• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.163-176
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• 2012

Effective porosity has been measured for cement specimen as a function of vacuum time and pressure in the vacuum saturation process. Six cement specimen are used; three of them are made of the same ratio of cement and sand, the other three are 100% cement mortar, of which average porosity is about 25% and 40%, respectively. Using the 6 samples, measured effective porosities are compared and examined with 5 different vacuum pressures (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 torr) and times (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 minute), respectively. Comparing measured effective porosity from experiments when vacuum time varies from 100 minute to 20 minute with 20 minute step and vacuum pressure is fixed to 10, 6, and 2 torr, average deviation decreases as 0.6, 0.5, and 0.2% respectively. Comparing measured effective porosity from experiments when vacuum pressure varies from 2 torr to 10 torr with 2 torr step and vacuum time is fixed to 100, 60, and 20 minute, average deviation increases as vacuum time decreases. These results can be a background of suggested method of ISRM that describes the vacuum time longer than 60 minute and vacuum pressure higher than 6 torr. In this study, only qualitative discussion can be possible for the effects on the effective porosity by decreasing 20 minute vacuuming time at the same pressure or by decreasing 2 torr of vacuum pressure at the same vacuum time. This is because the sample could not reached to perfectly dried condition even though the sample were dried at $105^{\circ}C$ and following the ISRM suggested method, so that initial water content could not be the same at each experiment.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.105-113
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• 2009

The interpretation of observed waveform characteristics identified in refraction and wide-angle reflection data increases confidence in the crustal structure model obtained. When calculating traveltimes and raypaths, wavefront methods on a regular grid based on graph theory are robust even with complicated structures, but basically compute only first arrivals. In this paper, we develop new algorithms to compute traveltimes and raypaths not only for first arrivals, but also for fast and later reflection arrivals, later refraction arrivals, and converted waves between P and S, using the modified wavefront method based on slowness network nodes mapped on a multi-layer model. Using the new algorithm, we can interpret reflected arrivals, Pg-later arrivals, strong arrivals appearing behind Pn, triplicated Moho reflected arrivals (PmP) to obtain the shape of the Moho, and phases involving conversion between P and S. Using two models of an ocean-continent transition zone and an oceanic ridge or seamount, we show the usefulness of this algorithm, which is confirmed by synthetic seismograms using the 2D Finite Difference Method (2D-FDM). Characteristics of arrivals and raypaths of the two models differ from each other in that using only first-arrival traveltime data for crustal structure analysis involves risk of erroneous interpretation in the ocean-continent transition zone, or the region around a ridge or seamount.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2009

We report an implementation of the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey at a site that corresponds to a ruined castle. The objective of the survey was to characterise buried archaeological structures such as walls and tiles in Van Khan Tooril's Ruin, Mongolia, by 2D and 3D GPR techniques. GPR datasets were acquired in an area 10mby 9 m, with 10 cm line spacing. Two datasets were collected, using GPR with 500MHz and 800MHz frequency antennas. In this paper, we report the use of instantaneous parameters to detect archaeological targets such as tile, brick, and masonry by polarimetric GPR. Radar polarimetry is an advanced technology for extraction of target scattering characteristics. It gives us much more information about the size, shape, orientation, and surface condition of radar targets. We focused our interpretation on the strongest reflections. The image is enhanced by the use of instantaneous parameters. Judging by the shape and the width of the reflections, it is clear that moderate to high intensity response in instantaneous amplitude corresponds to brick and tiles. The instantaneous phase map gave information about the location of the targets, which appeared as discontinuities in the signal. In order to increase our ability to interpret these archaeological targets, we compared the GPR datasets acquired in two orthogonal survey directions. A good correlation is observed for the alignments of reflections when we compare the two datasets. However, more reflections appear in the north-south survey direction than in the west-east direction. This is due to the electric field orientation, which is in the horizontal plane for north-south survey directions and the horizontally polarised component of the backscattered high energy is recorded.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.163-171
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• 2009

