Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) for seismic site characterization using 2D genetic algorithm at Bahrah area,Wadi Fatima,Saudi Arabia

The present study deals with the seismic site classification of Bahrah area, Wadi Fatima, to characterize the local site conditions. The dynamic behavior of sediments was studied by the application of surface wave inversion. The multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) shallow geophysical technique was utilized for site classification. MASW survey was carried out at 66 sites along with 13 seismic refraction profiles at suitable localities. MASW and seismic refraction profiles were processed and compared with the available borehole data. The integration of MASW techniques with seismic refraction and borehole data progressively enhanced the subsurface visualization and reliability of the shear wave velocity estimation in the subsurface in the study area. The subsurface shear-wave velocity model was achieved by the solution of an inverse problem-based dispersion of surface waves and propagation in a vertically heterogeneous medium. The 2D genetic algorithm was employed for the inversion of dispersion curves to obtain velocity and thickness of subsurface layers. The depth to engineering bedrock and velocity of shear waves in the first 30 m was deciphered and mapped. The depth of bedrock in study area varies from 4 to 30 m, and V _{S 30} ranges from 320 to 800 m/s. The most of study area falls in B and C class categories in addition to few sites of D class according to the NEHRP guidelines.     

Advanced performance in geotechnical engineering using tomography analysis

This paper presents the technique to demonstrate reliable two-dimensional (2-D) tomography of near-surface soil through multichannel analysis of surface wave (MASW) method. The MASW method is used as seismic method for determining the shear wave velocity profile of near-surface soil with better performance. Normally, this method represents one-dimensional (1-D) soil layer profile to delineate anomalous subsurface materials and detect soil characteristics in geotechnical investigations. Conventionally, the MASW method is able to represent depth corresponding shear wave velocity through 1-D representation. In this paper, this method is improved through representation of depth and distance versus shear wave velocity profile using 2-D tomography analysis in geotechnical investigations. The outcomes of the newly developed method are more reliable and informative in comparison to the outcome of the conventional MASW method. The significance of this research is incorporating advanced tomography technique with MASW method to obtain 2-D tomography of geotechnical characteristics with consistency.     

Surface wave studies for shear wave velocity and bedrock depth estimation over basalts

Shear wave velocity (V _S) estimation is of paramount importance in earthquake hazard assessment and other geotechnical/geo engineering studies. In our study, the shear wave velocity was estimated from ground roll using multichannel analysis of surface wave (MASW) technique making use of dispersive characteristics of Rayleigh type surface waves followed by imaging the shallow subsurface basaltic layers in an earthquake-prone region near Jabalpur, India. The reliability of MASW depends on the accurate determination of phase velocities for horizontally traveling fundamental mode Rayleigh waves. Inversion of data from surface waves resulted in a shear wave velocity (V _S) in the range of 200–1,200 m/s covering the top soil to weathering and up to bedrock corresponding to a depth of 10–30 m. The P-wave velocity (V _P) obtained from refraction seismic studies at these locations found to be comparable with V _S at an assumed specific Poisson’s ratio. A pair of selected set of V _S profiles over basalt which did not result in a hazardous situation in an earthquake of moderate magnitude are presented here as a case study; in other words, the shear wave velocity range of more than 200 m/s indicate that the area is highly unlikely prone to liquefaction during a moderate or strong earthquake. The estimated depth to basalt is found to be 10–12 m in both the cases which is also supported by refraction studies.     

Geophysical surveys to study a landslide body (north-eastern Sicily)

Almost the entire Italian territory is prone to hydrogeological risk mostly due to landslides and flooding. The high frequency of extreme weather events in areas prone to geological–hydraulic hazards contributes significantly to increasing the risk for cities and its infrastructure, but above all for the people living there. Therefore, it is vital to research into rapid monitoring techniques to be applied following a disaster such as a landslide, so that important background information, useful for planning interventions aimed at hazard mitigation, can be obtained. This work seeks to identify the depth of the sliding surface of a landslide affecting the municipal area of Tripi (village in the Messina province, Sicily), through two geophysical field surveys (MASW and HVSR) undertaken in the same area at an interval of about 5 years. The MASW surveys have enabled to reconstruct the distribution of shear wave velocity with depth. The HVSR surveys have provided information on resonant frequency and directional effects. The data integration obtained by the two methods allowed to reconstruct impedance contrast sections indicating the depth of the sliding surface of the landslide.

