Applicability of ground penetrating radar to subsurface studies of karst terrain in Florida

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:6461478

Kuo, S S; Beck, B F; Jenkins, D T; Tannous, B S; Sweeney, M

Karstic subsidence (sinkhole, or doline, collapse) is a serious problem in Florida; subsurface detection is important in foundation studies. It is critical to delineate subsoil karren and solution pipes in the buried limestone surface, which may cause subsidence sinkholes, as well as cavities which may cause collapse. To test the capabilities of ground penetrating radar (GPR) to detect underground cavities three air-filled model cavities, 0.3 to 0.9 m in diameter, were buried above the water table and one water-filled model cavity, 1.2 m in diameter, was emplaced below the water table, at various depths. The characteristic radar response to these voids is a function of the composition of the strata penetrated, the depth of the groundwater table, and the radar antenna frequency. In field investigations in Central and North Florida, where the karstified limestone is mantled by a variable thickness of sand and clay, GPR can profile the limestone surface and detect cavernous voids in the limestone to a depth of 12 m, if the overburden is primarily sand. In many cases, ongoing karst processes have deformed the overburden strata by gradual subsidence and the radar profile of shallow clay layers may reveal karstic foundation problems even when the signal cannot detect the limestone.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6461478
• Report Number(s): CONF-8510489-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States) Journal Volume: 17
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580203* -- Geophysics-- Geophysical Survey Methods-- (1980-1989)
CARBONATE ROCKS
CAVES
CAVITIES
DISSOLUTION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
EQUIPMENT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FEDERAL REGION IV
FLORIDA
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
GROUND SUBSIDENCE
MAPPING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NORTH AMERICA
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SOIL-STRUCTURE INTERACTIONS
SURVEYS
USA
USES