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Dr Matt Spriggs
BEng, PhD

Research Associate

Research Group

Geotechnics

Current Research Activities

Title(s): ALARMS: Assessment of Landslides using an Acoustic Real-time Monitoring System

Summary:

World-wide, failure of natural and constructed slopes result in the loss of 100's of lives, cost tens of millions of pounds and cause damage and major disruption to the built environment. Potentially unstable slopes in high risk areas are monitored to provide an early warning of failure, enabling evacuation and/or stabilisation measures to be undertaken. Predicted climate change is leading to increased uncertainty of slope stability, a reduction in the applicability of information on past slope performance, and hence a greater need for appropriate monitoring strategies. Of particular concern are slopes that become rapidly unstable in response to extreme climatic events. Materials undergoing deformation generate acoustic stress waves (also known as acoustic emission (AE) and sub-audible noise). Studies of acoustic emission aim to use the capture and measurement of the signal to determine the extent of material deformation. Examples of mechanisms that can generate AE are crack propagation in metals and concrete, and de-bonding between fibres and resins in composite materials. In soil, acoustic emission is generated from inter-particle friction and in rock by fracture propagation and displacement along discontinuities (microseismic and rock noise). Acoustic emission can be detected using suitable transducers to provide information on the presence and location of straining.

The acoustic emission technique has the potential to provide an effective slope monitoring system. Its high sensitivity can provide an early warning of instability and it does not require measurements to be taken over a prolonged period to establish that deformations are occurring. In addition, it can provide a real-time indication of time dependent stability (e.g. related to climatic variations, human related modification and stabilisation works).

Methods:

Aim:
To investigate performance of a slope instability early warning system based on continuous acoustic emission monitoring and real-time processing.

Objectives:
i) To design field AE instrumentation capable of continuous monitoring and real-time processing.
ii) Instrument sections of a trial embankment and commission monitoring system.
iii) Assess performance of AE system against known activities (e.g. site and climate) and deformations measured using conventional instrumentation.
iv) Optimise instrumentation design and processing strategy and produce specifications for both, and criteria for data interpretation (e.g. selection of trigger values) for use in risk assessment and slope management.