Seismic Shear Waves in Engineering

Measurements of seismic shear wave velocity and absorption coefficient can find use in soil and rock mechanics, foundation studies, structures, slope stability analysis, and the determination of dynamic elastic moduli. Shear waves in engineering studies must be separated from compressional, Rayleigh, and Love wave arrivals. This can be accomplished by designing seismic sources which favor the generation of shear waves, and by choice of seismic detectors to exploit the distinctive propagation properties of shear waves. These properties include the fact that SH and AV components of the shear wave behave differently at a boundary. Ground motion at the earth's surface produced by an SV arrival may differ in direction, amplitude, and phase from that of the SH wave before reaching the surface. Unambiguous identification of the shear wave arrival requires array analysis by which to identify the propagation path.