Seismic phases and scaling associated with small high-explosive surface shots

1981 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1731-1741
Author(s):  
I. N. Gupta ◽  
R. A. Hartenberger

Abstract An analysis of seismic field data from surface shots in two radically different geologic environments shows significantly different seismic phases at the two sites. At the first site, which has a layered sedimentary section, five distinct phases are observed: the P-wave first arrival; a complex wave train consisting of higher mode Rayleigh waves; a precursor to air-blast wave; the air blast wave; and the air-coupled Rayleigh waves. Records from the second site, overlying an unlayered mass of igneous rocks, show only three distinct seismic phases: the P-wave first arrival; a simple wave train of fundamental-mode Rayleigh and Love waves; and an air blast wave. Peak ground velocity, based on the average of the three largest amplitudes in the surface waves preceding the air blast wave, scales well with yield for both sites. Measurements of peak ground velocity may be used to estimate yields of explosive charges at either site within a factor of about 2 if the source distance is known. The scaling relationship appears to be valid over a wide range of yields and site geological conditions.

1960 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-180
Author(s):  
Jack Oliver ◽  
Maurice Major

ABSTRACT The PL phase is a normally dispersed train of waves of periods greater than about 10 seconds beginning at or near the time of the initial P wave and sometimes continuing at least to the time of the beginning of the Rayleigh-wave train. With adequate instrumentation the PL phase is commonly observed at distances less than about 25° from shallow shocks. In general, surface particle motion is elliptical and progressive, and amplitudes are not greater than about one-quarter those of Rayleigh waves of the same period. Comparison of PL- and Rayleigh-wave dispersion shows that both waves propagate in roughly the same near-surface wave guide. Whereas Rayleigh waves correspond to normal- (nonleaking-) mode propagation, PL waves appear to correspond to leakingmode propagation within this wave guide.


Geophysics ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 659-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. T. Chen

Laboratory measurements have verified a novel technique for direct shear‐wave logging in hard and soft formations with a dipole source, as recently suggested in theoretical studies. Conventional monopole logging tools are not capable of measuring shear waves directly. In particular, no S waves are recorded in a soft formation with a conventional monopole sonic tool because there are no critically refracted S rays when the S-wave velocity of the rock is less than the acoustic velocity of the borehole fluid. The present studies were conducted in the laboratory with scale models representative of sonic logging conditions in the field. We have used a concrete model to represent hard formations and a plastic model to simulate a soft formation. The dipole source, operating at frequencies lower than those conventionally used in logging, substantially suppressed the P wave and excited a wave train whose first arrival traveled at the S-wave velocity. As a result, one can use a dipole source to log S-wave velocity directly on‐line by picking the first arrival of the full wave train, in a process similar to that used in conventional P-wave logging. Laboratory experiments with a conventional monopole source in a soft formation did not produce S waves. However, the S-wave velocity was accurately estimated by using Biot’s theory, which required measuring the Stoneley‐wave velocity and knowing other borehole parameters.


1983 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 237-246
Author(s):  
Marcelo Assumpção

abstract An empirical amplitude-distance curve is determined for earthquakes registered at regional distances in conterminous Brazil. This curve is the basis of a regional magnitude scale, mR, using the maximum amplitude in the whole P-wave train with periods in the range 0.1 to 1.0 sec. In the distance range 200 ≦ R ≦ 1500 km, we find m R = log ⁡ ( A / T ) + 2.3 log ⁡ R − 1.48. This scale gives much better agreement with the teleseismic mb magnitudes than the values calculated using the regional Q factors of Gutenberg and Richter (1956). It is shown that, despite using a wide range of periods, mR should be a good estimate of the 1-sec teleseismic mb in the range 2 ≦ mb < 5.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-120
Author(s):  
Kajetan Chrapkiewicz ◽  
Monika Wilde-Piórko ◽  
Marcin Polkowski ◽  
Marek Grad

