• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.557-561
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• 1994

Q estimates are made by direct measurements of energy loss per cycle from primary P and S waves, as a function of frequency. Assuming that intrinsic Q is frequency independent and scattering Q is frequency dependent over the frequencies of interest, the relative contributions of each, to a total observed Q, may be estimated. Test examples are produced by computing viscoelastic synthetic seismograms using a pseudo spectral solution with inclusion of relaxation mechanisms (for intrinsic Q) and a fractal distribution of scatterers (for scattering Q). The composite theory implies that when the total Q for S-waves is smaller than that for P-waves (the usual situation), intrinsic Q is dominating; when it is larger, scattering Q is dominating. In the inverse problem, performed by a global least squares search, intrinsic $Q_p$ and $Q_s$ estimates are reliable and unique when their absolute values are sufficiently low that their effects are measurable in the data. Large $Q_p$ and $Q_s$ have no measurable effect and hence are not resolvable. Standard deviation of velocity $({\sigma})$ and scatterer size (A) are less unique as they exhibit a tradeoff as predicted by Blair's equation. For the P-waves, intrinsic and scattering contributions are of approximately the same importance, for S-waves, the intrinsic contributions dominate.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.115-130
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• 2015

Extended elastic impedance (EEI) is an extension of elastic impedance (EI) which is a generalization of acoustic impedance (AI) for nonzero angles of incidence and can be tuned to be proportional to reservoir properties. In this study, we evaluated EEI inversion by estimating the P-($V_p$) and S-wave velocities ($V_s$), P-wave to S-wave velocity ratio ($V_p/V_s$), and Poisson's ratio of the Second Wall Creek Sand of the Teapot Dome field, Wyoming, USA. We also applied the EEI inversion technique to estimate porosity, gamma-ray values, and density of the Second Wall Creek Sand. Data used in the study include 3-D pre-stack seismic data from the southern part of the field and four wells, selected from a large well database. The $V_s$ logs at the wells were constructed from the $V_p$ logs using the empirical relationships. The percent prediction errors for the four velocity properties are less than about 5% except for Poisson's ratio at one well, supporting that the EEI inversion can be used in the prediction of rock properties. However, the results from the EEI inversion analysis of porosity, gamma-ray values, and density at the wells were unsatisfactory and thus these properties, which are not directly computed from velocities, may not be suitable for EEI inversion.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.102-108
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• 2010

The internal structure of a river embankment must be delineated as part of investigations to evaluate its safety. Geophysical methods can be most effective means for that purpose, if they are used together with geotechnical methods such as the cone penetration test (CPT) and drilling. Since the dyke body and subsoil in general consist of material with a wide range of grain size, the properties and stratification of the soil must be accurately estimated to predict the mechanical stability and water infiltration in the river embankment. The strength and water content of the levee soil are also parameters required for such prediction. These parameters are usually estimated from CPT data, drilled core samples and laboratory tests. In this study we attempt to utilise geophysical data to estimate these parameters more effectively for very long river embankments. S-wave velocity and resistivity of the levee soils obtained with geophysical surveys are used to classify the soils. The classification is based on a physical soil model, called the unconsolidated sand model. Using this model, a soil profile along the river embankment is constructed from S-wave velocity and resistivity profiles. The soil profile thus obtained has been verified by geotechnical logs, which proves its usefulness for investigation of a river embankment.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.109-118
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• 2013

On and near the 23-m high earthen Cheongcheon dam in Boryeong City, Korea, short seismic refraction and surface-wave profiles were conducted using a 5-kg sledgehammer. From vertical and horizontal components of the seismic waves, near-surface P-wave velocities (${\nu}_p$) and S-wave velocities (${\nu}_s$) were derived by inverting first-arrival refraction times and dispersion curves of Rayleigh waves. Average ${\nu}_p$ and ${\nu}_s$ for the Jurassic sedimentary basement were determined to be 1650 and 950 m/s at a depth of 30 m directly beneath the dam and 1650 m/s and 940 m/s at a depth of 10 m at the toe of the dam, respectively. The dynamic Poisson's ratio for these strata were therefore in the range of 0.24 to 0.25, which is consistent with ratios for consolidated sedimentary strata. Near a 45-m borehole 152 m downstream from the dam crest, an SH tomogram indicates a refraction boundary with an average ${\nu}_s$ of 870 m/s at depths of 10 ~ 12 m. At this site, the overburden comprises the upper layer with relatively constant ${\nu}_p$ and ${\nu}_s$ around 500 and 200 m/s, respectively, and the lower layer in which both ${\nu}_p$ and ${\nu}_s$ increase with depth almost linearly. The dynamic Poisson's ratios for the overburden were in the range of 0.30 to 0.43.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.1499-1508
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• 2013

Freeze-thaw tests were performed on gneiss samples collected from Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica in order to examine the engineering properties of rocks with slightly weathered (SW) and moderately weathered (MW). The tests were conducted under temperature ranging from $20{\pm}2^{\circ}C$ to $-20{\pm}2^{\circ}C$. A cycle of test consisted of 5 hours of freezing followed by another 5 hours of thawing under full saturation. In this paper, total 200 cycles of freeze-thaw test were performed with measurements of porosity, absorption, ultrasonic velocity, and shore hardness per each 20 cycle and that of uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) per each 50 cycle. The UCS of the SW rocks approximately decreased 0.07 MPa per a single cycle, while that of MW rocks decreased around 0.2 MPa per a single cycle. During the 200 cycles of SW rocks, the absorption increased from 0.23% to 0.39%, the P-wave velocity decreased from 4,054 m/s to 3,227 m/s and S-wave velocity decreased from 2,519 m/s to 2,079 m/s. Similarly, those of MW rocks changed from 0.65% to 1.6%, 3,207 m/s to 2,133 m/s and 2,028 m/s to 1,357 m/s. In conclusion, it was inferred that the properties of SW rocks experienced approximately 200-300 cycles of freeze-thaw process become close to those of MW rocks.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.339-352
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• 2016

