Maximizing the energy of surface wave and diminishing the effect of lateral inhomogenousness in the multichannel analysis of the surface wave (MASW)

Abstract

Multichannel analysis of surface wave (MASW) is one of the novel seismic methods in geophysic field in Vietnam. MASW is able to survey the stiffness of the soil environment under the ground via the shear-wave velocity VS by analyzing the spectral image of surface wave. We did the 1D MASW survey upon the borehole belonged to the residential development project at district 2, Ho Chi Minh city with fixed receiver system, different source orientations and different source offsets. The spectral images of surface wave were combined to maximize the surface wave’s energy on the spectral image of surface wave to minimize the effect of lateral inhomogenousness and near - far source offsets. The data points were chosen on the phase curve on spectral image of surface wave for the inversion process to define shear wave velocity VS. The VS from MASW was compared to the petrographic components and another seismic method (downhole). The relative difference of the obtained VS values between two methods was less than 10%. The change of VS in MASW was absolutely compatible to petrographic components in geological borehole, near surface filled soil layer (93 m/s), dark-gray silty layer (68–157 m/s), sandy clay layer (250–265 m/s) and lower clay layer (254–400 m/s).