Changes in soil conditions before and after earthquakes at a repetitive soil liquefaction site in Taiwan

Beishih Village of Hsinhua Township in southern Taiwan is a unique location for studying soil liquefaction. Soil liquefaction was observed at the same site after earthquakes in 1946, 2010, and 2016, each of which had a Richter magnitude greater than six. This recurrence provides an opportunity for analyzing soil condition variations resulting from soil liquefaction. Seismic data sets were collected in 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2017. We used seismic refraction tomography and the multichannel analysis of surface waves to estimate P- and S-wave velocities. In S-wave velocity profiles, low shear velocity zones were located beneath sand volcanoes shortly after two earthquakes and disappeared 4 years after a 2010 earthquake. However, the P-wave velocity is less sensitive to soil condition changes, possibly because groundwater obscures the effect of soil liquefaction on velocity profiles. In addition, we used seismic wave velocities to determine the importance of soil properties such as Poisson’s ratio, shear modulus, and porosity to identify the cause of the low shear velocity zone. Notably, although porosity decreased after soil grain rearrangement, sand and clay mixing increased the Poisson’s ratio, reducing the shear modulus of the soil. In addition, a soil layer between 2 and 7 m and a deeper layer below 10 m that resulted in sand volcanoes were both liquefied. We also considered how the evaluation of soil liquefaction potential could be affected by long-term variations in soil conditions and changes resulting from liquefaction. The factor of safety was used to evaluate the liquefaction potential of the site. The results revealed that the assessment conducted long after the earthquake underestimated risk because the soil developed shear strength after the earthquake.

What Do P-Wave Velocities Tell Us About the Critical Zone?

Fractures in Earth's critical zone influence groundwater flow and storage and promote chemical weathering. Fractured materials are difficult to characterize on large spatial scales because they contain fractures that span a range of sizes, have complex spatial distributions, and are often inaccessible. Therefore, geophysical characterizations of the critical zone depend on the scale of measurements and on the response of the medium to impulses at that scale. Using P-wave velocities collected at two scales, we show that seismic velocities in the fractured bedrock layer of the critical zone are scale-dependent. The smaller-scale velocities, derived from sonic logs with a dominant wavelength of ~0.3 m, show substantial vertical and lateral heterogeneity in the fractured rock, with sonic velocities varying by 2,000 m/s over short lateral distances (~20 m), indicating strong spatial variations in fracture density. In contrast, the larger-scale velocities, derived from seismic refraction surveys with a dominant wavelength of ~50 m, are notably slower than the sonic velocities (a difference of ~3,000 m/s) and lack lateral heterogeneity. We show that this discrepancy is a consequence of contrasting measurement scales between the two methods; in other words, the contrast is not an artifact but rather information—the signature of a fractured medium (weathered/fractured bedrock) when probed at vastly different scales. We explore the sample volumes of each measurement and show that surface refraction velocities provide reliable estimates of critical zone thickness but are relatively insensitive to lateral changes in fracture density at scales of a few tens of meters. At depth, converging refraction and sonic velocities likely indicate the top of unweathered bedrock, indicative of material with similar fracture density across scales.

Prediction of Dynamic Elastic Properties for Mishrif formation in West Qurna-1 oil field: an experimental work

Shear and compressional wave velocities are useful for drilling operations, the exploration of reservoirs, stimulation processes, and hydraulic fracturing. An ultrasonic device will be used in this investigation to anticipate and analyze the elastic characteristics of carbonate rocks. At the summit of the field, the well WQ1-20 obtained samples of the Mishrif formation from a variety of various depths. The number of samples taken from the well is nine from different units whereas the number of samples taken from the main unit (MB2) was five. The relations between the elastic properties for the carbonate rocks with P-and S-waves were defined. The relations between Vp and Vs with elastic properties were defined by applied Regression analysis. The results showed that a linear relationship between P-and S-wave velocities with the elastic properties of the carbonate rocks. It is found that the relationship between Vp and Young's modulus (E) is R2 equal to 0.979 while the relationship between Vs and Young's modulus (E) is R2 equal to 0.925. The relationship between shear modulus and Vs is good in comparison with Vp where the values of R2 were 0.985 and 0.94 respectively. R2 values for the Bulk modulus and Lame's constant of Vp are 0.925 and 0.6, respectively, while the values for Vs are 0.925 and 0.6 for the latter. The relation between Vp/Vs ratio with Poisson’s ratio showed a good R2 with a value of 0.97. When it comes to predicting the dynamic elastic characteristics of a material, the ultrasonic approach may be regarded as a cost-effective, easy, and non-destructive method.