     

Geophysical surveys to study a landslide body (north-eastern Sicily)

Almost the entire Italian territory is prone to hydrogeological risk mostly due to landslides and flooding. The high frequency of extreme weather events in areas prone to geological–hydraulic hazards contributes significantly to increasing the risk for cities and its infrastructure, but above all for the people living there. Therefore, it is vital to research into rapid monitoring techniques to be applied following a disaster such as a landslide, so that important background information, useful for planning interventions aimed at hazard mitigation, can be obtained. This work seeks to identify the depth of the sliding surface of a landslide affecting the municipal area of Tripi (village in the Messina province, Sicily), through two geophysical field surveys (MASW and HVSR) undertaken in the same area at an interval of about 5 years. The MASW surveys have enabled to reconstruct the distribution of shear wave velocity with depth. The HVSR surveys have provided information on resonant frequency and directional effects. The data integration obtained by the two methods allowed to reconstruct impedance contrast sections indicating the depth of the sliding surface of the landslide.     

基于自动安置排列的多道面波分析方法

横波速度由于更能直接反映岩石的物理性质,从而在许多工程、环境和地下水勘查中有重要作用.多道面波分析方法(MASW)是一种新技术,通过求得的一维近地表横波速度剖面构建一个二维横波速度场,从而准确探测近地表介质情况.针对该方法数据的采集,提出了一种检波器排列自动安置的技术(自动安置排列),即使用牵引车辆的液压驱动装置在几秒内自动安置几十个检波器,并将其与传统安置排列的方法做了比较,结果表明,自动安置排列技术可用于多道面波分析方法,而且可以大大减少多道面波分析方法的采集时间和费用.     

Seismic microzonation of Bangalore,India

In the present study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the seismic hazard considering local site effects by carrying out detailed geotechnical and geophysical site characterization in Bangalore, India to develop microzonation maps. An area of 220 km², encompassing Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has been chosen as the study area. Seismic hazard analysis and microzonation of Bangalore are addressed in three parts: in the first part, estimation of seismic hazard is done using seismotectonic and geological information. Second part deals with site characterization using geotechnical and shallow geophysical techniques. In the last part, local site effects are assessed by carrying out one-dimensional (1-D) ground response analysis (using the program SHAKE2000) using both standard penetration test (SPT) data and shear wave velocity data from multichannel analysis of surface wave (MASW) survey. Further, field experiments using microtremor studies have also been carried out for evaluation of predominant frequency of the soil columns. The same has been assessed using 1-D ground response analysis and compared with microtremor results. Further, the Seed and Idriss simplified approach has been adopted to evaluate the soil liquefaction susceptibility and liquefaction resistance assessment. Microzonation maps have been prepared with a scale of 1:20,000. The detailed methodology, along with experimental details, collated data, results and maps are presented in this paper.     

Estimation of shearwave velocity in drifts using multichannel analysis of surface wave (MASW) technique — A case study from Jammu & Kashmir,India

Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) is a non-destructive seismic prospecting method utilizing Rayleigh waves for imaging and characterizing shallow sub-surface structure. Multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) studies were conducted in drift areas of two bridge sites in the hilly terrain of J&K for imaging and characterizing shallow sub-surface structure. The purpose of the present study is to estimate the shear wave velocity (V_S) and subsurface structure in four drifts made in a hilly terrain for construction of two bridges. Rayleigh waves are having dispersive properties, travelling along or near the ground surface and are usually characterized by relatively low velocity, low frequency, and high amplitude. The study area comprises of Tertiary group of rocks which are underlain by Siwalik group. The main rock type in the study area is dolomite which has undergone various geological processes like weathering, jointing, fracturing and shearing. MASW data was collected inside four drifts in the mountainous terrain of J&K state which are located on either sides of Chenab river. The data was analyzed by relevant processing software using dispersion and inversion technique. Shear wave velocities were estimated up to 30 m depth. Average shear wave velocity (V_S ³⁰) up to top 30m was also computed. It is observed that, V_S in the range 400–800 m/s upto 10–15 m corresponding to weathered rock, followed by compact dolomite rock up to the depth of about 30 m with V_S in the range 1200–1600 m/s. Some low velocity zones are also identified from these sections which represent shear zones.     

