Inversion of Seismic Surface Wave Data to Resolve Complex Profiles

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2007

Publication Title

Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering

Volume

133

Issue

2

First page number:

155

Last page number:

165

Abstract

For a complex layered site, development of a shear wave velocity profile from inversion of seismic surface wave data can yield non-unique results. One class of solutions provides depth-averaged profiles that are useful but do not detail the local velocity anomalies. Simulated annealing inversion can be used to establish whether nonuniqueness is a concern for a particular case and, if so, focus results to allow a solution that is expected based on independent knowledge of site conditions. A two-step process is recommended whereby the model parameters are first optimized using simulated annealing and then fine tuned by unconstrained linearized inversion. The process also yields useful confidence measures. One example of a complex layered site where the proposed procedure is helpful is a desert profile with high-velocity cemented layers interspersed among uncemented sediments.

Keywords

Data analysis; Seismic effects; Simulation; Soils; Soils—Analysis; Surface waves

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering | Engineering | Environmental Engineering | Geotechnical Engineering

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

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