Estimation of Shear-Wave Velocity Structures in Taichung, Taiwan, Using Array Measurements of Microtremors

Near-surface S-wave velocity structures (VS) are crucial in site-effect studies and ground-motion simulations or predictions. We explored S-wave velocity structures in Taichung, the second-largest city in Taiwan by population, by employing array measurements of microtremors at a total of 53 sites. First, the fundamental-mode dispersion curves of Rayleigh waves were estimated by adopting the frequency–wavenumber analysis method. Second, the surface-wave inversion technique was used to calculate the S-wave velocity structures of the area. At many sites, observed phase velocities were almost flat, with a phase velocity of approximately 800–1300 m/s in the frequency range of 0.6–2 Hz. A high-velocity zone (VS of 900–1500 m/s) with a convex shape was observed at the shallow S-wave structures of these sites (depths of 50–500 m). On the basis of the inversion results, we constructed two-dimensional and three-dimensional contour maps to elucidate the variations of VS structures in Taichung. According to VS-contour maps at different depths, lowest S-wave velocities are found at the western coastal plain, whereas highest S-wave velocities appear on the eastern side. The S-wave velocity gradually decreases from east to west. Moreover, the S-wave velocity of the Tertiary bedrock is assumed to be 1500 m/s in the area. According to the depth-contour map (VS = 1500 m/s), the depths of the bedrock range from 250 m (the eastern part) to 1550 m (the western part). The thicknesses of the alluvium gradually decrease from west to east. Our results are consistent with the geology of the Taichung area.

Comparison of shear-wave velocities obtained with shear-wave elastography of various peripheral lymph nodes in healthy Beagles

OBJECTIVE To compare shear-wave velocities (SWVs) with shear-wave elastography of various peripheral lymph nodes (LNs). ANIMALS 11 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES For each dog, bilateral mandibular, medial retropharyngeal, superficial cervical, axillary, superficial inguinal, and popliteal LNs were evaluated with shear-wave elastography in sagittal and transverse scanning planes. Depth of each lymph node was recorded, and intra- and interobserver reliability was determined. RESULTS SWVs for all LNs were significantly higher in the sagittal scanning plane, compared with those in the transverse scanning plane. The SWV of the most superficial LN, the mandibular LN, was significantly higher, compared with that for the other LNs, except for the medial retropharyngeal LN. The SWV of the deepest LN, the medial retropharyngeal LN, was as high as that for the mandibular LN. Intra- and interobserver reliability was excellent. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE SWVs for normal peripheral LNs of Beagles may serve as a reference to compare with those for other breeds and diseased LNs. Scanning plane, LN depth, and interfering tissues between the LN and the transducer may affect SWV. Shear-wave elastography may not be operator dependent.

Multiwave Total Focusing Method for Full-Matrix Imaging Using Ultrasonic Phased Array

The imaging range of the traditional total focusing method (TFM) is usually limited by the directivity of excitation of a single wave pattern. In this paper, a multiwave TFM technique is proposed, which uses both compression and shear vertical (SV) waves for detection and imaging simultaneously. Based on this technique, a special ultrasonic transducer for multiwave detection is designed that can balance the excitation amplitude of compression and SV waves. Multiwave TFM uses the compression and SV wave fields generated by the same excitation, and the signals reflected by the two sound fields passing through the discontinuity are received. The signals are respectively processed by TFM according to the compression and SV wave velocities. The two processed signals are shifted and aligned according to the time difference between the compression wave with SV wave propagation, and then added together. Finally, the detection image of the block is obtained. Through simulation and experiments, it is shown that the special transducer can optimize the imaging range and effect of multiwave TFM, and multiwave TFM can effectively detect discontinuities and reduce the rate of missed detection at higher steering angles. The detection results show that the maximum amplitude gain of multiwave TFM relative to TFM can be increased about 6 dB.

