Seismic Refraction

Some uses of seismic refraction

• Mapping bedrock topography  
• Determining the depth of gravel, sand or clay
deposits  
• Delineating perched water tables  
• Determining the depth to the water table  
• Detecting subsurface caverns  
• Estimating rippability  
• Detecting shallow faults and fracture zones  
• Detecting large boulders  
 ACTIVE STANDARD: D5777-00(2006) Standard Guide
for Using the Seismic Refraction Method for
Subsurface Investigation
$42.90 for PDF
• Developed by Subcommittee: D18.01
See Related Work by this Subcommittee
Adoptions:
Book of Standards Volume: 04.09

• 1. Scope

• This guide covers the equipment, field procedures,

and interpretation methods for the assessment of
subsurface conditions using the seismic refraction
method.
• Seismic refraction measurements as described in
this guide are applicable in mapping subsurface
conditions for various uses including geologic,
geotechnical, hydrologic, environmental, mineral
exploration, petroleum exploration, and
archaeological investigations.
• The seismic refraction method is used to map
geologic conditions including depth to bedrock, or
to water table, stratigraphy, lithology, structure, and
fractures or all of these.
• The calculated seismic wave velocity is related to
mechanical material properties. Therefore,
characterization of the material (type of rock,
degree of weathering, and rippability) is made on
the basis of seismic velocity and other geologic
information.
Refraction Lay Out
 Seismic Refraction
• Advantages
– Simple layout
– Low manpower requirements
– Limited Equipment Requirements
– Rapid data reduction and analysis (computer
not needed)
– Easy interpretation
 Seismic Refraction
• Disadvantages
– Relatively large energy input required
– Relatively long layout (10 times depth)
– Limited number of model layers
– Limited velocity differences
– Limited interface geometry (assume smooth)
Rippability versus seismic velocity. (Caterpillar.
Handbook of Ripping, 8 th Edition)
 Direct Wave

60.00
50.00
miliseconds

40.00
30.00 0.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
0 20 40 60 80
Meters
 Simple Plot
Distance TimeD Time R
120
0 0 30
100

Time (miliseconds)
6 8 32
12 16 34 80

18 24 36 60
24 32 38
40
30 40 40
20
36 48 42
42 56 44 0
0 20 40 60 80 100
48 64 46
Distance (meters)
54 72 48
60 80 50
66 88 52
72 96 54
78 104 56
84 112 58
 Direct and Refracted Waves

60.00
50.00
miliseconds

40.00
Series1
30.00
Series2
20.00
10.00
0.00
0 20 40 60 80
meters
 Two Equations for Simple
Refraction

These two equations should give the same answer.

It should be less than half the crossover distance.
 Steps in solving for depth
• 1 Determine the velocities of both layers
in meters per second or feet per second
• 2 Determine the crossover distance
• 3 Determine the time intercept for V2
• 4 Determine the depth to layer 2 using
• Both refraction equations (internal check)
Down Dip Up Dip
 Dipping Bed Equations

1  1  v1  1  v1 
  sin    sin  
2  v2d   v 2u 

1  1  v1  1  v1 
 c  sin    sin  
2  v2d   v 2u 