Site characterization by seismic dilatometer (SDMT): the Justice Court of Chieti

A detailed investigation of several seismic dilatometer (SDMT) tests was performed in 2011 on Chieti hill to restore the Justice Court, an historical building damaged by the April 6, 2009 L’Aquila earthquake. Moreover, boreholes were carried out to investigate foundation base level and cyclic simple shear tests with double sample were realized to analyze the seismic site response. The paper illustrates the potential of the seismic dilatometer to efficaciously approach a geotechnical problem by the interpretation of SDMT parameters, as the shear wave velocity VS, the constrained modulus M and the horizontal stress index Kd. While VS appears less sensible to the stress history and the stiffness of the deposits, M gives precious information on soil stiffness and Kd provides important details on the overconsolidation of the deposits. Finally, the paper combines SDMT results with laboratory data to analyze the site response of the Justice Court.