Subcritical crack growth is one of the main causes of time-dependent fracturing in rock. In the present study, we investigated subcritical crack growth in rock in distilled water (pH = 5.7) and in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOHaq, pH = 12), comparing the results to those in air. We also investigated the effect of the pH in an aqueous environment. We used andesite and granite for all our tests. We determined the relationship between the crack velocity and the stress intensity factor using the double-torsion test under conditions of controlled temperature. We showed that crack velocities in water were higher than those in air, in agreement with other research results indicating that crack velocity increases in water. When we compared our results for NaOHaq with those for water, however, we found that the crack velocity at the same stress intensity factor did not change even though the pH of the surrounding environment was different. This result does not agree with the accepted understanding that hydroxide ions accelerate subcritical crack growth in rocks. We concluded that the pH at the crack tip influences subcritical crack growth, and not the bulk pH, which has little effect.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-55
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• 2009

This paper describes a three-dimensional ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey carried out around a levee of the Ara River in Saitama, Japan, where deformation of the ground was observed after heavy rainfall associated with the typhoon of September 2007. The high-density 3D GPR survey was conducted as a series of closely adjacent four directional sets of 2D surveys at an area surrounding vertical cracks on the paved road caused by deformations induced by heavy rain. The survey directions of the 2D surveys were 0, 90, 45, and -45 degrees with respect to the paved road and the intervals between lines were less than 0.5 m. The 3D subsurface structure was accurately imaged by the result of data processing using Kirchhoff-type 3D migration. As a result, locations and vertical continuities of the heavy rainfall induced cracks in the paved road were clearly imaged. This will be a great help in considering the generation mechanisms of the cracks. Moreover, the current risk of a secondary disaster was found to be low, as no air-filled cavities were detected by the 3D GPR survey.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.143-153
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• 2009

Using a discrete wavenumber method, we examine the effects on Logging-While-Drilling (LWD) logs when a mismatch exists between the amplitudes or generating times of the signals from individual monopoles in a LWD multipole source. An amplitude-mismatched LWD dipole/quadrupole source produces non-dipole/non-quadrupole modes as well as flexural and screw modes. The strongest of non-dipole/non-quadrupole modes is the Stoneley mode, whose amplitude increases with increasing mismatch. However, we can recover the flexural mode signals by A-C processing, and the screw mode by A-B+C-D processing, respectively. The Stoneley mode, which has the same amplitude at the same radial distance from the borehole axis, is cancelled out by A-C and A-B+C-D processing as long as the tool is placed at the centre of the borehole. The responses from a time-mismatched LWD multipole source look like the summation of responses by two or four monopole sources off the borehole axis. However, we can avoid the misinterpretation of the formation velocities by referring to the computed dispersion curves, which are independent of the arrival times of the modes, on the frequency semblance plot.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2009

Natural magnetic fields are attenuated by electrically conductive water. For that reason, marine magnetotelluric surveys have collected data at long periods (1000-100 000 s). The mantle structure has been the main target of seafloor magnetotelluric measurements. To ascertain crustal structure, however, electromagnetic data at shorter periods are important, e.g. in investigations of megathrust earthquake zones, or in natural resource surveys. To investigate of the former, for example, electromagnetic data for periods of less than 1000 s are necessary. Because no suitable ocean bottom electromagnetometer (OBEM) has been available, we have developed a small OBEM and ocean bottom electrometer (OBE) system with a high sample rate, which has an arm-folding mechanism to facilitate assembly and recovering operations. For magnetic observation, we used a fluxgate sensor. Field observations were undertaken to evaluate the field performance of our instruments. All instruments were recovered and their electromagnetic data were obtained. Results of the first experiment show that our system functioned well throughout operations and observations. Results of other field experiments off Tottori support the claim that the electromagnetic data obtained using the new OBEM and OBE system are of sufficient quality for the survey target. These results suggest that this device removes all instrumental obstacles to measurement of electromagnetic fields on the seafloor.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.85-98
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• 2009

