ASEG Extended Abstracts

ISSN: 2202-0586 (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/texg19

A search for distribution of competent layers

under tailings by Multi-channel Analysis of Surface
Wave (MASW) – A case history

Koya Suto, Kevin Wake-Dyster & Li Hongyu

To cite this article: Koya Suto, Kevin Wake-Dyster & Li Hongyu (2006) A search for distribution
of competent layers under tailings by Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Wave (MASW) – A case
history, ASEG Extended Abstracts, 2006:1, 1-5, DOI: 10.1071/ASEG2006ab172

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1071/ASEG2006ab172

Published online: 12 Feb 2019.

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A search for distribution of competent layers under tailings by
Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Wave (MASW) - A case history
Koya Suto Kevin Wake-Dyster
Tern Australis Geophysica Pty Ltd EcoSeis
52 Nestor Avenue, Banlon, 45 Raven Street, Camp Hill
Queensland, 4065, AUSTRALIA Queensland,4152, AUSTRALIA
koyaatem-au. corn kwakedystet@bigpond. corn. au
SUMMARY
The Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Wave
(MASW) method is a shallow seismic method
which may complement the traditional seismic
refraction method used in engineering applications.
Introducing this newly-developed method, this
paper presents a case history of an MASW survey
in a tailings dam, where the original topography
has been covered with tailings (red mud) from an
aluminium refinery over the years.
An eight-line 3.6 kilometre MASW survey was
carried out in the tailings dam of Queensland
Alumina Limited in Boyne Island near Gladstone,
Queensland to estimate the depth of the competent
layer for construction of a new tailings dam wall.
The field procedure used was similar to the off-end
shooting method used for seismic reflection
surveys. This was fUrther simplified by the use of
a purpose-built 24-channel land streamer. The
seismic source was a weight dropping system
mounted on a vehicle, which drops a 50kg steel
weight fiom a height of 0.8 metres. The
recording system used was a Seistronix RAS-24
seismograph. The data were analysed and
inverted using the SurfSeis software by Kansas
Geological Survey.
The depths of the original surface and underlying
clay are profiled in terms of their S-wave
velocities. The result shows the effectiveness of
the MASW method even where velocity reversals
are present.
Key words: MASW survey, surface wave, engineering
geophysics, tailings dam, seismic, geotechnical
INTRODUCTION
The seismic refraction surveying method has established its
position in engineering applications by profiling sub-surface
structures. As a seismic method to probe the near surface,
the Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Wave method (Park, et
al., 1999) is recently gaining popularity. It has some
AESC2006, Melbourne, Australia.
Hongyu Li
GHD Pty Ltd
201 Chahfte Street, Brisbane
Queensland, 4000, AUSTRALIA
Hongyu-Laghd. corn. au
advantages over the refraction method: firstly, the MASW can
detect velocity reversals that the refraction method cannot
detect; secondly, it solves for S-wave velocity profiles which
are more desired by engineering projects; thirdly, its data are
not so adversely affected by ambient noise as refraction data,
and finally its field operation is considerably simpler.
The MASW method is a surface wave seismic method with
active source. It analyses the phase velocity of Rayleigh
wave of fundamental mode; this is called overtone analysis
with a resemblance to analysis in acoustics. The dispersion
curve analysed in the frequency-velocity domain is inverted
into a 1D velocity profile at the centre point of the
observation array. From a series of the 1D solutions, a 2D
profile of S-wave velocity is drawn along a survey line.
The red mud is a by-product of refining bauxite to produce
aluminium. It is collected and neutralised in the tailings
dam to protect the environment. The smelter is conscious
about its environment and development of the d a m is
incorporated in their plan. The current survey contributes to
the design of a new dam wall by providing the information
about the supporting stability of the ground.
THE SURVEY PROCEDURE
The terrain of the survey area was relatively flat and some of
the area covered by grass from rehabilitation efforts. Long
grass was mowed by a ride-on lawn mower prior to the
survey. A 24-channel land streamer with 4.5Hz geophones
was used for data acquisition (Figure 1).
,.,, ,,. ,,land
, .,,,
The land streamer eliminates the necessity of "planting" and
retrieving geophones in each spread. It is towed behind a
Distribution of Competent Layer by MASW Suto. Wake-Dyster and Li

4WD recording vehicle that housed a Seistronix RAS-24

recorder. The geophone interval was one metre and fixed to
the streamer.

AESC2006, Melbourne, Australia.

Distribution of Competent Layer by MASW Suto. Wake-Dyster and Li

The seismic source was provided by a weight dropping Overtone analysis was carried out at every 12 stations (12m)
system with a 50 kilogram steel weight mounted in front of along the lines to pick dispersion curves. An example of the
another 4WD vehicle (Figure 2). overtone analysis is shown in Figure 5.

