Characterization of Glacial Materials

Using Seismic Refraction and

Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves

Glenn Larsen
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Division of Geological Survey
P-Wave Refraction
In the Beginning the OGS used P-wave refraction as a
cost effective tool to determine the thicknesses of the
glacial materials and the depths to bedrock.

Water Problems:

Can not differentiate between the different types of

glacial materials.
The water table can become a barrier preventing any
detection of P-wave arrivals from deeper refractive
layers.
S-Wave Refraction
To over come these problems the OGS adopted
combining S-wave refraction data with P-wave data.

S-wave are not affected by water.

S-waves travel slower than P-waves and the velocity

contrast between geologic layers tend to be greater.
MASW
Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW)

Estimates S-velocity from surface waves

Estimates material Strength, shear modulus

Data quality is high because surface wave is generally

the dominant wave

Most noise-tolerant seismic method

Seismic Equipment

Laptop Computer

Geophones

Geometrics Geode Seismometer

Thumper!
Survey’s Focus Since 2006
Acquire P- and S- wave velocity data to characterize the
glacial materials in terms of their engineering and
seismic properties.

Build a database of P- and S- wave velocity data from

glacial materials already identified by surficial mapping.

Relate shear wave velocities to SPT-N values.

Integrate this data to the stack maps to assess

engineering and seismic hazards state wide.
Engineering Properties
Acquiring P- and S-wave data is important for
determining the engineering properties of the bedrock
and glacial materials.

The material properties derived from P- and S-waves:

Bulk Modulus Bulk Density
Shear Modulus Poisson’s Ratio
Young’s Modulus Velocity Ratio
NEHRP Site Classification
Seismic Properties
S-wave velocities of the upper 100 feet are important
predictors of site amplification factors for earthquake
shaking.

Site amplification factors describe how the surficial

strata amplify (or attenuate) ground motion during an
earthquake.

Characterizing the glacial materials for prediction of

earthquake shaking provides added value to the
surficial mapping.
Seismic Investigations
Bainbridge Project
HCWC Well Field No. 1

Water Fall
Well Field

Depth to bedrock
78+ ft.
P-Wave Velocity Model
S-Wave Velocity Model
HCWC Well Field No. 1

Water Fall
Well Field

Depth to bedrock
78+ ft.
HCWC Well Field No. 2

Well Field

Depth to bedrock Quarry

94+ ft.
P-Wave Velocity Model
S-Wave Velocity Model
Passive Remote MASW
HCWC Well Field No. 2

Well Field

Depth to bedrock Quarry

94+ ft.
HCWC New Well Field
Engineering Borehole Database
Geotechnical Soil Borings
Dorset Quadrangle Example
1997 NEHRP Soil Classification for Ground
Motion Amplification

Vsa is the average shear wave velocity

Na is the average field SPT blow count
Sua is the average undrained shear strength
Earthquake Risk Potential