Comparison of shear-wave velocities obtained with shear-wave elastography of various peripheral lymph nodes in healthy Beagles

OBJECTIVE To compare shear-wave velocities (SWVs) with shear-wave elastography of various peripheral lymph nodes (LNs). ANIMALS 11 healthy Beagles. PROCEDURES For each dog, bilateral mandibular, medial retropharyngeal, superficial cervical, axillary, superficial inguinal, and popliteal LNs were evaluated with shear-wave elastography in sagittal and transverse scanning planes. Depth of each lymph node was recorded, and intra- and interobserver reliability was determined. RESULTS SWVs for all LNs were significantly higher in the sagittal scanning plane, compared with those in the transverse scanning plane. The SWV of the most superficial LN, the mandibular LN, was significantly higher, compared with that for the other LNs, except for the medial retropharyngeal LN. The SWV of the deepest LN, the medial retropharyngeal LN, was as high as that for the mandibular LN. Intra- and interobserver reliability was excellent. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE SWVs for normal peripheral LNs of Beagles may serve as a reference to compare with those for other breeds and diseased LNs. Scanning plane, LN depth, and interfering tissues between the LN and the transducer may affect SWV. Shear-wave elastography may not be operator dependent.

Surface and shear-wave velocity modelling of the Tongariro Volcanic Centre, New Zealand, using ambient noise cross-correlation

<p>We use continuous seismic data from permanent and temporary, broadband and short-period stations that were operating during 2001 and 2008 to investigate the subsurface velocity structure of the Tongariro Volcanic Centre (TgVC) of New Zealand, particularly the highly active but poorly understood Ruapehu and Tongariro Volcanoes. Stacks of cross-correlation of two concurrent ambient noise seismograms can be used to estimate the interstation Green's Function, i.e., the impulse response of the earth between the two receivers. The Green's Functions are used to retrieve the dispersion relation (frequency-dependent velocity) of surface waves at different periods, which reflects the shear-wave velocity structure in the Fresnel volume of the propagating surface waves. Several studies have used dispersion measurements from ambient noise cross-correlations to investigate the shallow subsurface shear-wave velocity structure of active volcanoes around the world. Most use vertical components to retrieve the Rayleigh waves, but it is becoming increasingly common to use the horizontal seismogram components in addition to the vertical, giving further constraints to Rayleigh-wave measurements and introducing data relating to Love waves. We compute 1,048,968 daily cross-correlations for 955 viable station pairs across the two periods, including all nine-components of the cross-correlation tensor where possible. These daily functions are then stacked into 7458 full-stacks, of which we make group velocity dispersion measurements for 2641 RR-, RZ-, TT-, ZR- and ZZ-component stacks. Cross-correlation quality varies across the networks, with some station pairs possibly contaminated with timing errors. We observe both the fundamental and rst higher-order modes within our database of dispersion measurements. However, correctly identifying the mode of some measurements is challenging as the range of group velocities measured reflects both presence of multiple modes and heterogeneity of the local velocity structure. We assign modes to over 1900 measurements, of which we consider 1373 to be high quality. We invert fundamental mode Rayleigh- and Love-wave dispersion curves independently and jointly for one dimensional shear-wave velocity profiles at Ruapehu and Tongariro Volcanoes, using dispersion measurements from two individual station pairs and average dispersion curves from measurements within specifi c areas on/around the volcanoes. Our Ruapehu profiles show little velocity variation with depth, suggesting that volcanic edifice is made of material that is compacting and being hydrothermally altered with depth. At Tongariro, we observe larger increases in velocity with depth, which we interpret as different layers within Tongariro's volcanic system. Slow shear-wave velocities, on the order of 1-2 km/s, are consistent with both P-wave velocities from existing velocity pro files of areas within the TgVC, and the observations of worldwide studies of shallow volcanic systems that used ambient noise cross-correlation. A persistent observation across the majority of our dispersion measurements is that group velocities of the fundamental mode Love-wave group velocity measurements are slower than those of fundamental mode Rayleigh-waves, particularly in the frequency range of 0.25-1 Hz. Similarly, first higher-order mode Love-wave group velocities are slower than first higher-mode Rayleigh-wave velocities. This is inconsistent with the differences between synthetic dispersion curves that were calculated using isotropic, layered velocity models appropriate for Ruapehu and Tongariro. We think the Love-Rayleigh discrepancy is due to structures such as dykes or cracks in the vertical plane having greater influence than horizontal layering on surface-wave propagation. However, several measurements where Love-wave group velocities are faster than Rayleigh-wave group velocities suggests that in some places horizontal layering is the stronger influence. We also observe that the differences between the Love- and Rayleigh-wave dispersion curves vary with the azimuth of the interstation path across Ruapehu and Tongariro Volcanoes. Some significant differences between Rayleigh-wave velocities of measurements with different interstation orientations are also observed, as are differences between Love-wave velocities. This suggests a component of azimuthal anisotropy within the volcanic structures, which coupled with the radial anistropy makes the shear-wave velocity structures of Ruapehu and Tongariro Volcanoes anisotropic with orthorhombic symmetry. We suggest that further work to determine three-dimensional structure should include provisions for anisotropy with orthorhombic or lower symmetry.</p>

