satakunnan kivikausi.
[40]	Marchetti S, Monaco P (2018) Recent Improvements in the Use, Interpretation, and Applications of DMT and SDMT in Practice. Geotech Test J 41: 837–850. https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ20170386 doi: 10.1520/GTJ20170386
[41]	Marchetti D, Monaco P, Amoroso S, et al. (2019) In situ tests by Medusa DMT, 17th European Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, ECSMGE 2019—Proceedings, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
[42]	ASTM D6635-01, Standard test method for performing the flat plate dilatometer. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2015.
[43]	ISO 22476-11: 2017(E), Geotechnical Investigation and Testing—Field Testing—Part 11: Flat Dilatometer Test, Geneva, Switzerland, 2017.
[44]	Marchetti S, Monaco P, Totani G, et al, (2008) In Situ Tests by Seismic Dilatometer (SDMT), From Research to Practice in Geotechnical Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA, USA. 292–311. https://doi.org/10.1061/40962(325)7
[45]	Campanella RG, Stewart WP (1992) Seismic cone analysis using digital signal processing for dynamic site characterization. Can Geotech J 29: 477–486. https://doi.org/10.1139/t92-052 doi: 10.1139/t92-052
[46]	ISO 22476-1: 2022, Geotechnical investigation and testing—Field testing—Part 1: Electrical cone and piezocone penetration test, Geneva, Switzerland, 2022.
[47]	ASTM D7400/D7400M-19, Standard Test Method for Downhole Seismic Testing. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2019.
[48]	Robertson PK (2016) Cone penetration test (CPT)-based soil behaviour type (SBT) classification system—An update. Can Geotech J 53: 1910–1927. https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2016-0044 doi: 10.1139/cgj-2016-0044
[49]	Marchetti S (1980) In situ tests by flat dilatometer. J Geotech Eng Div 106: 299–321. https://doi.org/10.1061/AJGEB6.0000934 doi: 10.1061/AJGEB6.0000934
[50]	Benoît J, Souza B (2024) Comparison of Pore Pressure Parameters from Piezocone and Dilatometer, 7th International Conference on Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization, CIMNE.
[51]	Mayne PW (2007) NCHRP Synthesis 368: Cone penetration testing. Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 118.
[52]	Marchetti S, Crapps DK (1981) Flat dilatometer manual, GPE incorporated. Available from: https://www.marchetti-dmt.it/wp-content/uploads/bibliografia/marchetti_1981_crapps_manual.pdf.
[53]	Kulhawy FH, Mayne PW (1990) Manual on estimating soil properties for foundation design, Report EL-6800 Electric Power Research Institute, EPRI.
[54]	Lacasse S, Lunne T (1988) Calibration of dilatometer correlations, lst International Symposium on Penetration Testing, 539–548.
[55]	Lunne T, Lacasse S, Rad NS, et al. (1990) SPT, CPT, pressuremeter testing and recent developments on in situ testing. Publikasjon-Norges Geotekniske Institutt, 179.
[56]	Monaco P, Chiaradonna A, Marchetti D, et al. (2023) Medusa SDMT testing at the Onsøy Geo-Test Site, Norway, Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials (IS-PORTO 2023), ISSMGE. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202454402002
[57]	Marchetti S (1997) The flat dilatometer: design applications, Third International Geotechnical Engineering Conference, Cairo, 421–448.
[58]	Robertson PK (2010) Estimating in-situ soil permeability from CPT and CPTU, 2nd International Symposium on Cone Penetration Testing, 2: 535–542. California, USA: Gregg Drilling & Testing Inc.
[59]	Marchetti S, Totani G (1989) Ch Evaluations from DMTA Dissipation Curves, XⅡ International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 1: 281–286.
[60]	Jamiolkowski M, Ladd CC, Germaine JT, et al. (1985) New developments in field and laboratory testing of soils, XI International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, San Francisco, CA, USA, 1: 57–153.
[61]	Marchetti S, Monaco P, Totani G, et al. (2001) The Flat Dilatometer Test (DMT) in Soil Investigations—A Report by the ISSMGE Committee TC16. In Situ Measurement of Soil Properties and Case Histories, Bali, Indonesia, 95–131.
[62]	McGillivray A, Mayne PW (2004) Seismic piezocone and seismic flat dilatometer tests at Treporti, 2nd International Conference on Site Characterization, Porto, Portugal, 2: 1695–1700.
[63]	Garofalo F, Foti S, Hollender F, et al. (2016) InterPACIFIC project: Comparison of invasive and noninvasive methods for seismic site characterization. Part Ⅱ: Inter-comparison between surface-wave and borehole methods. Soil Dyn Earthquake Eng 82: 241–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soildyn.2015.12.009
[64]	Amoroso S, Comina C, Foti S, et al. (2016) Preliminary results of P-wave and S-wave measurements by seismic dilatometer test (SPDMT) in Mirandola (Italy), 5th International Conference on Geotechnical and Geophysical Site Characterization (ISC'5), Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, 2: 825–830.
[65]	Valvano C, Amoroso S, Hailemikael S, et al. (2025) Use of in situ tests to measure and predict shear wave velocity: the peculiarity of silty-sandy deposits in Emilia (Italy). Ann Geophys 68: NS339. https://doi.org/10.4401/ag-9249 doi: 10.4401/ag-9249

Reader Comments

Your name:*

Email:*
© 2025 the Author(s), licensee AIMS Press. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)