Technically Induced Surface Wave Fields, Part I: Measured Attenuation and Theoretical Amplitude-Distance Laws

Abstract

Abstract The attenuation of the amplitudes with distance of technically induced surface wave fields is analyzed in theory and experiments. Experimental results of technically induced ground vibration are presented and collected from literature, which show a power-low attenuation A ∼ r - q of amplitudes A with distance r and exponents q >0.5 higher than for elastic surface waves. Additional attenuation effects are analyzed theoretically. The most important effect is due to the material or scattering damping. Each frequency component is attenuated exponentially as A ∼exp(- kr ), but for a broadband excitation, the sum of the exponential laws yields a power law with a higher exponent. Some more effects are discussed, for example the dispersion of the Rayleigh wave due to the layering of the soil, which yields a stronger attenuation A ∼ r - q - dq , including an additional exponent of dq =0.5 in case of an impulsive loading.