24-channel record + 24-channel record = 48-channel recard

Figure 2. Weight dropping seismic source.

Two source locations were set at 12.5 and 36. 5 metres fkom
the last geophone station of each spread. This was achieved
by alternately moving the streamer and source by 24 metres
between shots. Figure 3 illustrates this procedure. Note
both the landstreamer and the seismic source are always
moving in the same direction. With this system, a daily
production of 500m was achieved under a favourable
condition.

-
Figure 5. Overtone analysis with picks of dispersion
curve.

CALIBRATION
m... tw
St-' The dispersion curves were inverted to S-wave velocity
profiles. This can be done with or without borehole
information. Figure 6 shows an example of the 1D profile at
Figure 3. Recording geometry: The station interval is
lm.

The RAS-24 unit is capable of 24-bit recording which

provides more than sufficient dynamic range to the data.
The data record length was 2 seconds, and the sampling
interval used was 0.5 ms. No filter was applied at the time
of recording.

DATA ANALYSIS

The SurfSeis software by Kansas Geological Survey was used

throughout data analysis, inversion and presentation.

Prior to the data analysis, two 24-chanel field records fkom

the same source point were merged to form a 48-channel
record (Figure 4). This ensures a good signal to noise ratio
in analysis and seamless data coverage along the survey lines.
dispersion curve of Figure 5. The figure to the right is
with borehole control and left without.
AESC2006, Melbourne, Australia. 3
Distribution of Competent Layer by MASW
Using a series of these uncontrolled 1D profiles along a
survey line, an S-wave velocity section was drawn (Figure 7).
The colour coding of the superimposed borehole data are the
same as in Figure 6. Note the consistent ties at multiple
borehole locations.
Figure 7. S-wave velocity section
The colour of S-wave section was edited referencing the
borehole tie. In the example of Figure 8, colours were
chosen to match those used in the borehole calibration of
Figure 6.
Figure 8. Calibrated S-wave velocity section. Colours
are manipulated to match the borehole data.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A good overall correlation was found between the S-wave
velocity section and the soil types found at the boreholes.
The S-wave velocity for the red mud interpreted from the
MASW has some variation and crosses over to the velocity
range of underlying Estuarine Firm Clay. This may be due
to difference states of compression, dehydrating, composition,
burial history or other reasons. The competent material,
typically very stiff clay or weathered rock in this case, is well
represented in brown.
The depths of the layers away from boreholes are estimated
on the basis of the uncontrolled 1D profiles by interpolation
and gridding.
AESC2006, Melbourne, Australia.
Suto. Wake-Dyster and Li
As seen in Figure 6, layer boundaries are sometimes hard to
find on the uncontrolled 1D profile alone. The present
inversion software searches for appropriate S-wave velocities
for layers pre-determined from the original data. It is
conceived that additional developments to the inversion
software that search for a depth model for S-wave velocities
given by borehole may enable direct estimation of 1D profile
at any point. However, the estimation of the depth of these
layers on the 2D profile is considered satisfactory.
CONCLUSIONS
The case history presented in this paper demonstrates a
practical application of the MASW method in mapping the
competent layer under the deposition of red mud. This
result contributes to the design of a new dam wall.
The MASW method is recommended for mapping sub-
surface S-wave structure for engineering applications.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors thank Queensland Alumina Limited for the
use of their data and permission to publish results. .
Thanks is also due to Mr Andrew Massey of GHD Pty
Ltd for his support and encouragement.
REFERENCE
Park, C. B. , Miller R. D. , and Xia, J. , 1999, Multichannel
analysis of surface waves: Geophysics 64, 80&808.
AUTHORS' BIOGRAPHY
Koya Suto
Koya Suto graduated from Akita University with BE (1974)
and ME (1976) in exploration geophysics. After further
study at Adelaide University, he worked for Esso, CRA and
Origin Energy. In 2003, Koya started Terra Australis
Geophysica specialising in engineering geophysics. He is a
member of ASEG, SEG, SEGJ, EEGS and EAGE.
Kevin Wake-Dyster
Kevin Wake-Dyster has a BSc(Hons) in Geophysics from
Adelaide University. He worked for BMR and AGSO in
observatory geophysics and onshore seismic surveys. He is
completing a PhD in Environmental Engineering at the
Queensland University of Technology. He established
EcoSeis in 2003, specialising in shallow high resolution
seismic.
Hongyu Li
Hongyu Li, Senior Geotechnical Engineer at GHD, graduated
with a BE in Engineering Geology from Jilin University,
China and PhD in Geomechanics from University of
Queensland. He has been a researcher at Universities of
Distribution of Competent Layer by MASW Suto. Wake-Dyster and Li

Adelaide, Queensland and WA, and CSIRO, and an engineer at BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Hatch.

AESC2006, Melbourne, Australia.