Non-uniqueness in surface-wave inversion and consequences on seismic site response analyses

Surface-wave tests are based on the solution of an inverse problem for shear-wave velocity profile identification from the experimentally measured dispersion curve. The main criticisms for these testing methodologies are related to the inverse problem solution and arise from the possible equivalence of different shear-wave velocity profiles. In this paper, some implications of solution non-uniqueness for seismic response studies are investigated using both numerical simulations and experimental data. A Monte Carlo approach for the inversion problem has been used to obtain a set of equivalent shear-wave velocity models. This selection is based on a statistical test which takes into account both data uncertainty and model parameterization. This set of solutions (i.e., soil profiles) is then used to evaluate the seismic response with a conventional one-dimensional analysis. It is shown that equivalent profiles with respect to surface-wave testing are equivalent also with respect to site amplification, thus countering the criticism related to inversion uncertainty for the engineering use of surface-wave tests.     

Joint Audio-Magnetotelluric and Passive Seismic Imaging of the Cerdanya Basin

The structure of Cerdanya Basin (north-east of Iberian Peninsula) is partly known from geological cross sections, geological maps and vintage geophysical data. However, these data do not have the necessary resolution to characterize some parts of Cerdanya Basin such as the thickness of soft soil, geometry of bedrock or geometry of geological units and associated faults. For all these reasons, the main objective of this work is to improve this deficiency carrying out a detailed study in this Neogene basin applying jointly the combination of passive seismic methods (H/V spectral ratio and seismic array) and electromagnetic methods (audio-magnetotelluric and magnetotelluric method). The passive seismic techniques provide valuable information of geometry of basement along the profile. The maximum depth is located near Alp village with a bedrock depth of 500 m. The bedrock is located in surface at both sites of profile. The Neogene sediments present a shear-wave velocity between 400 and 1000 m/s, and the bedrock basement presents a shear-wave velocity values between 1700 and 2200 m/s. These results are used as a priori information to create a 2D resistivity initial model which constraints the inversion process of electromagnetic data. We have obtained a 2D resistivity model which is characterized by (1) a heterogeneous conductivity zone (<40 Ohm m) that corresponds to shallow part of the model up to 500 m depth in the centre of the profile. These values have been associated with Quaternary and Neogene sediments formed by silts, clays, conglomerates, sandstones and gravels, and (2) a deeper resistive zone (1000–3000 Ohm m) interpreted as Palaeozoic basement (sandstones, limestones and slates at NW and conglomerates and microconglomerates at SE). The resistive zone is truncated by a discontinuity at the south-east of the profile which is interpreted as the Alp-La Tet Fault. This discontinuity is represented by a more conductive zone (600 Ohm m approx.) and is explained as a combination of fractured rock and a fluid network. The result highlights that the support between different geophysical methods is essential in producing geophysical meaningful models.     

Two-dimensional imaging of soil–bedrock interface by short-array beamforming technique

The depth to soil–bedrock interface, which is one of the major parameters in the site response analysis, has been often investigated by surface-wave tests. The round-robin tests for a surface-wave method in Korea revealed that a long measurement array in surface-wave tests is not appropriate in locating soil–bedrock interface. In this paper, for the improved profiling of depth to soil–bedrock interface in 2-D image, short measurement array was introduced for the beamforming technique, which is a robust array processing technique adopted in a long-array format for stiffness profiling. Numerical simulation and field applications of the short-array beamforming technique indicate that the method is valid even for surface wave propagation with mode-related complexity. Depth to soil–bedrock interface and shear-wave velocity profiles determined by the short-array beamforming technique were in good agreement with layer stratifications of boring logs, resistivity map, shear-wave velocity profiles of downhole tests and CAP-SASW tests.     

泉州市规划区场地抗震性能与土地适宜性分区研究

在泉州市土地适宜性分区规划的编制过程中，建立了比较详细的钻孔资料数据库，给出了泉州规划区内不同土类的剪切波速按埋置深度进行修正的经验公式，并用这些经验公式计算了无实测波速资料的钻孔的等效剪切波速。文中按等效剪切波速和覆盖层厚度进行了场地类别的划分；采用震后残余应变和软化模量的思想和分层总和方法，综合考虑了软土厚度、埋深、地下水位对软土震陷量的影响，使软土震陷量计算结果更为合理。在充分考虑规划区内地形地貌、工程地质条件、场地类别、砂土液化、软土震陷、砂层及软弱土层的厚度分布、滑坡崩塌等对场地抗震性能影响的基础上，给出了更适合规划区的场地抗震性能评价标准，绘制了泉州场地抗震性能与土地适宜性分区图。     

