Modified Correlations to Predict Shear-wave Velocity Using Cone Penetration Test Data for Hungary

Abstract

This study evaluates and optimizes empirical correlations between shear wave velocity (V_s) and cone penetration test (CPT) data for various soil types in Hungary. A comprehensive database of 914 data pairs was compiled from multiple cities with diverse geological conditions, incorporating SCPTu and MASW measurements. Over 40 existing V_s–CPT correlations were statistically assessed using parameters such as RMSE, RD, K, CVK, and RI to determine their accuracy across different soil types and depositional settings. The most promising correlations were further refined using regression analysis, leading to the development of improved models tailored for Hungarian soils. These new correlations were evaluated both graphically and statistically, showing enhanced predictive performance, particularly for coarse-grained soils. The final proposed models demonstrate significant reductions in estimation error, with RMSE improvements exceeding 35%. This work provides geotechnical engineers in Hungary with robust, site-adapted tools for seismic site characterization and supports safer and more reliable subsurface profiling practices.