Surface and shear-wave velocity modelling of the Tongariro Volcanic Centre, New Zealand, using ambient noise cross-correlation

<p>We use continuous seismic data from permanent and temporary, broadband and short-period stations that were operating during 2001 and 2008 to investigate the subsurface velocity structure of the Tongariro Volcanic Centre (TgVC) of New Zealand, particularly the highly active but poorly understood Ruapehu and Tongariro Volcanoes. Stacks of cross-correlation of two concurrent ambient noise seismograms can be used to estimate the interstation Green's Function, i.e., the impulse response of the earth between the two receivers. The Green's Functions are used to retrieve the dispersion relation (frequency-dependent velocity) of surface waves at different periods, which reflects the shear-wave velocity structure in the Fresnel volume of the propagating surface waves. Several studies have used dispersion measurements from ambient noise cross-correlations to investigate the shallow subsurface shear-wave velocity structure of active volcanoes around the world. Most use vertical components to retrieve the Rayleigh waves, but it is becoming increasingly common to use the horizontal seismogram components in addition to the vertical, giving further constraints to Rayleigh-wave measurements and introducing data relating to Love waves. We compute 1,048,968 daily cross-correlations for 955 viable station pairs across the two periods, including all nine-components of the cross-correlation tensor where possible. These daily functions are then stacked into 7458 full-stacks, of which we make group velocity dispersion measurements for 2641 RR-, RZ-, TT-, ZR- and ZZ-component stacks. Cross-correlation quality varies across the networks, with some station pairs possibly contaminated with timing errors. We observe both the fundamental and rst higher-order modes within our database of dispersion measurements. However, correctly identifying the mode of some measurements is challenging as the range of group velocities measured reflects both presence of multiple modes and heterogeneity of the local velocity structure. We assign modes to over 1900 measurements, of which we consider 1373 to be high quality. We invert fundamental mode Rayleigh- and Love-wave dispersion curves independently and jointly for one dimensional shear-wave velocity profiles at Ruapehu and Tongariro Volcanoes, using dispersion measurements from two individual station pairs and average dispersion curves from measurements within specifi c areas on/around the volcanoes. Our Ruapehu profiles show little velocity variation with depth, suggesting that volcanic edifice is made of material that is compacting and being hydrothermally altered with depth. At Tongariro, we observe larger increases in velocity with depth, which we interpret as different layers within Tongariro's volcanic system. Slow shear-wave velocities, on the order of 1-2 km/s, are consistent with both P-wave velocities from existing velocity pro files of areas within the TgVC, and the observations of worldwide studies of shallow volcanic systems that used ambient noise cross-correlation. A persistent observation across the majority of our dispersion measurements is that group velocities of the fundamental mode Love-wave group velocity measurements are slower than those of fundamental mode Rayleigh-waves, particularly in the frequency range of 0.25-1 Hz. Similarly, first higher-order mode Love-wave group velocities are slower than first higher-mode Rayleigh-wave velocities. This is inconsistent with the differences between synthetic dispersion curves that were calculated using isotropic, layered velocity models appropriate for Ruapehu and Tongariro. We think the Love-Rayleigh discrepancy is due to structures such as dykes or cracks in the vertical plane having greater influence than horizontal layering on surface-wave propagation. However, several measurements where Love-wave group velocities are faster than Rayleigh-wave group velocities suggests that in some places horizontal layering is the stronger influence. We also observe that the differences between the Love- and Rayleigh-wave dispersion curves vary with the azimuth of the interstation path across Ruapehu and Tongariro Volcanoes. Some significant differences between Rayleigh-wave velocities of measurements with different interstation orientations are also observed, as are differences between Love-wave velocities. This suggests a component of azimuthal anisotropy within the volcanic structures, which coupled with the radial anistropy makes the shear-wave velocity structures of Ruapehu and Tongariro Volcanoes anisotropic with orthorhombic symmetry. We suggest that further work to determine three-dimensional structure should include provisions for anisotropy with orthorhombic or lower symmetry.</p>