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Generation of seismic waves by explosions in prestressed media

Toksöz, M. Nafi and Thomson, Ker C. and Ahrens, Thomas J. (1971) Generation of seismic waves by explosions in prestressed media. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 61 (6). pp. 1589-1623. ISSN 0037-1106. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20140912-094451326

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Abstract

The mechanisms of generation of seismic waves by an explosion in prestressed media are studied using both field seismograms and controlled laboratory experiments. LRSM seismograms from the underground nuclear explosion BILBY are analyzed to determine the source parameters from the radiated Love and Rayleigh waves. From the normalized amplitudes of Rayleigh waves as well as the Love-Rayleigh amplitude ratios, a composite source consisting of an isotropic explosion and a double couple is synthesized for the explosion and the associated tectonic strain release. From BILBY and other explosions studied by similar techniques, it is found that the tectonic strain energy release strongly depends on the medium properties in the immediate vicinity of the explosion. For “harder” media (such as granite) the tectonic strain energy release and the relative amplitude of Love waves are significantly higher than for softer media such as alluvium. Source-time functions of Love waves associated with the explosions are closer to time functions of earthquakes than to those of explosions. The mechanisms of the pre-existing strain energy release by explosive sources are studied in two separate laboratory experiments. In a one-dimensional experiment where an explosive source is detonated in a rod stressed in torsion, the S-wave amplitudes are found to be linearly proportional to prestrain. In the second experiment, radiation of seismic waves and the near-source phenomena of explosive sources in prestressed plates are studied by photoelastic as well as strain gauge observations. The generation of S-waves is greatly enhanced by the prestress condition. It is found that extended cracking (faulting) occurs along directions determined by the prestress field. The transverse (SH) waves are generated primarily by the relaxation of the stress field along these cracks. The explosion-generated cavity alone could not account for the radiated transverse seismic energy.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
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http://bssa.geoscienceworld.org/content/61/6/1589.abstractPublisherArticle
Additional Information:© 1971 Seismological Society of America. Manuscript received April 5, 1971. This research was supported by the United States Air Force Office of Aerospace Research and monitored by Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories under Contract F 19628-68-C-0043. The data from the BILBY explosion were analyzed at the Seismic Data Laboratory of Teledyne, Inc., supported by ARPA under the technical direction of AFTAC under contract F 33657-67-1313. The photoelastic work was performed at Stanford Research Institute and was supported by both the AFCRL and ARPA under contract Af 19(1628)-6048.
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Air Force Office of Aerospace ResearchUNSPECIFIED
Air Force Cambridge Research LaboratoriesF 19628-68-C-0043
Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA)F 33657-67-1313
Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories (AFCRL)Af 19(1628)-6048
Other Numbering System:
Other Numbering System NameOther Numbering System ID
Caltech Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences2000
Issue or Number:6
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20140912-094451326
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20140912-094451326
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:49652
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Tony Diaz
Deposited On:12 Sep 2014 23:52
Last Modified:03 Oct 2019 07:15

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