2D MASW SURVEYS TO EVALUATE

SUBSURFACE STIFFNESS
Investigations of the 2004 I-40 Landslide
and Other Projects

Ned Billington, L.G., Jeremy Strohmeyer, L.G.,

and Alex Rutledge, E.I.T., G.I.T.
Schnabel Engineering
11-A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407

Outline
What is MASW?
Quick Primer on Surface Waves

Raleigh wave motion, Dispersion, SASW

MASW Methodology

Data Acquisition and Processing

2D MASW Applications

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Sinkhole Investigations
Abandoned Mine Survey
I-40 Landslide Investigation
Big Slow Movef Study

What is MASW?
Multi-channel Analysis of Surface Waves
The generation, recording, and analysis of
seismic surface waves (Raleigh waves) to
determine subsurface shear wave velocities.
Shear wave velocity is a direct indication of the
stiffness of subsurface materials.

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What is it good for?

1D Shear wave velocity profiles

Site-specific seismic analyses

IBC Site Class designation

2D Shear wave velocity cross-sections

Investigating Karst and Sinkhole Features

Mapping Abandoned Mines

Determining Depth to Rock and Rock Quality

Mapping Weak Soil Zones

Locating Fracture Zones

More!

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Seismic Waves

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Surface Wave Velocity

and Dispersion
Lower frequency components of the surface wave have
longer wavelengths and travel deeper in the subsurface,
producing dispersion or variation of velocity with
frequency.
f2

V1

V2>V1

f3
f2

f1

Frequency

A
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f3
Phase Velocity

f1

Surface Wave Velocity

The surface wave velocity ranges from 87% to
96% of the shear wave velocity.
Variation is dependent on Poissons Ratio.
By determining the surface wave velocities, and
by estimating Poissons ratio, we can calculate
the shear wave velocity.
Relationship between
0.87 + 1.12
VR = KVs =
Vs
S & Rayleigh Wave
1 +

Velocities

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MASW Data Aquisition

Weight drop energy sources: sledgehammer, AWD,
etc.
Engineering seismograph and geophone array
Energy source and array moved along ground
surface to collect additional data
Engineering Seismograph

Seismic Energy Source

Vertical Geophone Array

...
Surface Wave

Body Waves

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MASW Data Analysis

Recognize surface wave energy
Convert data to frequency domain
Plot surface wave velocity versus frequency
Select representative dispersion curve
Signal-to-Noise Ratio

Dispersion Curve

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MASW Inversion Modeling

An earth model of shear wave velocity with depth
is generated to match the observed data.

Final Velocity Model

Model Dispersion Curve (solid) vs

Observed Dispersion Curve
(dotted)

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1D and 2D Models

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2D MASW Applications

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Line
3

Washington, DC
Stream Tunnel Sinkhole Survey

Line 2
Line 1

South Dr

Independence Ave

Low velocity anomaly

over old tunnel

Low velocity anomalies by

manhole and new tunnel

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Chisholm, MN
Abandoned Iron Mine Survey
A
ne
Li

ne
Li

Line A Deep (48-channel data)

ne
Li

Boring B1
120

140

160

Approx. Northeast

Horizontal Distance (feet)

180

200

220

240

260

1560

280

300

320

340

1560
3200

1540

1520

1500

1520

GLACIAL TILL

1500

Collapsed Glacial Till?

1480

1480

MINE WORKINGS
1460

1440

1460

BEDROCK

1440

Approximate Elevation (feet)

1540

Modeled Shear Wave Velocity (ft/s)

MINE DUMP MATERIAL

3000
2800
2600
2400
2200
2000
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600

1420

1420

1400

1400

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200

Chisholm, MN
Drilling Results, B-1
Caved mine workings 21 feet thick
Timbers and partially filled voids

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Detroit, MI
Combined Sewer Pipe Sinkhole Study

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Detroit, MI
2D MASW Results (3.3 miles)

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Detroit, MI
Combined Sewer Pipe Sinkhole Study
Example 2D MASW Results

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2D MASW to Assist in I-40

Landslide Investigation
September 18, 2004 - Floodwaters from Hurricane
Ivan cause erosion and landslide of I-40
embankment near Tennessee border

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Aerial Photographs
Smaller Slide

Main Slide

9/2004

4/1992

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MASW Survey - Main Slide

MASW Survey in left-hand lane, eastbound
lanes from Sta 1450 to 2225

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MASW Data Acquisition

24-channel land streamer, 4.5 Hz phones
5-foot geophone spacing, 10-foot source spacing
AWD energy source, 30-foot source offset

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Main Slide - comparison with

boring and tieback data
Note: Borings FB-4, FB-5, FB-6, and FB-10 are online. The other borings shown are offset to the south of the line about 18 to 39 feet.

Approximate Depth (feet)

DOT Stationing (feet)

1450

1500

1550FB-101600
FB-20

1650

1700

1750

FB-7

1800
FB-6

1850

APPROX. EAST

1900

1950

FB-5

2000

2050

2100

FB-4

2150

2200

FB-3

-20

-20

-40

-40

-60

-60

-80

-80

EXPLANATION
FB-10

5000

4500

4000

3500

3000

2500

2000

1500

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1000

Approximate top of rock based on borings and

shear wave velocities

Modeled Shear Wave Velocity (feet/second)

500

Boring with top of boulders (yellow) and top of rock (red)

Low velocity anomaly may

be caused by fracture zone
or deeper weathering

MASW Survey
Smaller Slide

Tunnel

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MASW Results
Smaller Slide

LINE 2

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Hunters Crossing BSM

2D MASW and Seismic Refraction
Seismic Survey Line

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Section D-D

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Data Acquistion

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2D Vs Model (MASW)
Active Scarp

Cracks in Asphalt

B-1

Adjacent Scarp

2000
1900
1800
1700
1600
1500
1400
1300
1200
1100
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200

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2D Vs Model (MASW)
Active Scarp

Cracks in Asphalt

B-1

Adjacent Scarp

2000

1500

1200

900

700

400

200

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2D Vp Model (Refraction)
970

960

950

940

930

920

910

900

890
14500

880

13500
12500

870

11500
860

10500
9500

850

8500
7500

840

6500
5500

830

4500
3500

820
2500
1500

810

0
800
-340

-330

-320

-310

-300

-290

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-280

-270

-260

-250

-240

-230

-220

-210

-200

-190

-180

-170

-160

-150

-140

-130

-120

-110

-100

-90

-80

-70

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

Vs and Vp Models
Active Scarp
Cracks in Asphalt

970

2000
1900
1800
1700
1600
1500
1400
1300
1200
1100
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300

960

950

940

930

920

910

900

890

B-1

Adjacent Scarp

880

870

860

850

840

830

820

810

800
-340

-330

-320

-310

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-300

-290

-280

-270

-260

-250

-240

-230

-220

-210

-200

-190

-180

-170

-160

-150

-140

-130

-120

-110

-100

-90

-80

-70

-60

-50

-40

-30

-20

-10

Closing Remarks
MASW is well suited to highway
investigations
Can

be collected next to traffic

Acquisition relatively quick on pavement
Not affected by buried, overhead utilities
Provides a physical property useful for design
(shear wave velocity stiffness)

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Thank you !

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Example Soil Boring

Roadway Embankment Fill:

Silty Sand
Roadway Embankment Fill:

Gravel, Cobbles, and

Boulders
Crystalline Rock:

Quarzite and Meta

Graywacke
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