In Situ Assessment of Role of Surface Roughness on Interface Response

Abstract

Improved design methods that allow for more accurate prediction of interface performance are needed as the number and types of interface strength dependent geotechnical systems being used in practice continues to increase. Laboratory research performed in the past two decades has provided significant insight into interface behavior, primarily for material interfaces involving sand. With the recent development of the multisleeve friction penetrometer attachment, direct in situ measurements of interface sleeve stress can be obtained using multiple sleeves, each with a different surface roughness, in a single sounding. This paper presents the findings of extensive field investigations conducted at a sand site with the multisleeve friction penetrometer attachment to evaluate the performance of the device as well as the potential to determine the relationship between surface roughness and interface strength using in situ measurements.