武汉市区土体剪切波速与深度的经验关系

通过对武汉市区3个主要地质单元共8 305个剪切波速数据的分析整理,分别运用线性函数、一元二次多项式函数、指数函数对武汉市区不同地貌单元不同土类的剪切波速与深度的关系进行统计回归,得到其经验关系。结果表明,武汉市区土体剪切波速与埋深相关性比较明显;一元二次多项式函数的拟合效果最好。将实测数据与利用经验关系得到的预测值进行对比检验,两者基本吻合,可供武汉市区场地剪切波速数据缺乏时参考使用。     

Multiscale linearized inversion of surface-wave dispersion curves

In recent years, surface-wave analysis method has been developed rapidly in many fields. Multichannel analysis of surface waves can provide near-surface one-dimensional shear-wave velocity profiles. Because linearized inversion of surface-wave dispersion curves relies heavily on the choice of the initial model, setting an inappropriate initial model can lead to poor inversion results, or even failure of inversion. However, it is difficult to establish a reasonable initial model without a priori information, which is unavailable in most cases. To cope with this problem, a multiscale linearized inversion method is proposed for surface-wave dispersion curves inversion. In contrast with the traditional single-scale linearized inversion, the key idea of the proposed multiscale surface-wave inversion method is the introduction of a merging and splitting process of layers. After every scale inversion, the merging and splitting operations automatically optimize the inversion model, making it gradually approach to a reasonable subsurface stratification. Multiscale surface-wave inversion method reduces the difficulty of establishing the initial model and has high computational efficiency. In addition, it has strong ability to identify high-velocity or low-velocity interlayers and thin layers, especially suited for the geological conditions with obvious stratification. In synthetic tests, the proposed method was compared with the single-scale surface-wave inversion and particle swarm optimization algorithm to demonstrate the effectiveness and practicability of multiscale surface-wave inversion method. We also applied the multiscale surface-wave inversion method to field seismic data acquired in Guizhou, China and Texas, USA. Borehole and crosshole test data were compared with the inversion results of field data to prove the reliability of the proposed method.     

Application of the Spatial Auto-Correlation Method for Shear-Wave Velocity Studies Using Ambient Noise

Ambient seismic noise or microtremor observations used in spatial auto-correlation (SPAC) array methods consist of a wide frequency range of surface waves from the frequency of about 0.1 Hz to several tens of Hz. The wavelengths (and hence depth sensitivity of such surface waves) allow determination of the site S-wave velocity model from a depth of 1 or 2 m down to a maximum of several kilometres; it is a passive seismic method using only ambient noise as the energy source. Application usually uses a 2D seismic array with a small number of seismometers (generally between 2 and 15) to estimate the phase velocity dispersion curve and hence the S-wave velocity depth profile for the site. A large number of methods have been proposed and used to estimate the dispersion curve; SPAC is the one of the oldest and the most commonly used methods due to its versatility and minimal instrumentation requirements. We show that direct fitting of observed and model SPAC spectra generally gives a superior bandwidth of useable data than does the more common approach of inversion after the intermediate step of constructing an observed dispersion curve. Current case histories demonstrate the method with a range of array types including two-station arrays, L-shaped multi-station arrays, triangular and circular arrays. Array sizes from a few metres to several-km in diameter have been successfully deployed in sites ranging from downtown urban settings to rural and remote desert sites. A fundamental requirement of the method is the ability to average wave propagation over a range of azimuths; this can be achieved with either or both of the wave sources being widely distributed in azimuth, and the use of a 2D array sampling the wave field over a range of azimuths. Several variants of the method extend its applicability to under-sampled data from sparse arrays, the complexity of multiple-mode propagation of energy, and the problem of precise estimation where array geometry departs from an ideal regular array. We find that sparse nested triangular arrays are generally sufficient, and the use of high-density circular arrays is unlikely to be cost-effective in routine applications. We recommend that passive seismic arrays should be the method of first choice when characterizing average S-wave velocity to a depth of 30 m (V_s30) and deeper, with active seismic methods such as multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) being a complementary method for use if and when conditions so require. The use of computer inversion methodology allows estimation of not only the S-wave velocity profile but also parameter uncertainties in terms of layer thickness and velocity. The coupling of SPAC methods with horizontal/vertical particle motion spectral ratio analysis generally allows use of lower frequency data, with consequent resolution of deeper layers than is possible with SPAC alone. Considering its non-invasive methodology, logistical flexibility, simplicity, applicability, and stability, the SPAC method and its various modified extensions will play an increasingly important role in site effect evaluation. The paper summarizes the fundamental theory of the SPAC method, reviews recent developments, and offers recommendations for future blind studies.     