The tau-p inversion algorithm is widely employed to generate starting models with most computer programs, which implement refraction tomography. This algorithm emphasises the vertical resolution of many layers, and as a result, it frequently fails to detect even large lateral variations in seismic velocities, such as the decreases which are indicative of shear zones. This study demonstrates the failure of the tau-p inversion algorithm to detect or define a major shear zone which is 50m or 10 stations wide. Furthermore, the majority of refraction tomography programs parameterise the seismic velocities within each layer with vertical velocity gradients. By contrast, the Generalized Reciprocal Method (GRM) inversion algorithms emphasise the lateral resolution of individual layers. This study demonstrates the successful detection and definition of the 50m wide shear zone with the GRM inversion algorithms. The existence of the shear zone is confirmed by a 2D analysis of the head wave amplitudes and by numerous closely spaced orthogonal seismic profiles carried out as part of a later 3D refraction investigation. Furthermore, an analysis of the shot record amplitudes indicates that a reversal in the seismic velocities, rather than vertical velocity gradients, occurs in the weathered layers. The major conclusion reached in this study is that while all seismic refraction operations should aim to provide as accurate depth estimates as is practical, those which emphasise the lateral resolution of individual layers generate more useful results for geotechnical and environmental applications. The advantages of the improved lateral resolution are obtained with 2D traverses in which the structural features can be recognised from the magnitudes of the variations in the seismic velocities. Furthermore, the spatial patterns obtained with 3D investigations facilitate the recognition of structural features such as faults which do not display any intrinsic variation or 'signature' in seismic velocities.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2009

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is an effective tool for detecting shallow subsurface targets. In many GPR applications, these targets are veiled by the strong waves reflected from the ground surface, so that we need to apply a signal processing technique to separate the target signal from such strong signals. A pulse-compression technique is used in this research to compress the signal width so that it can be separated out from the strong contaminated clutter signals. This work introduces a filter algorithm to carry out pulse compression for GPR data, using a Wiener filtering technique. The filter is applied to synthetic and field GPR data acquired over a buried pipe. The discrimination method uses both the reflected signal from the target and the strong ground surface reflection as a reference signal for pulse compression. For a pulse-compression filter, reference signal selection is an important issue, because as the signal width is compressed the noise level will blow up, especially if the signal-to-noise ratio of the reference signal is low. Analysis of the results obtained from simulated and field GPR data indicates a significant improvement in the GPR image, good discrimination between the target reflection and the ground surface reflection, and better performance with reliable separation between them. However, at the same time the noise level slightly increases in field data, due to the wide bandwidth of the reference signal, which includes the higher-frequency components of noise. Using the ground-surface reflection as a reference signal we found that the pulse width could be compressed and the subsurface target reflection could be enhanced.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 2009

On Aogashima Island, a volcanic island located in the southernmost part of the Izu Seven Islands Chain, vector magnetic anomalies were obtained in a helicopter-borne magnetic survey. The purpose of this study was to understand the volcanic structure of Aogashima Island in order to mitigate future disasters. Commonly, to obtain the magnetic structure of a volcanic island, total intensity anomalies (TIA) have been used, even though they have intrinsic errors that have not been evaluated correctly. Because the total intensity magnetic anomaly (TIA) is not a physical value, it does not satisfy Maxwell's Equations, Laplace's Equation, etc., and so TIA is not suitable for any physical analyses. In addition, it has been conventionally assumed that TIA is the same as the projected total intensity anomaly vector (PTA) for analyses of TIA. However, the effect of the intrinsic error ($\varepsilon_T$ = TIA.PTA) on the analysis results has not been taken into account. To avoid such an effect, vector magnetic anomalies were measured so that a reliable analysis of Aogashima Island magnetization could be carried out. In this study, we evaluated the error in TIA and used vector anomalies to avoid this erroneous effect, in the process obtaining reliable analysis results for 3D, vector magnetization distributions. An area of less than 1 A/m magnetization was found in the south-west part of Aogashima Island at the depth of 1.2 km. Taking the location of fumarolic activity into consideration, the lower-magnetization area was expected to be the source of that fumarolic activity of Aogashima Island.