Comparison of MASW and seismic interferometry with use of ambient noise for estimation of S-wave velocity field in landslide subsurface

Zenon Pilecki,Paulina Harba,Krzysztof Krawiec

doi:10.1007/s11600-019-00344-9

Abstract

This study presents a comparison of data acquisition, processing and interpretation between passive seismic interferometry (SI) and active multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) methods, both using surface waves for estimation S-wave velocity field. Measurements have been taken in the same geological engineering conditions on Just-Tegoborze landslide on the south of Poland. This comparison study has an important meaning from landslide hazard evaluation point of view. The landslide is located in Magura Nappe in Outer (Flysch) Carpathians. SI was based on registration of local seismic noise generated by high traffic on the state road which intersects the landslide. The main processing step was cross-correlation of seismic noise between every pair of receivers. It led to obtain series of empirical Green’s functions for Rayleigh surface wave. However, in MASW method, seismic energy was released by an impact of 5 kg sledgehammer in a metal plate. Both methods included analysis of dispersion curves of Rayleigh surface wave. The inversion of picked fundamental modes was applied using genetic algorithm and resulted in 1D S-wave velocity models. The last step of interpretation included model visualization as the 2D S-wave velocity sections for studied profiles. Both MASW and SI methods allowed to estimate S-wave velocity field in Just-Tegoborze landslide subsurface. Dispersion images obtained from both methods provided similar phase velocity and frequency ranges. On S-wave velocity sections, the greater depth range was observed for SI method; however, lateral resolution was better for MASW. Slip surfaces in colluvial layer were not observed on either SI or MASW S-wave velocity sections. Only results obtained from SI allowed to distinguish probable slip surface located deeper, i.e. on the contact with less weathered flysch bedrock.

Highlights

Geophysical subsurface characterization of slopes prone to mass movements has an important meaning in landslide hazard evaluation (Mc Cann and Forster 1990; Caris and Van Asch 1991; Bogoslovsky and Ogilvy 1977; Jongmans and Garambois 2007; Pilecki 2017; Whiteley et al 2019)
We present a comparison of data acquisition, processing and interpretation between both methods applied in geological engineering conditions of Just-Tegoborze landslide in southern Poland
Data obtained from multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) acquisition indicate that useful signal, which was generated by a sledgehammer, has a range of frequency between approximately 10 Hz and 40 Hz (Fig. 5a, b)

Summary

Introduction

Geophysical subsurface characterization of slopes prone to mass movements has an important meaning in landslide hazard evaluation (Mc Cann and Forster 1990; Caris and Van Asch 1991; Bogoslovsky and Ogilvy 1977; Jongmans and Garambois 2007; Pilecki 2017; Whiteley et al 2019). Several applications of seismic interferometry (SI) with ambient noise have been used on landslides (Jongmans et al 2009; Renalier et al 2010a, b; Mainsant et al 2012; Pilz et al 2013; Larose et al 2015; Harba and Pilecki 2017; Hussain et al 2017; Whiteley et al 2019). In comparison with surface waves, have broader applications in geoengineering (Szreder et al 2008; Pilecki 2008; Pilecki et al 2017); methods based on surface waves such as MASW and SI quickly develop improving range and resolution of investigation (Kanli et al 2006, 2008; Chmiel et al 2019). The use of low-frequency noise below 0.4 Hz allows to image geological subsurface up to approximately 400–500 m (Czarny et al 2019).

Methods

Results

Conclusion