Use of surface waves dispersion for the in-situ characterization of

geo-materials
Hassan Ali1, Ali Naseeri-Moghaddam2, Giovanni Cascante1
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
2Inspec-Sol Inc., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Introduction Processing and Analysis of Results

Lack of site characterization, failure of ground surface, and subsidence due to SURFACE WAVE PROPAGATION TYPICAL TIME TRACES FREQUENCY WAVE-NUMBER PLOT
0.05 999.0 999.0
0.05
underground cavities are major problems around the world; which causes damage to civil 0.05
936.5 No – Void Aliasing 936.5
Void
BEFORE CENTERED AFTER
infrastructure. VOID ON VOID VOID 874.5 874.5

(SECT 1) (SECT 2) (SECT 3) 810.5 810.5

0.1 0.1 0.1
Geotechnical site characterization is commonly required to find the location of soft 749.0 749.0

sedimentary soil layer or shallow bedrock. This information is critical for the design of 686.5 686.5
Main

Frequency (Hz)
foundations, embankments, and tunnels 625.0

Frequency (Hz)
Pulse Main 0.15 0.15 625.0 P-wave
0.15
Pulse Main 561.5 561.5

Therefore, the use of non-invasive techniques for determination of the subsurface Pulse 499.0 499.0

stratigraphy, shear wave velocity, depth of bedrock, and location of underground voids is 0.2 0.2
Reflections
0.2 436.5 436.5

374.0 374.0
a valuable tool. Reflections Reflections Rayleigh wave
312.5 312.5

249.0
Effect of void
0.25 0.25 0.25 249.0

186.5 186.5
Effect of
Grid 125.0 125.0
Boundary 61.5
silt & clay 0.3 0.3 0.3 61.5
Overburden
Effect of
sand & silt Grid Effect of 0.0 0.0
Crown Pillar 0.0 19.63 39.27 58.90 78.54 98.33 117.96 137.29 156 0.0 19.63 39.27 58.90 78.54 98.33 117.96 137.29 156
Boundary Grid
Thickness WaveNumber (rad/m) WaveNumber (rad/m)
Boundary
silty clay 0.35 0.35 0.35
Rock Mass
Span
NORMALIZED l VALUES
sandy silt (till) SEC 1 b = 0.08m & h = 0.08, 0.16, 0.32m SEC 1 b = 0.32m & h = 0.08, 0.16, 0.32m
DISPERSION CURVES
Freq Vel l = VR/f l/ H Freq Vel l = VR/f l/ H
After Hutchinson
Comp Comp
65 SECT 1 [Hz] [m/sec] VR=64.08 H = b+h [Hz] [m/sec] VR=64.08 H = b+h

S1b08h08 114.3 62.49 0.56 3.50 S1b32h08 53.38 60.51 1.2 3.00

Velocity [m/sec]
VR = 64.08m/s
64
S1b08h16 96.99 62.88 0.66 2.75 S1b32h16 48.83 54.29 1.31 2.73
Figure1: Underground void from mining activity Figure 2: Soil profile from seismic refraction (SR) test
63 S1b08h32 69.66 63.14 0.92 2.30 S1b32h32 43.95 56.6 1.46 2.28
f = 114.3
V = 62.49 f = 801Hz No-void 47.61 63.82 1.35 No-void 125.7 64.21 0.51
62
SEC 2 b = 0.08m & h = 0.08, 0.16, 0.32m SEC 2 b = 0.32m & h = 0.08, 0.16, 0.32m
Research Objectives 65 SECT 2
VR = 64.08m/s Comp
Freq Vel l = VR/f l/ H
Comp
Freq Vel l = VR/f l/ H
64
[Hz] [m/sec] VR=64.08 H = b+h [Hz] [m/sec] VR=64.08 H = b+h
Velocity [m/sec]

