Performance of Gel-Push sampling in liquefiable soils

• Published in: Géotechnique letters 2020-06, Vol.10 (2), p.256-261
• Main Authors: Molina-Gómez, F., Ferreira, C., Ramos, C., Viana da Fonseca, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2045-2543; 2045-2543
• DOI: 10.1680/jgele.19.00073

Obtaining undisturbed high-quality samples is a challenge in geotechnical engineering since soils may present significant volume changes and collapse in its structure during sampling or handling at the laboratory. Nowadays, there are several methods and criteria to assess sampling quality. This paper explores the performance of the Gel-Push (GP) sampler for collecting sandy soil samples at an experimental site near Lisbon, Portugal. Sampling quality assessment involved the comparison of parameters measured in the field and in the laboratory. For this purpose, data obtained in the field using cone penetration tests with measurement of seismic waves, and laboratory data obtained by bender elements tests were contrasted. The normalised shear-wave velocity criterion was applied to classify sample quality. A comparative analysis of the results is presented and discussed, highlighting differences between the different experimental procedures. The findings of this paper validate that the GP sampling technique is able to obtain high-quality samples of sandy soils.