Development of Empirical Correlations between Shear Wave Velocities (Vs) and Standard Penetration Test (SPT) N-Values of Soils
- DOI
- 10.2991/978-94-6463-900-1_39How to use a DOI?
- Keywords
- Shear Wave Velocity; SPT-N; Empirical Correlation; PS Suspension Logging; Downhole Seismic Test; Standard Penetration Test
- Abstract
Situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines faces an urgent imperative to design hazard-proof and seismic-resistant structures. To achieve this, geophysical tests are frequently utilized in predicting the behavior of soils and rocks and their seismic response under earthquake loadings, which is crucial for developing resilient infrastructure able to withstand any seismic activities. PS suspension logging (PSL) and downhole seismic tests (DST) are in-situ geophysical methods performed to collect waveform data in boreholes, from which shear wave velocities (Vs) of subsurface materials were measured. These measurements have been critical as they provide approximations of soil and seismic properties, including subsurface stiffness, shear modulus, compressibility, and soil density. In the absence of geophysical investigations due to logistical or financial constraints, existing empirical correlations to data derived from field geotechnical investigation tests such as Standard Penetration Tests (SPT), if available, can be utilized to yield essential parameters. However, such correlations are currently insufficient or underdeveloped in the Philippines. This study aims to develop empirical correlations between Vs and SPT-N values for soils in Greater Metro Manila, in Luzon, Philippines’ largest and most populated landmass. PSL, DST, and final boring log data were derived from 21 boreholes across five geotechnical investigation works within the study area, encompassing records of Vs, and SPT-N values of soils. Statistical analyses revealed that the empirical relationships were established for all soil and two groups of soil types, namely cohesive (clays and silts) and cohesionless (sands and gravels) soils were of moderate to strong correlations. Subsequently, comparative analysis also validated the consistency of the proposed model against existing correlations from related studies. These data-driven empirical correlations offer a practical tool for geotechnical practitioners to supplement limited site investigation programs and predict engineering and seismic parameters from Vs, and SPT-N values, contributing to the broader understanding of soil behavior and supporting improved geotechnical design and construction practices in the region.
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s)
- Open Access
- Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.
Cite this article
TY - CONF AU - Jr. Reuel S. Corsino AU - Michael Angelo M. Valdez AU - Marc Arthur Z. Go AU - Alexis A. Acacio AU - Lestelle V. Torio-Kaimo PY - 2025 DA - 2025/12/07 TI - Development of Empirical Correlations between Shear Wave Velocities (Vs) and Standard Penetration Test (SPT) N-Values of Soils BT - Proceedings of the Rocscience International Conference 2025 (RIC 2025) PB - Atlantis Press SP - 400 EP - 411 SN - 2589-4943 UR - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-900-1_39 DO - 10.2991/978-94-6463-900-1_39 ID - Corsino2025 ER -