确定场地土层速度结构的改进半波长法

地球物理反演浅地表土层波速剖面通常基于初始速度结构模型,为避免对地勘资料产生较多依赖,充分利用地震和背景噪声等被动源观测记录,快速简便地构建出土层反演的初始模型,本文基于场地土层的频散曲线和水平与竖向谱比提出了一种改进半波长法。该方法首先通过水平与竖向谱比确定场地土层的卓越频率,获取场地覆盖层厚度,确定反演所需的频带范围;其次,利用瑞雷波相速度对剪切波速的偏导数随土层深度的变化规律反演出场地的初始速度结构,并结合工程场地勘探中的半波长法,对常见的三类典型土层模型和日本Kushiro场地实测模型进行了实例分析;最后,将反演得到的速度结构与理论或实测速度结构进行误差对比分析。结果表明:改进半波长法获得的初始速度结构相对于理论或实测速度结构的最大误差不超过35%,可为利用地球物理方法反演工程场地波速剖面构造一个较小的搜索模型空间,进而提高反演计算的速度和结果的可靠性。      

Spatial Variability of the Depth of Weathered and Engineering Bedrock using Multichannel Analysis of Surface Wave Method

In this paper an attempt has been made to evaluate the spatial variability of the depth of weathered and engineering bedrock in Bangalore, south India using Multichannel Analysis of Surface Wave (MASW) survey. One-dimensional MASW survey has been carried out at 58 locations and shear-wave velocities are measured. Using velocity profiles, the depth of weathered rock and engineering rock surface levels has been determined. Based on the literature, shear-wave velocity of 330 ± 30 m/s for weathered rock or soft rock and 760 ± 60 m/s for engineering rock or hard rock has been considered. Depths corresponding to these velocity ranges are evaluated with respect to ground contour levels and top surface levels have been mapped with an interpolation technique using natural neighborhood. The depth of weathered rock varies from 1 m to about 21 m. In 58 testing locations, only 42 locations reached the depths which have a shear-wave velocity of more than 760 ± 60 m/s. The depth of engineering rock is evaluated from these data and it varies from 1 m to about 50 m. Further, these rock depths have been compared with a subsurface profile obtained from a two-dimensional (2-D) MASW survey at 20 locations and a few selected available bore logs from the deep geotechnical boreholes.     

四川、甘肃地区VS30经验估计研究

目前我国建筑工程抗震设计规范中对于工程场地条件的判断依据主要是地表以下20m深度范围内土层的等效剪切波速,简称VS20。相比之下,国外应用较广的是地表以下30m深度范围内的等效剪切波速,简称VS30。这种差别导致国内科研工作者在应用国外的地震工程、工程抗震模型时经常遇到对场地条件描述不准确的困难。为了解决这个问题,本文根据147个四川、甘肃地区国家强震动台站20m左右深度的钻孔剪切波速数据,利用延拓方法、场地分类统计方法以及基于地形特征的VS30估计方法研究各台站VS30与VS20的经验关系,对比发现基于速度梯度延拓的结果最为可取。参考国际上通用的Geomatrix Classification场地分类标准,最终得到四川、甘肃地区各类场地的平均VS30,此结果可以为缺乏钻孔数据的工程场地的VS30估计提供参考。     

Spatial correlation of shear-wave velocity in the San Francisco Bay Area sediments

Ground motions recorded within sedimentary basins are variable over short distances. One important cause of the variability is that local soil properties are variable at all scales. Regional hazard maps developed for predicting site effects are generally derived from maps of surficial geology; however, recent studies have shown that mapped geologic units do not correlate well with the average shear-wave velocity of the upper 30 m, V_s(30). We model the horizontal variability of near-surface soil shear-wave velocity in the San Francisco Bay Area to estimate values in unsampled locations in order to account for site effects in a continuous manner. Previous geostatistical studies of soil properties have shown horizontal correlations at the scale of meters to tens of meters while the vertical correlations are on the order of centimeters. In this paper we analyze shear-wave velocity data over regional distances and find that surface shear-wave velocity is correlated at horizontal distances up to 4 km based on data from seismic cone penetration tests and the spectral analysis of surface waves. We propose a method to map site effects by using geostatistical methods based on the shear-wave velocity correlation structure within a sedimentary basin. If used in conjunction with densely spaced shear-wave velocity profiles in regions of high seismic risk, geostatistical methods can produce reliable continuous maps of site effects.     

