The Compressional to Shear-Wave Velocity Ratio for Surface Soils and Shallow Sediments

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FOR CITATION: SALEM, Hilmi S., 2000. The Compressional to Shear-Wave Velocity Ratio for Surface Soils and Shallow Sediments. European Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics. 2000 (December), Vol. 5, Issue: 1, Pages: 3-14 (12p). ABSTRACT: The compressional to shear-wave velocity ratio, or velocity ratio (Vp/Vs), is an effective parameter in describing various physical parameters and lithological attributes of porous media, as well as the nature and kind of saturant filling the pores. In this study, Vp/Vs was obtained for surface soils and glacially originated shallow sediments (northern Germany), using in-situ seismic refraction measurements. For the whole column of the soils and sediments investigated, Vp/Vs lies in a general range of 1.28-3.19, with an average value of 2.42. The Vp/Vs shows considerable variations for the direct waves propagating through the surface soils saturated with air, and for the waves refracted from the underlying sediments that are partially or totally saturated with water. The Vp/Vs value of 2 is remarkable in discriminating between the partially and totally saturated sediments. The heterogeneity of the soils and sediments, vertically and laterally, and the variations in porosity, mineralogical composition, grain size, degree of saturation and kind of saturant (air or water) are primary factors responsible for the Vp/Vs varions. Direct relationships between Vp/Vs, on the one hand, and the compressional wave velocity and the shear wave velocity, on the other, and an inverse relationship between Vp/Vs and porosity, were obtained with coefficients of correlation ranging from 0.87 to 0.92. KEYWORDS: Compressional to Shear Wave Velocity (Vp/Vs); Seismic Refraction Measurements; Surface Soils and Shallow Sediments; Porosity; Lithology; Air and Water Saturations.

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