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ENGINEERING SEISMOLOGY
Earthquake Waves
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Beyza TAŞKIN
www.akademi.itu.edu.tr/btaskin btaskin@itu.edu.tr
I- Bulk Modulus, K:
Also known as incompressibility.
Basic Engineering Knowledge:
P
K
(V / V )
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 1
Fault movement releases energy as seismic
waves radiating from rupture.
Mainly there are 2 types of seismic waves,
each having 2 different components:
Seismic Waves
I- Body Waves:
I-1) P-Wave (primary, pressure)
I-2) S-Wave (secondary, shear)
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 2
BODY WAVES
Body waves travel through the interior of the Earth. They follow ray paths
refracted by the varying density and stiffness of the Earth layers.
BODY WAVES
P-waves are compressional waves, material movement is in the same direction
as the wave movement. In other words, material expands and contracts in
volume and particles move back and forth in the path of the wave. This
motion along the surface can cause the ground to buckle and fracture.
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 3
BODY WAVES
S-waves (aka secondary, shear) are always slower than P-waves (3~7 km/s).
They can travel only through solids. S-waves move material perpendicular to
the path of the wave. So they are transverse waves and they have greater
amplitudes than P-waves. When the wave passes, the medium is distorted
first in one direction and then in the other.
BODY WAVES
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 4
BODY WAVES
The actual velocities at which P- and S-waves travel depend on the densities
and inherent elastic properties of the rocks through which they travel. Wave
speed depends on the measures of only two elastic moduli of the rock:
Incompressibility, K
Rigidity,
As well known, the volumetric strain is measured as the reduction in the
volume of the rock subjected to a uniform pressure on the surface. Henceforth
the ‘modulus of incompressibility, K’ (or in other words the Bulk Modulus) is
defined. This type of deformation will occur when P-waves propagate through
the Earth’s interior. Therefore, , being the density of the rock through which
the wave is travelling, the P- and S-wave velocities can be defined:
4
( K)
VP Wave 3 VS Wave
BODY WAVES
In general:
4
( K) Modulus of incompressibility K ; then
3
Modulus of rigidity ; then
K
Material
Pa Pa km/s km/s
Granite 56.0109 34109 6.2 3.6
Sandstone 24.0109 17109 4.3 2.6
Water 2.2109 0.0 1.5 0.0
Air 0.0001 0.0 0.32 0.0
The lower values of P-wave velocity indicate P-wave traveling in water; while
higher values correspond the P-wave speed near the base of Earth's mantle.
Consequently, the lower values of S-wave velocity indicate S-wave traveling in
loose, unconsolidated sediment. Higher S-wave speed is near the base of
Earth's mantle.
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 5
BODY WAVES
4
( K)
E (1 )
VP Wave 3 is the Poisson’s ratio.
(1 )(1 2)
E
VS Wave
2(1 )
x S f (t , x)
y S f (at bx)
f
af (at bx) 2 f a2 2 f
2
t a
Time
2 VL2
2 f t 2
b x 2
b
Derivatives:
a 2 f (at bx)
t 2
VL being longitudinal wave velocity;
f
Displacement
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 6
DERIVATION OF WAVE EQUATION
(x) (x+x) According to Newton’s II. Law; where F is the cross-section area
of the particle:
Mass M F x
u 2
2u 1
x x+x Fx F ( x x) ( x) ( x x) ( x)
x t 2 t 2 x
2u
lim x 0
t 2 x
2u 1 E E 2u 2u E 2u E E
2 0 VL2 VL
t 2
x x x 2
t x 2
u u+du
x x
x x+dx
mass M F dx
y Force 1 2u
u ( Fdx) 2
du dx Section F t
x
2u d 2u
d dx 2 dx 2
x t dx t
Hooke’s Law for shear : c being the propagation velocity of the transverse
du d 2u 2u (shear) wave velocity; the Wave Equation can be
2 2 written as:
dx dx x t
2u 2u 2u 2 2u
0 c
t 2 x 2 c 0 ….(2)
t 2 x 2
is the shear modulus (rigidity)
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 7
SURFACE WAVES
Surface waves travel just below or along the ground’s surface. They are slower
than body waves; rolling, side-to-side movement and especially damaging to
buildings. Love and Rayleigh are the two main types. Both waves travel along
the surface of the Earth, with rocking motions decreasing to zero with depth
SURFACE WAVES
Love waves usually arrive after S-waves and before Rayleigh waves. Similar to
S-waves, L-waves cause shearing motion, however in the horizontal plane.
Their speed is about ~92% of the S-wave velocity, and have the largest
amplitude.
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 8
SURFACE WAVES
Rayleigh waves are very similar to ocean waves. They cause vertical together
with back-and-forth horizontal motion; like an elliptical path to particles.