Examination of the structural characteristics arising in gypsums by the GPR and MASW methods (Sivas,Turkey)

This study was performed at an area of 50?×?48 m² being defined as a new settlement in the northeast of Sivas. In the study, the discontinuities that are not deep and their geophysical characteristics were examined by the GPR and MASW methods. For interpretation, GPR cross sections were prepared as 2D–3D, and MASW cross sections were prepared as 2D. As for geophysical cross sections, about 10 m depth was examined. It was understood that the reflections observed in the form of hyperbolas in GPR cross sections correspond to areas having low S wave velocity (V_s) in MASW cross sections. It was understood that the S wave velocities are lower than 653 m/s, that the seismic velocities in between 653 and 275 m/s indicate partially deteriorated areas and that the S wave velocities of unweathered gypsums are higher than 1275 m/s at these low-velocity zones. Thus, it was thought that the fill material that may arise in the fracture, crack and deterioration areas arises from intercalation and clastic gypsum units, and that it plays a role in having low value S wave velocities. In all the geophysical cross sections, it was understood that the structures with gypsum are intense at the initial 5 m. And a fracture at the south of the study area, that it was estimated might be longer than 40 m, was determined as the largest gypsum structure. It was understood that this fracture starts from a depth of about 5 m in the west and that it slopes down to 7 m depth in the east. According to these results, it was understood that the damage amount arising in time in the gypsum structures from the effect of water may increase, the study area was defined as risky, and the required importance should be attached to these structures especially in foundation engineering.     

Subsurface characterization using seismic refraction and surface wave methods: a case of Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State

This study contains the finding of geophysical investigations conducted at the proposed science complex site at Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Surface wave and seismic refraction tests are non-invasive seismic techniques and have been used to determine the shear wave velocity profile of soil deposits. The methods provide a simplified characterization of subsurface in two-dimensional (2D) (distance and depth) profiles. Seismic records obtained were processed/analyzed by Seis-Imager software to obtain one-dimensional shear wave velocity (Vs) distribution. Multiple Vs obtained were integrated and used to construct two-dimensional Vs map. The measured P- and S-wave velocities were also used to estimate Poisson’s ratio, rigidity modulus, and N-values. The study had shown that the area investigated composed mainly of loose sediments (clay formation) to the depth of 12 m with P-wave velocity ranging between 125 and 205 m/s and corresponding S-wave velocity between 60 and 100 m/s. The results presented in this study will be vital information for the engineers in construction of the proposed science complex.     

Determination of shear wave velocity and depth to basement using multichannel analysis of surface wave technique

The dispersive characteristics of Rayleigh type surface waves were utilized to estimate shear wave velocity (Vs) profile followed by imaging the shallow subsurface granitic layers in the heart of Hyderabad. The reliability of Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) depends on the accurate determination of phase velocities for horizontally traveling fundamental mode Rayleigh waves. Multichannel recording leads to effective identification and isolation of various factors of noise. Calculating the 1-D shear wave velocity (Vs) field from surface waves ensures high degree of accuracy irrespective of cultural noise. The main advantage of mapping the bed rock surface with shear wave velocity (Vs) is the insensitivity of MASW to velocity inversion besides being free from many constraints such as contrast in physical properties etc. Modeling of surface waves data results a shear wave velocity (Vs) of 250?C750 m/s covering the top soil to weathering and up to bedrock corresponding to a depth range of 10?C30 m. Further, the computed N values (which is an indicator of site characteristic) based on the harmonic shear wave velocity up to a depth of 5 m is found to be quite high (> 25?C30) well above 5 indicating the site to be safe and strong enough and not prone to liquefaction. A pair of selected set of results over granites are presented here as a case study highlighting the salient features of MASW.     

Geotechnical assessment of ground conditions around a tilted building in Cairo, Egypt using geophysical approaches

The flood plain of the Nile River has been a safe dwelling throughout history. Recently with a growing population and vast growing urbanization, some buildings have started to experience structural damages, which are not related to their construction design, but rather to the ground conditions around the buildings' foundations. Variations in properties of the soil supporting the buildings' foundations such as soil-bearing capacity, moisture content, and scouring may eventually lead to the failure of these buildings. This study is attempting to characterize the variations in the soil properties around the City Star shopping mall, in eastern Cairo, where a large building has tilted over the past few years. This tilting may lead to the collapse of the whole building if it continues at the same rate. An integrated geophysical investigation including multi-channel analysis of surface wave (MASW), ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and 2-D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) was used around the affected building to help detect possible causes of deterioration. The GPR data showed a soil-filled layer overlaying a thick bottom layer of higher moisture content. The MASW data revealed a middle layer of relatively low shear wave velocity sandwiched between two relatively high shear wave velocity layers. The ERT data showed an upper low resistivity layer overlying a high resistivity layer. Integrating the interpretations of the three geophysical methods provides a combined model that reflects lateral and vertical variation in the soil properties. This variation becomes dramatic near the tilted corner of the building.     