AbstractNon-linear inverse problems arising in seismology are usually addressed either by linearization or by Monte Carlo methods. Neither approach is flawless. The former needs an accurate starting model; the latter is computationally intensive. Both require careful tuning of inversion parameters. An additional challenge is posed by joint inversion of data of different sensitivities and noise levels such as receiver functions and surface wave dispersion curves. We propose a generic workflow that combines advantages of both methods by endowing the linearized approach with an ensemble of homogeneous starting models. It successfully addresses several fundamental issues inherent in a wide range of inverse problems, such as trapping by local minima, exploitation of a priori knowledge, choice of a model depth, proper weighting of data sets characterized by different uncertainties, and credibility of final models. Some of them are tackled with the aid of novel 1D checkerboard tests—an intuitive and feasible addition to the resolution matrix. We applied our workflow to study the south-western margin of the East European Craton. Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion and P-wave receiver function data were gathered in the passive seismic experiment “13 BB Star” (2013–2016) in the area of the crust recognized by previous borehole and refraction surveys. Final models of S-wave velocity down to 300 km depth beneath the array are characterized by proximity in the parameter space and very good data fit. The maximum value in the mantle is higher by 0.1–0.2 km/s than reported for other cratons.


Geophysics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 1838-1842 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Schmeissner ◽  
K. T. Spikes ◽  
D. W. Steeples

Ultrashallow seismic reflection surveys require dense spatial sampling during data acquisition, which increases their cost. In previous efforts to find ways to reduce these costs, we connected geophones rigidly to pieces of channel iron attached to a farm implement. This method allowed us to plant the geophones in the ground quickly and automatically. The rigidly interconnected geophones used in these earlier studies detected first‐arrival energy along with minor interfering seismic modes, but they did not detect seismic reflections. To examine further the feasibility of developing rigid geophone emplacement systems to detect seismic reflections, we experimented with four pieces of channel iron, each 2.7 m long and 10 cm wide. Each segment was equipped with 18 geophones rigidly attached to the channel iron at 15‐cm intervals, and the spikes attached to all 18 geophones were pushed into the ground simultaneously. The geophones detected both refracted and reflected energy; however, no significant signal distortion or interference attributable to the rigid coupling of the geophones to the channel iron was observed in the data. The interfering seismic modes mentioned from the previous experiments were not detected, nor was any P‐wave propagation noted within the channel iron. These results show promise for automating and reducing the cost of ultrashallow seismic reflection and refraction surveys.


Geophysics ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. T243-T255 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. D. Hobro ◽  
Chris H. Chapman ◽  
Johan O. A. Robertsson

We present a new method for correcting the amplitudes of arrivals in an acoustic finite-difference simulation for elastic effects. In this method, we selectively compute an estimate of the error incurred when the acoustic wave equation is used to approximate the behavior of the elastic wave equation. This error estimate is used to generate an effective source field in a second acoustic simulation. The result of this second simulation is then applied as a correction to the original acoustic simulation. The overall cost is approximately twice that of an acoustic simulation but substantially less than the cost of an elastic simulation. Because both simulations are acoustic, no S-waves are generated, so dispersed converted waves are avoided. We tested the characteristics of the method on a simple synthetic model designed to simulate propagation through a strong acoustic impedance contrast representative of sedimentary geology. It corrected amplitudes to high accuracy for reflected arrivals over a wide range of incidence angles. We also evaluated results from simulations on more complex models that demonstrated that the method was applicable in realistic sedimentary models containing a wide range of seismic contrasts. However, its accuracy was reduced for wide-angle reflections from very high impedance contrasts such as a shallow top-salt interface. We examined the influence of modeling at coarse grid resolutions, in which converted S-waves in the equivalent elastic simulation are dispersed. These results provide some validation for the accuracy of the method when applied using finite-difference grids designed for acoustic modeling. The method appears to offer a cost-effective means of modeling elastic amplitudes for P-wave arrivals in a useful range of velocity models. It has several potential applications in imaging and inversion.


1982 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 1329-1349
Author(s):  
H. J. Patton

abstract Single-station measurements of Rayleigh-wave phase velocity are obtained for paths between the Nevada Test Site and the Livermore broadband regional stations. Nuclear underground explosions detonated in Yucca Valley were the sources of the Rayleigh waves. The source phase φs required by the single-station method is calculated for an explosion source by assuming a spherically symmetric point source with step-function time dependence. The phase velocities are used to analyze the Rayleigh waves of the Massachusetts Mountain earthquake of 5 August 1971. Measured values of source phase for this earthquake are consistent with the focal mechanism determined from P-wave first-motion data (Fischer et al., 1972). A moment-tensor inversion of the Rayleigh-wave spectra for a 3-km-deep source gives a horizontal, least-compressive stress axis oriented N63°W and a seismic moment of 5.5 × 1022 dyne-cm. The general agreement between the results of the P-wave study of Fischer et al. (1972) and this study supports the measurements of phase velocities and, in turn, the explosion source model used to calculate φs.


