ASTM D4428: Crosshole Seismic Testing Services
Accredited ASTM D4428 crosshole seismic testing from Infinita Lab, performed to the exact standard requirements - accurate, reproducible results with full documentation for compliance, R&D, and quality control programs.
TRUSTED BY
Get ASTM D4428 compliant results — request your crosshole seismic testing quote
- Overview
- Scope, Applications, and Benefits
- Test Process
- Specifications
- Instrumentation
- Results and Deliverables
What Is ASTM D4428 Crosshole Seismic?
ASTM D4428/D4428M, Standard Test Methods for Crosshole Seismic Testing of Soil and Rock, governs the field procedure used to measure in-situ compression-wave (P-wave) and shear-wave (S-wave) velocities in subsurface soil and rock formations. Unlike laboratory instrumental methods that evaluate extracted specimens under controlled conditions, crosshole seismic testing is a geophysical field test performed directly at the project site, using a series of vertically drilled, cased, and grouted boreholes arranged in a line or triangular pattern. A seismic source is lowered into one borehole, and at matching depths, three-component geophone receivers are lowered into one or more adjacent boreholes to capture the arrival of compression and shear waves as they travel horizontally through the ground between boreholes.
By precisely timing the arrival of these body waves over known, verticality-corrected travel distances, field engineers develop interval and average P-wave and S-wave velocity profiles with depth. These velocity measurements, combined with in-situ material density, allow derivation of key low-strain dynamic properties, including shear modulus, constrained modulus, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio, the last computed from the Vp/Vs velocity ratio. Because the test captures very low-strain material response directly in the ground, it produces some of the most reliable dynamic property data available to geotechnical engineers, free of the sample disturbance and confinement changes that can affect specimens tested in a laboratory.
Crosshole seismic testing is widely specified for infrastructure and building projects where accurate subsurface stiffness data drives design decisions, including foundation design for vibration-sensitive structures, seismic site response and site classification studies, liquefaction potential assessment, and dynamic soil-structure interaction analysis. Because the method requires specialised field crews, downhole instrumentation, and multiple precisely spaced boreholes, coordinating it through a single qualified provider streamlines scheduling, equipment logistics, and data interpretation while keeping project timelines on track.
Applications and Benefits of ASTM D4428 Crosshole Seismic Testing
Scope
- ASTM D4428/D4428M covers field procedures for determining the velocity of P-waves and S-waves travelling horizontally between boreholes in soil and rock.
- The method applies to low-strain conditions, typically below 10⁻⁴ per cent shear strain, representative of small-strain elastic ground behaviour.
- Testing requires at least two boreholes, though three or more boreholes arranged in a line are recommended to improve velocity accuracy and identify refracted arrivals.
- The standard specifies requirements for borehole spacing, drilling, casing, and grouting to ensure proper coupling between the ground and the instrumentation.
- Borehole deviation (verticality and azimuth) surveys are required at each test depth to correct measured travel distances for any borehole drift.
- The method addresses generation and identification of both P-waves and S-waves, including vertically polarised (SV) and, where applicable, horizontally polarised (SH) shear waves.
- Data interpretation accounts for possible refracted first arrivals from higher-velocity layers and for strong-amplitude total internal reflections in certain stratigraphic conditions.
- The standard covers recommended source and receiver equipment, timing and triggering systems, and data recording practices for consistent, repeatable results.
- Results are reported as depth-referenced P-wave and S-wave velocity profiles suitable for subsequent geotechnical engineering calculations.
Applications
- Determining dynamic shear modulus, constrained modulus, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio for use in geotechnical design calculations.
- Supporting seismic site classification and site response analysis required under modern building codes for earthquake-resistant design.
- Assessing liquefaction potential in saturated, loose to medium-dense granular soils during seismic events.
- Evaluating subsurface stiffness for foundation design beneath vibration-sensitive equipment, structures, and machinery.
- Characterising subsurface stratigraphy and identifying velocity contrasts between soil and rock layers.
- Supporting dynamic soil-structure interaction analyses for bridges, dams, power plants, and other critical infrastructure.
- Providing input parameters for ground improvement verification and pre- and post-treatment comparison studies.
Benefits
- Delivers true in-situ dynamic properties measured under actual field stress and moisture conditions, avoiding disturbance introduced by sample extraction.
- Provides directly measured shear-wave velocity data that is considered among the most reliable inputs for seismic design calculations.
- Captures a continuous, depth-referenced velocity profile that resolves thin layers and stratigraphic boundaries other methods can miss.
- Produces data suitable for direct use in code-based seismic site classification without additional correlation or estimation.
- Supports critical infrastructure and high-consequence projects where confidence in subsurface stiffness parameters is essential.
- Complements other in-situ and laboratory testing programs to build a complete geotechnical characterisation of a site.