Shear Wave Velocities in the Estimation of Earthquake Hazard Over Alluvium in Seismically Active Region

It is well known that the potential hazard during an earthquake is mainly in alluvium or alluvium filled basins; shear wave velocity plays a significant role in estimating the possible hazard during an earth quake in such an area. This paper presents shear wave velocity profile from Jabalpur, Central India mainly dominated by alluvial soil that was moderately affected by an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 in May, 1997. The acquired shear wave velocity by Multichannel Analysis of Surface Wave (MASW) in as many as 36 sites over alluvial soil ranges from 200 m/sec to 400 m/sec and in a few sites marginally less than 200 m/sec corresponding to a sub-surface depth of 30–35 m. Further, the computed N values vary as low as near zero to less than 25. The study is substantiated by the estimation of P-wave velocity by refraction seismic method at the same locations of MASW which ranges from 350 m/sec to 2200 m/sec. The results suggest that the damage during an earth quake appears to be highly unlikely in view of the marginally high Vs up to depth of 30 m. This study on seismic hazard is substantiated by the estimation of frequency of the ground as well as amplification which is found to be a maximum of about 2.5 in the frequency band of 2–6 Hz in west and north western portion of the study area.     

Research of reservoir watershed fine zoning and flood forecasting method

In the present study, a set of correlation relations between standard penetrations tests (SPT-N values) and shear wave velocity (Vs) for different categories of soils is developed for Dholera region, Gujarat state, Western India. Shear wave velocities were measured using multichannel analysis of surface wave (MASW at 42 sites) and by PS logging (at 16 sites). SPT-N values were taken in total 87 geotechnical boreholes at depth interval of 3 m. Seismic site classification is done as per National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program of the USA. Total 336 pairs of SPT-N values and Vs data at different depths are used to develop the regression correlation between uncorrected SPT-N value and Vs and compared with the results of other workers from India and worldwide for all soils type. It is found that regression correlations developed for clay and all soils are almost similar to each other, for sand, the coefficient value is less and for silt, it is higher. The new regression equation gives good prediction performance. The present correlation can be used for the seismic hazard study for the study area and also for the other areas having similar soil strata using a process of validation.     

Geospatial contour mapping of shear wave velocity for Mumbai city

Shear wave velocity is one of the most important input parameter in the analysis of geotechnical earthquake engineering problems, particularly to estimate site-specific amplification factor and ground response study. Dynamic in situ tests such as spectral analysis of surface waves (SASW) or multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) are very expensive. Also due to lack of specialized personnel, these tests are generally avoided in many soil investigation programs. Worldwide, several researchers have developed correlations between the SPT ‘N’ value and shear wave velocity ‘V _s’, which are useful for determining the dynamic soil properties. In the present study, more than 400 numbers of soil borehole data were collected from various geotechnical investigation agencies, government engineering institutes and geotechnical laboratories from different parts of Mumbai city, which is financial capital of India with highest population density. In this paper, an attempt has been made to develop the correlation between the SPT ‘N’ value and shear wave velocity ‘V _s’ for various soil profile of Mumbai city and compared with other existing correlations for different cities in India. Using Geographical Information System (GIS), a geospatial contour map of shear wave velocity profile for Mumbai city is prepared with contour intervals of 25 and 50 m/s. The scarcity of database or maps of shear wave velocity profile for Mumbai city will make the present geospatial contour maps extremely useful and beneficial to the designer, practitioners for seismic hazard study involved in geotechnical earthquake engineering.     

Geo-Characterization at selected accelerometric stations in Crete (Greece) and comparison of earthquake data recordings with EC8 elastic spectra

To estimate the seismic response according to Eurocode (EC8) and almost all other national codes, site conditions have to be properly characterized so that soil amplification and the corresponding peak ground motion can be calculated. In this work, different geophysical and geotechnical methods are combined in order to define the detailed ground conditions in selected sites of the Hellenic Accelerometric Network (HAN) in Crete. For this purpose, the geological information of the sites and shear wave velocity, calculated from surface wave measurements, is used. Additionally, ground acceleration data recorded through HAN have been utilized from intermediate depth earthquakes in the broader area of South Aegean Sea. Using the recorded ground motion data and the procedure defined in EC8, the corresponding elastic response spectrum is calculated for the selected sites. The resulting information is compared to the values defined in the corresponding EC8 spectrum for the seismic zone that includes the island of Crete. The comparison shows that accurate definition of ground type through geological, geotechnical and geophysical investigations is important. However, our current comparison focuses on the distribution of values rather than the absolute values of EC8-prescribed spectra, and the results should be considered in this context.     