The best way of investigating the physical and mechanical properties of subsurface materials is the combined interpretation of data from borehole geophysical surveys and geotechnical experiments with rock samples. In this study two surface seismic surveys with refraction and surface-wave method are alternatively conducted for downhole seismic surveys in test site for geological field trip in Jeungpyung, Chungbuk. P- and S-wave velocity structures are delineated by refraction and MASW (multichannel analysis of shear waves) methods, respectively. Possion's ratio section, reconstructed from P- and S-wave velocities, is correlated to the outcrop geological features consisting of reddish sedimentary rock, gray volcanic rock, and joints/fractures. In addition, rock samples representative for reddish sedimentary and gray volcanic features are geotechnically analyzed to provide physical, mechanical properties, and elastic modulus. Dynamic elastic moduli estimated from geophysical data is found to be higher than the one from geotechnical data. Reddish sedimentary rock characterized with low porosity and moisture content corresponds to the zone of low electrical resistivities and their small variations in the resistivity sections between the rainy and dry days. This trend suggests that the weathered gray volcanic rock and the nearby fractures with higher low porosity and moisture content are interpreted to be good carrier especially in rainy season.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.155-162
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• 2012

The Thomsen-Haskell method was used to determine sensitivities of the Rayleigh-wave phase velocities and spectral amplitude of vertical ground motion to insertion of a single velocity-anomaly layer into overburden underlain by a basement. The reference model comprised a 9-m thick overburden with shear-wave velocity (${\nu}_s$ of 300 m/s above a half-space with ${\nu}_s$ = 1000 m/s. The inserted layer, with a velocity of 150, 225, 375, or 450 m/s and a thickness of 1, 2, or 3 m, was placed at depths increasing from the surface in increments of 1 m. Phase velocities were computed for frequencies of 4 to 30 Hz. For inserted layer models, we placed an anomalous layer with thickness of 1 ~ 3 m, shear-wave velocity of 150 ~ 450 m/s, and at depths of 0 ~ 8 m in the overburden. The frequency range of 8 ~ 20 Hz were the most sensitive to the difference of $C_R$ between the inserted and reference models (${\Delta}C_R$) for h = 1 m and the frequency range got wide as h increased. For all of the models, the spectral amplitudes of the fundamental mode exceeded those of the $1^{st}$-higher mode except at frequencies just above the low-frequency cutoff of the $1^{st}$-higher mode.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.66-73
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• 2014

To estimate the shear-velocity ($v_s$) structure beneath the WIZ station on White Island in New Zealand, we applied receiver function (RF) inversion and H-${\kappa}$ stacking methods to 362 teleseismic events (Mw > 5.5) recorded during April 20, 2007 to September 6, 2013. Using 71 RFs with errors less than 20% after 200 iterative computations, we determined that the depth to Moho of $v_s$ = 4.35 km/s is $24{\pm}1km$ within a 15 km radius of the station. In an 1-d $v_s$ model derived by RF inversions, a 4-km thick low-velocity layer (LVL) at depths of 18 ~ 22 km was identified in the lower crust. This LVL, which is 0.15 km/s slower than the rocks above and below it, may indicate the presence of a deep magma reservoir. The H-${\kappa}$ stacking method yielded an estimate of the depth to the Moho of 24.5 km, which agrees well with the depth determined by RF inversions. The low $v_p/v_s$ ratio of 1.64 may be due to the presence of gas-filled rock or hot crystallizing magma.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.401-408
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• 2009

We carried out the Suspension PS log and gamma-gamma log in andesite and sedimentary rocks distributed near the area of Myodo-dong, Yeosu. The main purpose of this study was to find out the distribution of seismic velocities and densities and to analyze the correlation of the two rocks by comparing their geophysical well logs with rock cores. The distributions of P and S-wave velocities for two rocks represented in the study area showed a difference of about 2,000 m/sec and 1,500 m/sec with depth, respectively, while the distributions of densities had a discrepancy of about $0.35g/cm^3$ with depth. However, the results of geophysical well logs analysis were similar to the two rocks. Consequently, it is clear that these results are interpreted as a difference due to weathering rather than rock type. In particular, the RQD values showed a good correlation to geophysical well log data.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2019

We perform a 3D tomographic inversion using surface wave dispersion curves to obtain S-velocity model and radial anisotropy beneath Saudi Arabia. The Arabian Peninsula is geologically and topographically divided into a shield and a platform. We used event data with magnitudes larger than 5.5 and epicentral distances shorter than $40^{\circ}$ during 2008 ~ 2014 from the Saudi Geological Survey. We obtained dispersion curves by using the multiple filtering technique after preprocessing the event data. We constructed SH- and SV-velocity models and consequently radial anisotropy model at 10 ~ 60 km depths by inverting Love and Rayleigh group velocity dispersion curves with period ranges of 5 ~ 140 s, respectively. We observe high-velocity anomalies beneath the Arabian shield at 10 ~ 30 km depths and low-velocity anomalies beneath the Arabian platform at 10 km depth in the SV-velocity model. This discrepancy may be caused by the difference between the Arabian shield and the Arabian platform, that is, the Arabian shield was formed in Proterozoic thereby old and cold, while the Arabian platform is covered by predominant Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic sedimentary layers. Also we obtained radial anisotropy by estimating the differences between SH- and SV-velocity models. Positive anisotropy is observed, which may be generated by lateral tension due to the slab pull of subducting slabs along the Zagros belt.