1990 ◽  
Vol 80 (5) ◽  
pp. 1205-1231
Author(s):  
Jiajun Zhang ◽  
Thorne Lay

Abstract Determination of shallow earthquake source mechanisms by inversion of long-period (150 to 300 sec) Rayleigh waves requires epicentral locations with greater accuracy than that provided by routine source locations of the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) and International Seismological Centre (ISC). The effects of epicentral mislocation on such inversions are examined using synthetic calculations as well as actual data for three large Mexican earthquakes. For Rayleigh waves of 150-sec period, an epicentral mislocation of 30 km introduces observed source spectra phase errors of 0.6 radian for stations at opposing azimuths along the source mislocation vector. This is larger than the 0.5-radian azimuthal variation of the phase spectra at the same period for a thrust fault with 15° dip and 24-km depth. The typical landward mislocation of routinely determined epicenters of shallow subduction zone earthquakes causes source moment tensor inversions of long-period Rayleigh waves to predict larger fault dip than indicated by teleseismic P-wave first-motion data. For dip-slip earthquakes, inversions of long-period Rayleigh waves that use an erroneous source location in the down-dip or along-strike directions of a nodal plane, overestimate the strike, dip, and slip of that nodal plane. Inversions of strike-slip earthquakes that utilize an erroneous location along the strike of a nodal plane overestimate the slip of that nodal plane, causing the second nodal plane to dip incorrectly in the direction opposite to the mislocation vector. The effects of epicentral mislocation for earthquakes with 45° dip-slip fault mechanisms are more severe than for events with other fault mechanisms. Existing earth model propagation corrections do not appear to be sufficiently accurate to routinely determine the optimal surface-wave source location without constraints from body-wave information, unless extensive direct path (R1) data are available or empirical path calibrations are performed. However, independent surface-wave and body-wave solutions can be remarkably consistent when the effects of epicentral mislocation are accounted for. This will allow simultaneous unconstrained body-wave and surface-wave inversions to be performed despite the well known difficulties of extracting the complete moment tensor of shallow sources from fundamental modes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (02) ◽  
pp. 1950015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keun Sun Chang ◽  
Young Jae Kim ◽  
Min Jun Kim

The standing column well (SCW) for ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems is a highly promising technology with its high heat capacity and efficiency. In this study, a large-scale thermal response tester has been built, which is capable of imposing a wide range of heat on the SCW ground heat exchangers and measuring time responses of their thermal parameters. Two standing column wells in one site but with different well hydrological and geological conditions are tested to study their effects on the thermal performances. Borehole thermal resistance ([Formula: see text]) and the effective thermal conductivity ([Formula: see text]) are derived from data obtained from the thermal response test (TRT) by using a line source method. Results show that the influence of groundwater movement on the thermal conductivity of the SCW is not very significant (3.6% difference between two different geological conditions). This indicates that results of one TRT measurement can be applied to other SCWs in the same site, with which considerable time and cost are saved. The increase of circulation flow rate enhances the ground thermal conductivity moderately (4.5% increase with flow rate increase of 45%), but the borehole thermal resistance is substantially lowered (about 25.9%).


The object of this paper is to illustrate the main features of wave propagation in dispersive media. In the case of surface waves on deep water it has been remarked that the earlier investigators considered the more difficult problem of the propagation of an arbitrary initial disturbance as expressed by a Fourier integral, ignoring the simpler theory developed subsequently by considering the propagation of a single element of their integrals, namely an unending train of simple harmonic waves. The point of view on which stress is laid here consists of a return to the Fourier integral, with the idea that the element of disturbance is not a simple harmonic wave-train, but a simple group, an aggregate of simple wave-trains clustering around a given central period. In many cases it is then possible to select from the integral die few simple groups that are important, and hence to isolate the chief regular features, if any, in the phenomena. In certain of the following sections well-known results appear; the aim has been to develop these from the present point of view, and so illustrate die dependence of the phenomena upon the character of the velocity function, In the other sections it is hoped that progress has been made in the theory if the propagation of an arbitrary initial group of waves, and also of the character of the wave pattern diverging from a point impulse travelling on die surface.


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