多道瞬态面波法在回填地基调查中的应用

利用面波在浅部土层中的传播特性以及面波相速度与岩土力学参数的相关性,采用多道瞬态面波法对勘察场地进行探测,通过数据处理获得场地的面波相速度剖面,根据面波相速度结构来推断场地内回填土的分布范围。钻探资料表明,多道瞬态面波法探测结果可靠,应用效果良好。     

High-Frequency Rayleigh-Wave Method

High-frequency (≥2 Hz) Rayleigh-wave data acquired with a multichannei recording sys-tem have been utilized to determine shear (S)-wave velocities in near-surface geophysics since the early 1980s. This overview article discusses the main research results of high-frequency surface-wave tech-niques achieved by research groups at the Kansas Geological Survey and China University of Geosciences in the last 15 years. The multichannel analysis of surface wave (MASW) method is a nou-iuvasive acoustic approach to estimate near-surface S-wave velocity. The differences between MASW results and direct borehole measurements are approximately 15% or less and random. Studies show that simultaneous inversion with higher modes and the fundamental mode can increase model resolution and an investigation depth. The other important seismic property, quality factor (Q), can also be estimated with the MASW method by inverting attenuation coefficients of Rayleigh waves. An inverted model (S-wave velocity or Q) obtained using a damped least-squares method can be assessed by an optimal damping vector in a vicinity of the inverted model determined by an objective function, which is the trace of a weighted sum of model-resolution and model-covariance matrices. Current developments include modeling high-frequency Rayleigh-waves in near-surface media, which builds a foundation for shallow seismic or Rayleigh-wave inversion in the time-offset domain; imaging dispersive energy with high resolution in the frequency-velocity domain and possibly with data in an arbitrary acquisition geometry, which opens a door for 3D surface-wave techniques; and successfully separating surface-wave modes, which provides a valuable tool to perform S-wave velocity profiling with high-horizontal resolution.     

Soil void ratio correlation with shear wave velocities and SPT N values for Indo-Gangetic basin

In this study attempt has been made to understand in-situ void ratio in Indo-Gangetic basin (IGB) and to form empirical relations between void ratio and shear wave velocity (V_s), N values considering subsoil investigation data. Multichannel analysis of surface wave (MASW) test and standard penetration test was carried out along with soil property measured at 25 locations. The general soil profile varied from silty sand to clay of low compressibility, ground water level fluctuated between 1-27 m, depth of borehole varied from 20-40 m. Regression analysis was conducted on 202 data sets of void ratio and shear wave velocity, 293 data sets of void ratio and SPT- N value, which resulted in inverse correlations between void ratio and V_s, SPT N value. The datas were segregated into fine, coarse grained data based on engineering classification and relations were developed separately. Until now, no studies have related in-situ void ratio to V_s and SPT N. These correlations will be useful to predict void ratio for sites having measured values of V_s and N value. These void ratios can be further used to assess liquefaction susceptibility.     

Liquefaction Hazard Assessment of Earth Quake Prone Area: a Study Based on Shear Wave Velocity by Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW)

The shear wave velocity (V_S) profile based on the dispersive characteristics of fundamental mode of Rayleigh type surface waves indicate underground stiffness change with depth as well as near surface stiffness. The most important utility of shear wave velocity (V_S) is to estimate the liquefaction hazard potential of an area particularly in seismically active region. Rayleigh type surface waves were utilized to estimate the velocity (V_S) of shallow subsurface covering a depth range of 30–50 m employing multichannel analysis of surface waves. The liquefaction hazard map predicts an approximate percentage of an area that will have surface manifestation of liquefaction during an earth quake. The surface wave data acquired in an earth quake prone region of Jabalpur (Seismic zone III), India, yields a velocity (V_S) range of 200–750 m/s corresponding to the subsurface depth of 30–35 m. The results were analyzed for possible liquefaction hazard in the study area and presented here besides the N values.