Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW)

Applicable Materials:

• Concrete (slabs, tunnel liners, pavements)
• Asphalt
• Soil and Subgrade Materials
• Rock and Masonry
• Wood (limited structural elements)

Common Applications:

• Thickness profiling of pavement and subgrade layers
• Determination of shear wave velocity and elastic moduli
• Evaluation of bridge abutment depths and foundation performance
• Assessment of concrete tunnel linings and slabs for degradation
• Surface-opening crack depth measurement
• Damage assessment due to fire, alkali-silica reaction (ASR), freeze-thaw cycles, or fatigue
• Verification of epoxy crack injection success
• Correlation of field shear wave velocity with strength (via core calibration)

Key Benefits:

• Fully non-destructive and non-intrusive
• Field-deployable with minimal surface preparation
• Provides real-time structural health insights
• Effective in hard-to-access or sensitive areas
• Correlates well with crosshole seismic methods

AEIS conducts SASW testing in accordance with the following standards and industry references:

ASTM Standards:

• ASTM D6758-02– Standard Test Method for Measuring Stiffness and Apparent Modulus of Soil and Soil-Aggregate In-Place by an Electro-Mechanical Method

ACI Reference:

• ACI 228.2R-13– “Nondestructive Test Methods for Evaluation of Concrete in Structures”
  Recognizes SASW for determining in-situ dynamic modulus and stiffness profiles of concrete and subgrade layers.

AASHTO Reference:

• AASHTO T 161 – (Refer to supporting methodologies in geotechnical testing, though not directly prescribing SASW)
• FHWA Reference (AASHTO-supported) –FHWA-HRT-05-152 – Nondestructive Testing to Identify Concrete Bridge Deck Deterioration

SASW testing is executed by qualified field engineers and geotechnical specialists using advanced instrumentation and signal processing software. All results are interpreted with engineering context and can be integrated into design decisions, failure investigations, or structural rehabilitation plans.