Sh-Wave Seismic Reflection Imaging Of Anomalous Foundation Conditions—Mississinewa Dam, Indiana

Woolery, Edward W.; Street, R.; Hornbeck, Stephen T.

doi:10.3997/2214-4609-pdb.192.chp_2

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In cases where seismic has been used, refraction or first arrival analysis has been the preferred method (Dutta, 1984). There are a few cases where seismic reflection has proven to be an effective and efficient method of interrogating the internal geometries and associated anomalies in seismic material characteristics in earthen structures (Nie et al, 2001;Woolery et al, 2001;Llopis et al, 1995;Dakoulas, 1993;Miller andMarkiewicz, 2000, 2001;Miller et al, 2004). Reduced strength related to anomalous zones within or below the earthen structures could represent unsafe conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seismic Reflection: Upstream, Downstream, and on Earthen Dams and Dikes

Miller

Markiewicz

Block

et al. 2007

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

High-resolution seismic reflection has been used successfully to characterize material and investigate a variety of problems associated with earthen dams and abutments. Limitations and challenges of seismic reflection when interrogating these structures and lithologies are nontrivial and require very critical thinking. Seismic reflection has proved an effective tool for mapping confining units for integration into the cutoff wall at the Keechelus Dam in Cle Elum, Washington; mapping lithologies and bedrock structures for earthquake retrofitting at Bend, Oregon; delineating karst in bedrock beneath the dam core responsible for subsidence on the upstream side of a major flood control structure at Clearwater Dam, Missouri; and detecting high permeability zones within a glacial outwash embankment of a water retention dam near Enumclaw, Washington. Extreme geometries and material variability associated with any man-made structure are the most formidable challenge to seismically imaging. Inconsistent source wavelets, out-of-the-plane energy, extreme statics (topography and velocity based), and source noise (disproportionately high percentage of surface waves) are all problems that are not unique to earthen dams, dikes, and levees, but they are certainly more prevalent with those types of structures. Success of the technique in these settings is source characteristics and spatial oversampling.

show abstract