Empirical model of dynamic shear modulus for surface marine sediments

Based on 770 laboratory measurements of void ratio (e) and effective overburden pressure (p) from the upper 2 m of sediments in Eckemfoerde Bay, Baltic Sea, a new empirical model for estimating dynamic shear modulus (mu) was developed as mu = b(0)(p)(b1) exp[-b(2)e + b(3)(ln p)(2)] where b(0) = 294.89 b(1) = 0.0800, b(2) = 0.0079, b(3) = 0.0227 and R(2) = 0.9571. The void ratio and effective pressure range from 2.01 to 10.03 and from 0.04 to 6.13 kPa, respectively. The results indicate that a new term of exp[b(3)(lnp)(2)] is needed in the model if the properties of surficial sediments are included. The shear wave velocities that were calculated from the new model are comparable to those measured in situ when the depth is more than 50 cm.