The response of the horizontal pendulum seismometer to Rayleigh and Love waves, tilt, and free oscillations of the earth

Abstract

Abstract The horizontal pendulum seismometer is sensitive not only to acceleration along its sensitive axis but also to tilt, variations in the angle of inclination, and along-the-boom acceleration. The complete steady-state response of this type of seismometer to Rayleigh and Love waves, tilt, and free oscillations of the Earth is treated. An equation of motion is developed which includes the effects of tilt, variation in the angle of inclination, and along-the-boom acceleration. An approximate solution to this equation is obtained which separates out the response due to each effect. The response, including these effects, is developed for Rayleigh and Love waves and the conditions under which along-the-boom acceleration and variations in the angle of inclination are important are stated. The question “How much of the seismogram is due to tilt?” is answered in detail for long period Rayleigh waves and free oscillations. It is shown that the seismograms resulting from such waves can require sizable corrections depending on the wave parameters. A correction factor for Rayleigh waves is developed which is universal in the sense that it is independent of the parameters of the particular seismometer and thus applies to all pendulous horizontal seismographs. For Rayleigh waves it is a function only of ellipticity, phase velocity, and period. Correction factor curves for long-period retrograde Rayleigh waves are presented. For circular particle motions a ten per cent correction is required for a three hundred second Rayleigh wave. The problem of obtaining the horizontal ground motion is treated. The response of the horizontal seismometer as a tilt meter is examined; a conversion factor between displacement and tilt magnification is developed. The complete response to simultaneous spheroidal and torsional free oscillations of the Earth is developed. It is shown that the principal response to the low-order spheroidal modes is as a tilt meter. The relationship between the horizontal and vertical seismogram is developed.