The objective of this research is to use surface waves testing for the in-situ characterization 63 S2b08h08 288.1 62.59 0.22 1.38 S2b32h08 116.2 51.85 0.55 1.38
62
of geo-materials. f = 288 S2b08h16 145.2 62.86 0.44 1.83 S2b32h16 84.62 58.42 0.76 1.58
61 V = 62.59
f = 801Hz S2b08h32 97.66 63.43 0.66 1.65 S2b32h32 48.83 60.08 1.31 2.05
60
This investigation uses numerical and experimental studies of surface wave propagation for SECT 3 No-void 69.34 64.09 0.92 No-void 122.97 63.97 0.52
65
the detection of underground voids and characterization of soil profile. SEC 3 b = 0.08m & h = 0.08, 0.16, 0.32m SEC 3 b = 0.32m & h = 0.08, 0.16, 0.32m
VR = 64.08m/s
Freq Vel l = VR/f l/ H Freq Vel l = VR/f l/ H
Velocity [m/sec]

64 Comp Comp
[Hz] [m/sec] VR=64.08 H = b+h [Hz] [m/sec] VR=64.08 H = b+h
f = 327
Surface Waves and MASW Method 63 V = 63.87 S3b08h08 327.1 63.87 0.2 1.25 S3b32h08 68.36 94.92 0.94 2.35

f = 801Hz S3b08h16 226.6 63.86 0.28 1.17 S3b32h16 58.59 77.21 1.09 2.27
62
SURFACE WAVES 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 S3b08h32 131.8 63.85 0.49 1.23 S3b32h32 50.78 67.86 1.26 1.97
Frequency [Hz]
No-void 60.5 64.11 1.06 No-void 24.17 64.17 2.65
Surface waves are seismic waves that propagate cylindrically from a seismic source and are
confined to the near surface. An important type of surface wave is Rayleigh Wave. The
wavelength of a Rayleigh wave is proportional to its depth of penetration. Numerical Experimental Methodology Future Work
By examining the propagation properties of different wavelengths information about the
Numerical models were developed in finite difference program FLAC2D to study the interaction of The results presented here are preliminary and using the current approach analysis would
medium through which the waves are propagating can be determined. be carried out on 3D models to see the effect of the void in x, y, and z-direction.
embedded voids and their surrounding medium with Rayleigh Waves.
MASW An overview of 3D model is presented below:
Surface responses were recorded at different locations of the medium.
The multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) method is one of the seismic survey 3.01 m
Effect of void was studied by introduction of void at 8, 16, and 32cm depth and also changing the 3.01 m
methods evaluating the elastic condition (stiffness) of the ground for geotechnical Y
width of the void i.e., 8, 16, and 32cm. Z Y
engineering purposes. s
R1 R87
s X

Height of the void remain constant for each model i.e., b = 8 cm. X 3.99 m
MASW is a non-invasive technique used to estimate low strain shear modulus and damping

0.1m

5.02 m
5.02 m
4.51 m
coefficient of near-surface soil based on the dispersion property of Rayleigh waves, a type of Region 1
surface wave.
Model Width (a) Embedment
number [m] Depth (h) [m]
MASW testing methodology 6.02 m
8.02 m
b08h08 0.08 0.08

Frequency Shear modulus b16h08 0.16 0.08

Distance a
b32h08 0.32 0.08 Acknowledgements
Phase Vel
Time

Depth

b
b08h16 0.08 0.16
This research is part of a study on non-destructive testing of geomaterials. Support is provided by
Crown b16h16 0.16 0.16 the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).Part of this research
Pillar
b32h16 0.32 0.16 project was carried out under the Bedrock to Blue Sky - Ultrahigh resolution urban modeling
research project at Queen's University; led by Professor Robin Harrap, Department of Geological
I- Field set up: II- Data are III- Dispersion Analysis: IV- Inversion: back b08h32 0.08 0.32
Geophones are collected and extracting dispersion calculating Vs with
Sciences and Geological Engineering.
deployed in a line and analyzed in time curves (one from each depth (1-D Vs b16h32 0.16 0.32
the surface is excited domain record) profile) References
b32h32 0.32 0.32
Moghaddam (2006)
Moghaddam, A.Nasseri, Study of the effect of lateral inhomogeneities on the propagation of Rayleigh
waves in an elastic medium, PhD dissertation, The University of Waterloo, 2006.