Analysis of Surface Wave Generation and Propagation in Layered Geological Media
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63665/ng3hgt95Keywords:
Surface wave dispersion, Rayleigh waves, layered geological media, MASW inversion, shear-wave velocityAbstract
Surface waves, particularly Rayleigh and Love waves, constitute the dominant component of seismic energy recorded at the Earth's surface and carry crucial diagnostic information about subsurface geological structure. This study investigates the generation mechanisms and propagation behavior of surface waves in horizontally layered geological media through a synthesis of numerical simulation, multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW), and dispersion inversion techniques. The primary objective is to characterize how elastic wave parameters shear-wave velocity (Vs), layer thickness, and Poisson's ratio govern surface wave dispersion characteristics across multilayered subsurface profiles. The hypothesis posits that Rayleigh wave phase velocity at high frequencies (>10 Hz) is predominantly sensitive to shallow-layer Vs, whereas low-frequency components penetrate deeper geological horizons. Results demonstrate statistically significant agreement (R² > 0.91) between numerically simulated and field-observed wave parameters across five geological units, with Vs30 values ranging from 145 to 1,750 m/s. Dispersion curves confirm strong depth-dependent phase velocity variation. These findings reinforce the viability of MASW-based inversion for precision subsurface characterization applicable to seismic hazard assessment, foundation engineering, and resource exploration in geologically complex terrains.
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