Site correction of ground motion in Fujian area

On the basis of the interpretation of the high-resolution satellite remote sensing images, in combination with the data of engineering geological exploration and shear-wave velocity testing, the site category-zoning map of FJ area with the scale of 1:200,000 is generated according to the site classification standard of “Code for Seismic design of Buildings” of China (GB50011 2010). By the method of Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis, we obtain bedrock seismic ground motion parameters of five recurrent periods (50, 200, 500, 1000, and 2500 a) of FJ area. By using the 617 typical soil layer structures of the site classifications in FJ area, we build seismic response models of soil layers and make seismic response analysis, then obtain the statistic sample space of site amplification factors, which possess reasonable distribution and sufficient data. Considering the distribution characteristics of The Quaternary Strata in FJ area, according to the statistic zoning (mountains and coastal areas respectively) and site classifications as well as the level of bedrock importing ground motion, the site magnification-factors of ground motion in FJ area are obtained by classification statistics.     

A study on the uncertainties of the centroid depth of the 2013 Lushan earthquake from teleseimic body wave data

Centroid depth of earthquakes is essential for seismic hazard mitigation. But, various studies provided different solutions for the centroid depth of the damaging 2013 Lushan earthquake, thus hindering further studies of the earthquake processes. To resolve its centroid depth and assess the uncertainties, we apply the teleseismic cut and paste method to invert for centroid depth with teleseismic body waves in the epicentral distance of 30°–90°. We performed the inversion for P waves only as well the case of both P and SH waves and found that both cases lead to depth solutions with difference less than 0.5 km. We also investigated the effects on depth inversion from azimuth gap of seismic stations, source duration, and corner frequency of filter. These various tests show that even azimuthal distribution of seismic stations is helpful for accurate depth inversion. It is also found that estimate of centroid depth is sensitive to source duration. Moreover, the depth is biased to larger values when corner frequency of low-pass filter is very low. The uncertainty in the velocity model can also generate some error in the depth estimation (~1.0 km).With all the above factors considered, the centroid depth of Lushan earthquake is proposed to be around 12 km, with uncertainty about 2 km.     

基于微动方法研究五大连池火山区尾山火山锥浅层剪切波速度结构

为了研究五大连池火山区尾山火山锥浅层三维波速结构特征,在尾山火山锥附近区域布设了无线地震检波器密集台阵,记录连续地震背景噪声波形数据.基于微动方法(拓展空间自相关方法)提取了台站间2~5 Hz频率范围的Rayleigh面波相速度频散曲线.利用面波层析成像方法反演获得2~5 Hz Rayleigh面波二维相速度图像,基于每一个网格节点的频散曲线,进一步反演获得了尾山火山锥附近区域地表至700m深度的三维剪切波速度结构.成像结果显示:在0~150m较浅深度,靠近尾山火山锥区域显示为相对高速异常,远离火山锥区域则显示为相对低速异常.而至150~700m较深深度,波速异常特征与浅部相反,靠近尾山火山锥的区域显示为相对低速异常,远离火山锥的区域显示为相对高速异常.在远离尾山火山锥区域,浅层的相对低速异常可能与松散沉积层有关,深部的高速异常则反映了结晶变质岩的影响.在靠近尾山火山锥区域,浅部的相对高速异常应该反映了出露地表的玄武岩,而深部的相对低速异常则可能反映了火山通道周围广泛发育的破碎裂隙结构及其火山喷发后孔隙流体填充的影响.     

1D velocity structure of the Po River plain (Northern Italy) assessed by combining strong motion and ambient noise data

Strong ground motions recorded on the sedimentary deposits of the Po River alluvial plain during the Emilia (Northern Italy) Mw 5.7 earthquake of May 29, 2012 are used to assess the vertical profile of shear-wave velocity above the limestone basement. Data were collected by a linear array installed for site effect studies after the Mw 5.9 mainshock of May 20, 2012. The array stations, equipped with both strong and weak motion sensors, are aligned in the South–North direction, at distances ranging from 1 to 26 km from the epicenter. The vertical components of ground motion show very distinctive, large-amplitude, low-frequency dispersive wave trains. Wavelet analysis yields group-velocity dispersion curve in the 0.2–0.7 Hz frequency band. The availability of a long ambient noise record allows estimates of the site resonance frequency along with its stability among stations. The joint inversion of dispersion of surface waves and ellipticity curves derived from ambient noise H/V allows extending investigations down to the sediment-limestone interface, at a depth of about 5,000 m. Our results add new information about the velocity structure at a scale that is intermediate between the local scale already investigated by other authors with small-aperture arrays using ambient noise and the regional scale inferred from modeling of seismogram waveforms recorded at hundreds of kilometers from the source.     

