Sources of Uncertainty in Bender Element Testing: Execution and Interpretation Challenges in Reconstituted Sandy Soils
2025
António M. G. Pedro | Paulino Dias Santos | Luís Araújo Santos | Paulo Coelho
This paper discusses the principal sources of uncertainty in the execution and interpretation of Bender Element (BE) tests conducted on reconstituted sand samples. Based on the experience accumulated by the Geotechnical Laboratory of the University of Coimbra, the study addresses three critical stages of the testing process: sample preparation, test execution, and result interpretation. For each stage, the key challenges are identified, and potential solutions are proposed. Particular emphasis is placed on the control of relative density and sample saturation during preparation, as well as on factors affecting signal quality and time lag of the system during test execution. The interpretation of the results is analyzed with respect to the limitations of currently employed methods. The overall reliability of the procedures employed throughout the testing process is also assessed, with the results providing guidance for improving the accuracy and consistency of BE test outcomes.
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