ABSTRACT
Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) and seabed coring represent key methods to determine geotechnical properties offshore. Physical testing is typically combined with geophysical surveying, i.e., chirp sonar sub-bottom profilers, and results are qualitatively related to extrapolate geotechnical properties between physical test locations. Literature suggests that more quantitative relationships can be established between geotechnical properties and geoacoustic responses. However, specific correlations are still rare, and correlating frameworks are often complex and in need of additional parameters. This study attempts to explore correlations between geotechnical properties measured using a portable free fall penetrometer (PFFP) and determined from soil samples and chirp sonar at a frequency of 8-12 kHz. Preliminary results focusing on fine-grained sediments using data collected in the York River, Virginia, USA suggest relations between sediment properties using PFFP measurements and geoacoustic properties using chirp measurements and laboratory testing.
