Fall 2017 CEE9533

Assignment #1: Geophysical Methods

Due Wednesday October 11th at 3 pm

Question 1) Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) has conducted surface seismic surveys, borehole
drilling, core analyses, and borehole geophysical logging to study the geological and
hydrogeological properties of the surficial deposits. The study area extends 30 km north-west from
Victoria, BC. Two boreholes at a distance of 6.5 m are drilled using rotary drilling method. Water
level was subsequently measured in each borehole upon arrival at the site. The average water level
was observed at about 30 m below ground surface and the overall soil profile consists of a clean
Fraser River sand. A temperature probe was first lowered into the borehole to collect data on a
down run in the undisturbed ground water. A period of 10-20 minutes was allowed for the
equipment to thermally equilibrate in the top of the water column before seismic logging began.
The seismic surveys were carried out in the cased boreholes using a crosshole array with a receiver
and an energy source lowered together down the boreholes. The cables supporting the receiver
were lowered by hand to the bottom of the hole, and pulled uphole at one metre spacings where
measurements were made. Table 1 summarizes the measured arrival times. As a geotechnical
specialist working for GSC youre required to provide the following analyses:
1) Shear wave and compression wave velocity profiles
2) Determination of shear and elastic moduli with depth
3) Based on the above data, determine soil Poison ratio
4) Assuming a peak ground acceleration of 0.20g, determine the liquefaction potential in
this soil profile.

Shear wave Compression Shear wave Compression

Depth arrival time wave arrival time Depth arrival time wave arrival
(m) (msec) (msec) (m) (msec) time (msec)
40 24.3036 - 64 8.0759 4.7369
41 19.3989 - 65 11.2665 4.4177
42 10.5461 - 66 14.5219 3.2978
43 10.5439 - 67 14.5864 3.1179
44 20.1700 - 68 8.0741 3.7146
45 20.2309 - 69 12.8920 3.3735
46 11.3537 - 70 11.3288 2.0184

1
Fall 2017 CEE9533

47 11.8737 - 71 11.2630 2.2514

48 11.8719 - 72 19.4001 4.4328
49 11.8702 - 73 14.5170 5.2526
50 22.6284 - 74 14.5164 4.2613
51 12.1278 - 75 7.2905 3.3352
52 12.1264 - 76 7.2251 3.4555
53 22.6205 - 77 19.5266 4.0153
54 12.9712 - 78 16.0114 4.4588
55 12.9045 - 79 8.8840 5.2355
56 12.9035 - 80 8.8837 4.6723
57 12.9673 - 81 12.8858 2.3640
58 12.9012 - 82 14.5125 3.4033
59 12.9653 - 83 21.0200 5.9123
60 12.8991 - 84 16.1386 4.4227
61 14.7222 - 85 20.9535 3.3433
62 20.8440 - 86 14.5109 4.3075
63 8.0765 - 87 22.6441 4.7369

2
Fall 2017 CEE9533

Question 2) A seismic refraction test is carried out at the ground surface in order to determine soil
layering and thickness of sublayers. The geophone receiver is moved away from the signal
transmitter and the refracted wave is obtained with time as shown in the following plot. Determine
the number and depth of soil layers.

0.6

0.5
Time (seconds)

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 50 100 150 200
Distance from signal transmitter (m)

3
Fall 2017 CEE9533

Question 3) The following plot shows the wave arrival times of two geophones used in a down-
hole seismic survey. The geophone receivers are spaced 5 meter apart as they are lowered in a
borehole. Seismic shear wave is produced by pounding a hammer at the ground surface at a
distance of 2 m from the surveying borehole. Determine the shear wave velocity profile up to 35
m depth.

Arrival time (msec)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
0
Depth of upper geophone (m)

10

15

20

25

30
Upper geophone
35
Lower Geophone
40

4
Fall 2017 CEE9533

Question 4) The following plot shows the travel time curves from a down-hole test in San
Francisco Bay area using a single geophone lowered in a borehole. The travel times correspond to
the length of time from the ground surface energy source to a receiver in a borehole. Determine
the velocity of the shear and compression waves in this soil profile.