From surface wave inversion to seismic site response prediction: Beyond the 1D approach

Surface wave methods consist of the extraction and inversion of the Rayleigh wave phase-velocity dispersion curve to recover the (usually 1D) shear-wave velocity profile. In the literature, uncertainty due to data error has not received much attention, but the discussion about uncertainty due to model error is even poorer. Even with an unrealistic noise-free dataset and an exact forward model, an inappropriate parameterization can generate solutions very far from the actual soil structure. In general, the model used for the dispersion curve interpretation is 1D. Hence, when the velocity distribution is laterally heterogeneous, model errors can have significant consequences on the reliability of the resulting shear-wave velocity distribution. From a poor velocity reconstruction, an unsatisfactory, and often dangerous site response analysis follows. In fact, shear wave measurements play a relevant role in seismic ground motion amplification estimation. In this paper, we discuss the possibility of processing the seismograms using a multi-offset phase analysis (MOPA), in order to derive soil elastic parameters for weak motion predictions. This technique allows the detection and location of the lateral discontinuities, and a better model parameterization. In fact, once the discontinuities are identified, we can split the profile into several, truly 1D, parts. The use of the standard 1D dispersion curve extraction and inversion for each side of the heterogeneity generates velocity profiles that we can put side by side to get correct 2D reconstructions of the shear-wave distributions. From 2D velocity reconstruction, we can calculate the site response that may be significantly different from the site response generated from a traditional 1D analysis of the same seismograms. In this work, we discuss the site responses of two synthetic examples with lateral heterogeneities. We show how misleading a 1D analysis may be if applied to a truly 2D velocity distribution, particularly in terms of site response prediction.     

3D near-surface soil response from H/V ambient-noise ratios

The applicability of the horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) ambient-noise spectral ratio for characterizing earthquake site effects caused by near-surface topography and velocity structures was evaluated at sites underlain by thick (i.e. >100 m) sediment deposits near the southern-end of the New Madrid seismic zone in the central United States. Three-component ambient-noise and velocity models derived from seismic (shear-wave) refraction/reflection surveys showed that a relatively horizontal, sharp shear-wave velocity interface in the soil column resulted in an H/V spectral ratio with a single well-defined peak. Observations at sites with more than one sharp shear-wave velocity contrast and horizontally arranged soil layers resulted in at least two well-defined H/V spectral ratio peaks. Furthermore, at sites where there were sharp shear-wave velocity contrasts in nonhorizontal, near-surface soil layers, the H/V spectra exhibited a broad-bandwidth, relatively low-amplitude signal instead of a single well-defined peak.     

Site characterization in the Vega Baja, SE Spain, using ambient-noise H/V analysis

New available geological, geotechnical, and geophysical data and new acquired ambient-noise surveys allowed for a detailed characterization of the soils in the Vega Baja region, located in the Lower Segura River basin, SE of the Iberian Peninsula. Single-station measurements were carried out at 90 sites, mainly over the central area of the basin, checking reproducibility by repeating some measurements under different conditions, on different dates, and through different acquisition systems, following well established standard procedures. The detailed data processing and analysis of the new acquired ambient-noise records provided the identification of multiple peaks in some of the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio curves, representing different impedance contrasts at depth that were 1D modelled to characterize the Vega Baja soils in terms of resonant frequencies, average shear-wave velocity, thickness of the different soil units, depth to the engineering bedrock and depth to the rock units when the model includes it. The depth to the engineering bedrock is around 30 m in the central part of the region, reaching maximum values of about 50 m in the north and to the east. Maximum values of the shear-wave velocity averaged over the soil units are close to 200 m/s while that averaged in the top 30 m reach values around 300 m/s south of the river bank. Contour mapping and cross-sections of the obtained model parameters illustrate the soil characteristics over the region, providing relevant information for the generation of representative sets of seismic hazard scenarios at different probability levels in future studies for their application in risk mitigation and emergency planning in the Vega Baja.     

地震反应分析中输入界面的选取对地表地震动参数的影响

地震反应分析中输入界面选取合理与否对设计地震动参数有重要影响。基于唐山地区钻孔剖面,分别选取剪切波速为500m/s的硬黏土和800m/s的岩石顶面作为基岩输入界面,采用一维等效线性化方法讨论中硬场地输入界面的选取对地表地震动参数的影响,结果表明:(1)地表峰值加速度放大倍数及地表加速度反应谱特征周期都随输入界面深度的增加而递增,且这种递增与输入地震动的强度及频谱特性都有密切联系;(2)随着输入界面深度的增加,地表加速度反应谱几乎全频段内增大,仅在短周期内出现减小的情况,但幅度十分有限;(3)中硬场地地震反应分析中基岩输入界面宜取剪切波速为800m/s的土层顶面。