R-waves usually arrive last on a seismogram. Their speed is very close to L-
waves and also about 90% of the S-wave velocity. (VR 0.9194VS)
SURFACE WAVES
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 9
SEISMIC WAVES & PROPAGATION
Useful Definitions
Several types of interaction between waves and the subsurface geology (i.e. the
rocks) are commonly observable on seismograms:
► Refraction
(kırılma)
► Reflection
(yansıma)
► Dispersion
(dağılma)
► Diffraction
(sapma)
► Attenuation
(azalım)
Ray
NOTE THAT: Wave
amplitude is A and
2A represents double
amplitude !
Ray
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 10
SEISMIC WAVES & PROPAGATION
A wavefront is a surface connecting ray
all points of equal travel time from the
wavefront
source. Rays are the normals to the
wavefronts, and they point in the
direction of the wave propagation. source
While the mathematical description of
the wavefronts is rather complex, that
of the rays is simple.
Seismic Ray Theory is analogous to optical ray theory and has been applied
for over 100 years to interpret seismic data. It continues to be used
extensively today, due to its simplicity and applicability to a wide range of
problems. These applications include :
Most earthquake location algorithms,
Body wave focal mechanism determinations,
Inversions for velocity structure in the crust and mantle.
s x sin s V t V t x sin
t sin
u sin p
x V
Here, u=1/V and termed as ‘slowness’ and p is called the ray parameter.
Note that p is constant for laterally homogeneous media.
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 11
SEISMIC WAVES & PROPAGATION
1.8s @90m
50m
Obtaining Wavefront
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
Time 1- We have the incident on the surface of
the first layer with thickness 200m and
H1=200m
wave velocity of 500m/s.
V1=500m/s
2- The wavefront at t=0.1s will proceed a
distance Vt=5000.01=50m. So draw a
H2= semi-circle with radius of 50m
V2=750m/s
3- For t=0.2s wavefront will cover a
distance of 5000.02=100m. Similarly, it will
proceed by nVt all along.
4- When the wavefront hits the interface of
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
1.5
2.0
the second layer (after 0.4s), new
75m wavefronts will form both in the first
6- Later draw a tangent line starting from the second layer at time 0.6s (reflected) and second (refracted) layers.
towards the reflected wave at 0.6s in the first layer. This tangent will be Note that for every t=0.1s in the second
the envelop for the head wave of the critically reflected waves that will layer; the wavefront will proceed
reach the surface. 7500.01=75m.
7- Repeat the same for the refracted waves for 0.7s; 0.8s;… All 5- Reflected (green) waves will continue
tangents will be parallel to each other. radiating 50m for every 0.1s while the
refracted (blue) waves radiate 75m.
8- Connect the incident’s wavefronts with the tangents. The point
where it reaches the surface is the critical distance and the time is
the critical time !
1
1 Reflection 1 1
Layer-1 Layer-1
V2 > V1 V2 < V1
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 12
SEISMIC WAVES & PROPAGATION
Snell's Law equates the ratio of material velocities V1 and V2 to the ratio of the
sine's of incident 1 and refracted 2 angles:
sin 1 sin 2
V1 V2
Layer-1
If a P-wave is the incident, it VP1 i,P
reflects and refracts as r,P
VS1
P-waves, however it also forms
a reflected and a refracted
Layer-2 VP2 t,P
S-wave. Snell’s Law still works,
VS2 t,S
but for the outgoing wave being
an S-wave, note that S-wave Refracted Waves
velocity should be used. (transmitted)
Refracted SV Refracted SV
Refracted P Refracted P
Reflected P Reflected P
Incident P Incident SV
Reflected SV Reflected SV
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 13
SEISMIC WAVES & PROPAGATION
In the case of an SH-wave hitting the boundary, which is purely polarized in
the horizontal plane, there is only a transmitted and a reflected SH-wave, but
no conversion into P or SV possible. If a single incident wave is split into
multiple scattered waves, energy must be partitioned between these waves.
2V2
z
1V1
sin(i ,c )
i ,c arcsin 1
V1 V
sin(t ) V2 V2
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 14
SEISMIC WAVES & PROPAGATION
E = Ekin + Epot
The potential energy results from the distortion of the material working against the
elastic restoring force (stress), while the kinetic energy density is:
Ekin = ½ aV 2
Ground motion particle velocity: a V = A cos(t – kx)
A: wave amplitude
: angular frequency (2f)
k: wave number
Since the mean value of cos2=½, the mean kinetic energy density will be:
1
Ekin A2 2
4
For isotropic stress-strain relationship in a non-dispersive system Ekin=Epot, so the
total average energy density will be:
1
E A2 2
2
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 15
SEISMIC WAVES & PROPAGATION
The energy-flux density per unit time in the direction of wave propagation with velocity
v will then be:
1
E flux vA2 2
2
The total energy-flux density Eflux through a small surface area dS of the wavefront
bounded by neighboring rays which form a ray tube:
1
E flux vA2 2 dS
2
According to the energy conservation law, the energy flux within a considered ray tube
must remain constant although the surface area dS of the wavefront may vary along the
propagation path.
