Characterization of Glacial Materials

Using Seismic Refraction and

Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves

Glenn Larsen
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Division of Geological Survey
P-Wave
P-Wave Refraction
Refraction
In the Beginning the OGS used P-wave refraction as a
cost effective tool to determine the thicknesses of the
glacial materials and the depths to bedrock.

Water Problems:

Can not differentiate between the different types of

glacial materials.
The water table can become a barrier preventing any
detection of P-wave arrivals from deeper refractive
layers.
S-Wave
S-Wave Refraction
Refraction
To over come these problems the OGS adopted
combining S-wave refraction data with P-wave data.

S-wave are not affected by water.

S-waves travel slower than P-waves and the velocity

contrast between geologic layers tend to be greater.
MASW
MASW
Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW)

Estimates S-velocity from surface waves

Estimates material Strength, shear modulus

Data quality is high because surface wave is generally

the dominant wave

Most noise-tolerant seismic method

Seismic
Seismic Equipment
Equipment

Laptop Computer

Geophones

Geometrics Geode Seismometer

Thumper!
Thumper!
Survey’s
Survey’s Focus
Focus Since
Since 2006
2006
Acquire P- and S- wave velocity data to characterize the
glacial materials in terms of their engineering and
seismic properties.

Build a database of P- and S- wave velocity data from

glacial materials already identified by surficial mapping.

Relate shear wave velocities to SPT-N values.

Integrate this data to the stack maps to assess

engineering and seismic hazards state wide.
Engineering
Engineering Properties
Properties
Acquiring P- and S-wave data is important for
determining the engineering properties of the bedrock
and glacial materials.

The material properties derived from P- and S-waves:

Bulk Modulus Bulk Density
Shear Modulus Poisson’s Ratio
Young’s Modulus Velocity Ratio
NEHRP Site Classification
Seismic
Seismic Properties
Properties
S-wave velocities of the upper 100 feet are important
predictors of site amplification factors for earthquake
shaking.

Site amplification factors describe how the surficial

strata amplify (or attenuate) ground motion during an
earthquake.

Characterizing the glacial materials for prediction of

earthquake shaking provides added value to the
surficial mapping.
Seismic
Seismic Investigations
Investigations
Bainbridge
Bainbridge Project
Project
HCWC
HCWC Well
Well Field
Field No.
No. 11

Water Fall
Well Field

Depth to bedrock
78+ ft.

Su rvey
e is mic
S
P-Wave
P-Wave Velocity
Velocity Model
Model
S-Wave
S-Wave Velocity
Velocity Model
Model
HCWC
HCWC Well
Well Field
Field No.
No. 11

Water Fall
Well Field

Depth to bedrock
78+ ft.

Su rvey
e is mic
S
HCWC
HCWC Well
Well Field
Field No.
No. 22

Well Field

Depth to bedrock Quarry

94+ ft.

Seism
ic S ur
vey
P-Wave
P-Wave Velocity
Velocity Model
Model
S-Wave
S-Wave Velocity
Velocity Model
Model
Passive
Passive Remote
Remote MASW
MASW
HCWC
HCWC Well
Well Field
Field No.
No. 22

Well Field

Depth to bedrock Quarry

94+ ft.

Seism
ic S ur
vey
HCWC
HCWC New
New Well
Well Field
Field
Engineering
Engineering Borehole
Borehole Database
Database
Geotechnical
Geotechnical Soil
Soil Borings
Borings
Dorset
Dorset Quadrangle
Quadrangle Example
Example
1997 NEHRP Soil Classification for Ground
Motion Amplification

Vsa is the average shear wave velocity

Na is the average field SPT blow count
Sua is the average undrained shear strength
Earthquake
Earthquake Risk
Risk Potential
Potential