Our ASTM D4428 Testing Procedure
Borehole Installation
Boreholes are drilled and cased at specified spacing; casing is grouted to ensure coupling.
1Source Generation
Seismic waves are generated in the source borehole using a downhole hammer or sparker source.
2Travel Time Measurement
Three-component geophones in receiver boreholes record wave arrivals; travel times are precisely measured.
3Velocity Calculation
Shear and compression wave velocities are calculated from travel time and inter-borehole distance.
4ASTM D4428 Test Parameters and Requirements
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Test Principle | Cross-borehole seismic wave travel time measurement |
| Wave Types | Shear wave (S-wave), compression wave (P-wave) |
| Borehole Spacing | 3–5 m typical |
| Applicable Materials | In-situ soils and rock |
| Output Units | m/s (wave velocity), MPa (dynamic moduli) |
| Measured Outputs | Vs, Vp profiles with depth; Gmax, M, dynamic Poisson's ratio |
- Downhole Seismic Source – Generates compression and vertically polarised shear waves at controlled depths within the source borehole.
- Three-Component Geophone Receivers – Detect vertical and orthogonal horizontal wave motion at matching depths in adjacent boreholes.
- Engineering Seismograph / Recording Unit – Captures, triggers, and digitises source and receiver signals for travel-time analysis.
- Borehole Casing (PVC or Inclinometer Casing) – Couples the source and receivers to the surrounding soil or rock through grouted boreholes.
- Inclinometer / Deviation Survey Tool – Measures borehole verticality and azimuth at each test depth to correct travel-distance calculations.
- Downhole Deployment Winch and Depth Encoder – Lowers and precisely positions the source and receivers at matched test depths.
- Data Acquisition and Analysis Software – Processes recorded waveforms to pick arrival times and compute velocity and elastic property profiles.
Equipment and Instrumentation Used for ASTM D4428 Testing
What You Receive: Test Report, Data, and Certification
- Depth-referenced compression-wave (P-wave) and shear-wave (S-wave) velocity profiles for each tested borehole interval.
- Calculated dynamic elastic properties, including shear modulus, constrained modulus, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio.
- Borehole deviation and verticality survey results used to support travel-distance corrections.
- Annotated waveform records documenting source triggering and receiver arrival picks at each test depth.
- A written field report summarising test methodology, equipment used, site conditions, and interpreted results.
- Data formatted for direct use in seismic site classification, liquefaction assessment, and foundation design calculations.
ASTM D4428 Crosshole Seismic FAQs
ASTM D4428 measures seismic wave velocities in soil and rock using crosshole testing. It evaluates subsurface stiffness and dynamic properties for geotechnical design, earthquake analysis, and foundation engineering applications.
Key parameters include borehole spacing, sensor alignment, wave travel time, depth intervals, and source energy. Controlled field conditions ensure accurate measurement of seismic wave velocities between boreholes.
The test measures shear wave and compression wave velocities. Results help determine soil stiffness, elastic moduli, and dynamic response characteristics of subsurface materials.
ASTM D4428 applies to soils, sediments, and rock formations in geotechnical, construction, and infrastructure projects requiring subsurface characterization for stability and seismic response evaluation.
ASTM D4428 requires precise borehole installation and alignment. Results may be affected by soil heterogeneity and field conditions, requiring complementary testing methods for comprehensive subsurface evaluation.
ASTM D4428/D4428M-25 is the Standard Test Methods for Crosshole Seismic Testing of Soil and Rock. It determines low-strain P-wave and S-wave velocities between boreholes and provides data useful for geotechnical analysis, seismic site classification, and liquefaction assessment.
The test uses seismic sources and receivers positioned at corresponding depths in separate boreholes. Seismic waves are generated in one borehole and detected in another; travel times over the measured distance are used to calculate P-wave and S-wave velocities and evaluate subsurface material properties.
Why Choose Infinita Lab for Crosshole Seismic Testing
When your Crosshole Seismic results have to hold up - for compliance, a customer audit, or an engineering decision - ASTM D4428 accuracy and an unbiased third-party report matter more than price. Infinita Lab routes your ASTM D4428 crosshole seismic testing to ISO/IEC 17025-accredited U.S. partner labs with hands-on method experience, so you get defensible data, transparent reporting, and turnaround times built around your project deadline - not ours.
Need ASTM D4428 Crosshole Seismic Testing You Can Rely On?
Send query us at hello@infinitalab.com or call us at (888) 878-3090 to learn more about our services and how we can support you.
Request a Quote
Submit your material details and receive testing procedures, pricing, and turnaround time within 24 hours.
Quick Turnaround and Hasslefree process
Confidentiality Guarantee
Free, No-obligation Consultation
100% Customer Satisfaction