A1 dS 2
A2 dS1
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 16
SEISMIC WAVES & PROPAGATION
2 1 4H
First mode of vibration: H H T1
2 T Vs 2 Vs
3 4H
Second mode of vibration: H T2
2 3Vs
I vI
Reflection Coefficients: z Refraction Coefficients:
II vII
t,up
I I 2
t ,up
1 z
II 1 z II
down
down 1 z
up
1 z 2 z
I up down I t ,down
1 z 1 z
II II
t,down
EXAMPLE
Example-1: For the two-layer soil formation:
1=2.0t/m3; 1=0.30 a- Calculate the impedance ratio,
L-1 E1=2105t/m2; h1=75m b- Calculate the predominant period of the
upper layer,
2=2.5t/m3; 2=0.25
L-2 c- Compute the transmission (refraction) &
E2=3106t/m2; h2=150m
reflection coefficients from hard soil towards
soft soil.
a- Imdepance Ratio, Z :
Initially, the shear moduli & velocities of the layers should be computed.
Layer-1 Layer-2
E1 2 10 5
3 106
1 76923t / m 2 2 1.2 106 t / m 2
2(1 1 ) 2(1 0.3) 2(1 0.25)
1 2 .0 2 .5
1 0.204ts 2 / m 4 2 0.255ts 2 / m 4
g 9.807 9.807
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 17
EXAMPLE
a- Imdepance Ratio, z (cont’) :
1V1 0.204 614
Z 0.226
2V2 0.255 2169
b- Predominant Period, T1 :
4h1 4 75
T1 0.49 s
VS 1 614
LOCATING AN EARTHQUAKE
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 18
LOCATING AN EARTHQUAKE
LOCATING AN EARTHQUAKE
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 19
LOCATING AN EARTHQUAKE
FAULT-PLANE SOLUTIONS
Although it was enough to locate an earthquake accurately in the early days,
later it was noticed that the seismic waves contain much detailed information
including the type of faulting.
The seismogram shows the initial motion of the P-wave of an earthquake,
which can be a push away or pull towards from the seismograph.
COMPRESSION EXTENSION
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 20
FAULT-PLANE SOLUTIONS
Employing the world-wide network of seismographs, it is possible to determine
the push or pull movement on any seismogram, which yields important
information about the source characteristics of the earthquake: such as ‘the
event took place on a normal fault’ or reverse or strike-slip fault.....
Extension
The first motions of P-waves in each
Compresion station point out the direction of the
movement along the fault.
The BEACH BALL representation of
the fault motion is actually a 2D
illustration of a 3D motion.
In the fault-plane (beach ball)
solutions, the red region indicates the
areas in compression, while the white
shows the areas in extension.
Compresion Extension
FAULT-PLANE SOLUTIONS
Fault plane
Fault Plane
Areas in Areas in
Extension Compression
Auxiliary plane
Areas in
Areas in Extension
Compression
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 21
FAULT-PLANE SOLUTIONS
Another illustration for nodal planes and extension/compression zones on a
right-lateral strike-slip fault.
FAULT-PLANE SOLUTIONS
Fault-plane solution provides the focal mechanism, which refers to the
direction of slip in an earthquake and the orientation of the fault on which it
occurs. Beach Ball symbol is the projection on a horizontal plane of the lower
half of an imaginary, spherical shell (focal sphere) surrounding the earthquake
source (A).
The intersection between the fault plane and the sphere is a curve. The focal mechanism shows the
view of the hemisphere from directly above. The orientation of a plane (strike and dip) can be shown
by using just one curve, to include information on the slip, two planes should be used and shade
opposite quadrants of the hemisphere. In the figure, the gray quadrants contain the tension axis (T)
which reflects the minimum compressive stress direction; and the white quadrants contain the
pressure axis (P), which reflects the maximum compressive stress direction.
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 22
FAULT-PLANE SOLUTIONS
On the Seismic Beach Balls, one of the two nodal planes represents the
orientation of the fault plane that generated the earthquake.
The other is the auxiliary plane, a plane perpendicular to the line
describing the direction of slip in the earthquake (this line must lie on the
fault plane).
On a two-dimensional surface, the sphere of a focal mechanism is usually
represented by a circle, the projection of one half of that sphere. The center
of the sphere represents the earthquake's hypocenter; the center of a
circular projection represents its epicenter.
FAULT-PLANE SOLUTIONS
Although the first waves are plotted properly and the two nodal planes are set
accordingly, it is not certain which of the two represents the fault plane.
Consequently, this will show what type of slip occurred in the earthquake.
The geology of the site and the aftershock sequence might give valuable data
The fault plane solution is generally given as a two-dimensional projection of
the lower hemisphere of a focal mechanism sphere, not just an overhead view
of the outside of that sphere. The lines crossing the circle represent the
intersection of two perpendicular planes with a sphere.
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 23
FAULT-PLANE SOLUTIONS
Reverse (Thrust) Fault
Normal Fault
FAULT-PLANE SOLUTIONS
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 24
FAULT-PLANE SOLUTIONS
FAULT-PLANE SOLUTIONS
Doç.Dr.Beyza TAŞKIN 25