Offset and linear spread geometry in the MASW method

Abstract

This paper evaluates the effect of near offset and geophone configuration on dispersion image for linear spreads in the multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) method. In order to determine the effect of near offset, MASW records were collected for a variety of offsets and the corresponding calculated dispersion images were compared for a fixed layout. To reveal the spectral resolution of dispersion images, MASW records were collected using nine different types of linear spread configuration, then dispersion images for each MASW record were calculated using the phase velocity analysis technique and were compared to the present preferable linear spread type for a MASW survey. The results show that at least one pair of near offset shots is required for distinguishing the fundamental mode from the higher modes without ambiguity, and for picking a dispersion curve in a wide frequency range. The first shot distance should not be longer than four times the geophone interval, and the second shot distance should be equal to or longer than the one-third spread length, depending on the power of the seismic source. A better dispersion image resolution and dispersion curve in the wide frequency range can be obtained by using the SL-type geophone configuration. Besides this, in a survey in which higher frequencies are more important, the SII-type configuration may be preferable. With the SII-type spread configuration, the fundamental mode can easily be distinguished from the higher modes. © 2010 Nanjing Geophysical Research Institute.